Charles grew up in Montrose, Colorado. He majored in Electrical Engineering at Caltech in 1995, and then spent a year abroad as a U.S. Fulbright Scholar in Israel. He returned to the U.S. and designed high-speed and precision analog integrated circuits for various firms. From 2009 through 2014, he designed and released Crossbeams, an advanced building toy. Charles grew up in a church-going family and became a Christian through the influence of Sunday School teachers. He began reading the Bible alone at 9 years old, and continues to daily read, study, and memorize it. He has a passion for biblical observation, focusing on what the text says, and converts that passion into Through the Bible studies tailored toward children, young Christians, and non-Christians. Charles enjoys the Colorado outdoors, board games, and family. He lives in Colorado Springs with his wife, Monica, and their three sons, Derek, Titus, and Byron.