History
In 1870 Charles H. Cook moved to Sacaton, Arizona to serve as a teacher to the Akimel O’odham people. He was ordained by the Presbyterian Church and it was important to Cook to offer quality educational opportunities for Native people to train to serve their communities through the ministry.
In the early 1900’s he established the Cook Bible School, first located in Phoenix and later, moving to a campus in Tempe, Arizona. Cook Christian Training School affirmed its position among the foremost in producing Christian leaders, pastors, teachers, educators and community leaders from across the nation and beyond.
Missions
The Cook School closed in 2008, but the organization remaining committed to its mission, formed itself into a charitable foundation. Cook Native American Ministries Foundation (CNAMF) was formed to provide educational opportunities to current and future leaders so that they can guide their communities and churches to influence the world at large.
Today, Cook Native American Ministries Foundation continues to expand the vision and passion of Charles H. Cook beyond the walls of a traditional school building – to bring new and greater opportunities for leadership education to Native Americans than ever before.