Endeavor Academy, legally established in 1992 as the New Christian Church of Full Endeavor, is an international spiritual community and seminary based in Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin. The organization centers its teachings on A Course in Miracles (ACIM), a psychological and spiritual self-study program first published in the 1970s. Founded by Charles Buell Anderson, the Academy presents itself as an “international school of enlightenment” and a forum for the transformation of human consciousness.
Anderson was born around 1926. He served as a Marine and reported witnessing the aftermath of the atomic bombing of Nagasaki, Japan, in 1945. In 1971, he described a near-death experience during which he claimed to have been healed of cirrhosis of the liver. In 1979, Anderson reported undergoing a spontaneous “spiritual awakening.” Prior to founding the Academy, he worked as a real estate broker in Chicago and participated in Alcoholics Anonymous as a recovering alcoholic.
By the early 1980s, Anderson had encountered A Course in Miracles, which became the foundation of his teachings. In 1991, he registered an organization called “God’s Country Place” in Reedsburg, Wisconsin. The group initially attracted a small number of followers but expanded after Anderson began speaking at spiritual conferences in the early 1990s. In 1992, the organization was formally established and rebranded as Endeavor Academy. It relocated to a converted summer resort in Wisconsin Dells. Over the following years, the residential community grew, reaching approximately 500 members by 1999.
The Academy developed a structured curriculum focused on the concept of a “singular reality” and the transcendence of the human ego. Activities included daily devotional practices, meditation, and “light intensives,” described as meditative trance states intended to support spiritual healing. The campus expanded to include a 400-acre property featuring Revelation Hall, used for international gatherings, and the Miracles Healing Center. The organization also conducted outreach activities, including addiction recovery support and prison ministry programs.
Between 1995 and 2000, the Academy was involved in a legal dispute with the Foundation for Inner Peace, the original publisher of A Course in Miracles, over intellectual property rights. In 2003, a court ruling determined that portions of the text were in the public domain due to prior distribution before formal copyright registration. Following this decision, Endeavor Academy published its own edition titled The Advent of a Great Awakening.
Accounts from former members described Anderson — often referred to as “Master Teacher” or “MT” — as a central authority figure within the group. Some reports indicated that members were encouraged to sell personal property, including homes and belongings, and donate the proceeds to the organization. Observers also reported that Anderson discouraged engagement with other spiritual teachers and emphasized reliance on his guidance, including claims that he could facilitate a transition referred to as a “flash out.”
The Academy’s teachings also included ideas about detaching from identification with the physical world. Some accounts stated that members were encouraged to reject attachment to worldly identity. Anderson’s language drew on 12-step program terminology, referring to individuals as “humaholics” attached to human identity. Observers noted that he publicly denied having followers while also presenting himself as central to the spiritual progress of participants.
Anderson died on May 13, 2008, at the age of 83. His death was not immediately announced on the organization’s official platforms, consistent with the group’s teaching that death represents a form of transition. After his death, the Academy released a four-part documentary titled “A Course in Miracles Unleashed,” which focused on the reported experiences of its members. The film was shown at various international venues, including the Parliament of the World’s Religions.
Since 2008, Endeavor Academy has continued to operate, although details about its leadership structure have not been widely disclosed. The organization remains active in producing and distributing instructional materials based on Anderson’s interpretation of A Course in Miracles.
Key Sources:
CBSNews.com. (1999, December 13). Leaving Endeavor Academy.
CBSNews.com. (1999, December 13). The Academy: miracle or cult?
Cult News. (2008, June 19). Wisconsin “cult” leader Chuck Anderson dead.
Ross, H. (2000, March 28). Ex-Leader Warns It’s No Miracle. The Northern Star.