The ministry of Greater Works Outreach started as a home prayer meeting in 1973, when twenty-seven people through God’s sovereignty arrived at a house, without prior invitation. When the group outgrew the house, they began meeting in a hotel ballroom; then they (at the time known as Sheepfold Ministries) were given a building in Pittsburgh’s North Side to use.  When that also became too small, a small storefront building, eighteen feet wide, became the first permanent home.
          God was always challenging their faith.  With just a handful of people, both a local radio and television ministry were launched. Then the Word was given by the Lord, “Enlarge the place of your tent; Stretch out the curtains of your dwellings, spare not; Lengthen your cords and strengthen your pegs.” Isaiah 54:2 NASB
As the small congregation of about seventy-five began to believe God for a larger facility, it became clear that training God’s people would be a part of our ever-expanding ministry. For three years they waited, looked and prayed.
          Then in February, 1981, they heard about the current facility. Although the door initially seemed shut, God opened the door for us to take over the complex in June of the same year. Praise the Lord!  The vision became reality. A small band of believers took possession of a 56 acre, two building campus that included a large auditorium, classrooms and dormitories.
          Initially, the current Bible School met as the GWO School of Ministry. In a matter of a few years, the first dean, Rev. Craig Schaeffer, changed the format from once or twice per week classes meeting in the evenings, to a more formal daily class setting. At this point, a two-year ministry program  followed.
          In 1988, the current dean, Rev. Andrew Mitrik, was inaugurated and several positive changes happened. First, the enrollment increased along with the dormitory residents. A greater emphasis was placed on this area of ministry. As the School of Ministry received more attention, it began to produce better results. Secondly, a third year was added to the program giving more time and better focus for ministry training. At the time, it was known as the Ministerial Program.
          As we seek the Lord’s guidance for the next twenty years of training, we know that God has a new level for us to attain. Today we stand at the brink of a new millennium, thanking God for twenty plus years of successful ministry training as well as looking to a bright and glorious future of service for Him. As you participate in this adventure, we pray that you will be faithful to your calling and our vision of preparing, training and equipping God’s servants for a new generation of Christian service.