Charles Jenkins

Charles C. Jenkins II, known professionally as Charles Jenkins and more recently as Dr. Chuck, is an American gospel singer, songwriter, producer, pastor and entrepreneur. Born on December 14, 1975, in St. Petersburg, Florida, he developed a career that has connected church ministry, gospel music, songwriting and community leadership. He became widely known through his work with Fellowship Chicago, the choir of Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church in Chicago, and through songs that brought contemporary production and urban R&B influences into gospel music.

Jenkins first gained major attention as a recording artist in 2012 with The Best of Both Worlds, recorded with Fellowship Chicago. The album’s lead single, “Awesome”, became a major gospel success and established Jenkins as a songwriter and performer in his own right. He later pursued a solo career, releasing projects including Think About These Things and Gospel Music Changed My Life, while continuing to develop his work as a producer and entrepreneur.

Quick Facts

Early Life and Ministry

Jenkins grew up in St. Petersburg, Florida, where he was introduced to both church ministry and music. He attended the 10th Street Church of God as a child and later became involved with a Baptist church in his neighborhood, where he developed a deeper interest in choir music. He also studied classical piano for seven years and began writing songs as a teenager.

His calling to ministry developed alongside his musical interests. Jenkins was licensed to preach at 16 and ordained two years later. He eventually moved to Chicago to attend Moody Bible Institute, where he studied Christian education, and later earned a master’s degree from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School.

In Chicago, Jenkins became closely connected with Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church, founded by the late Rev. Dr. Clay Evans. He eventually succeeded Evans as senior pastor and served in that position for about 20 years. Fellowship’s historic gospel tradition became an important foundation for Jenkins’ later work in music.

Music Career and Fellowship Chicago

Although Jenkins had been writing songs for years, he did not initially intend to build a commercial recording career. His songwriting attracted encouragement from musicians including Teddy Campbell and Tina Campbell, and his work eventually reached Israel Houghton. Jenkins wrote “You’ve Been a Friend”, which was recorded by Israel Houghton & New Breed for the Grammy Award-winning album Live from Another Level? More specifically, Jenkins received Grammy recognition for his songwriting contribution to Houghton’s Live in South Africa.

Jenkins’ own recording career took shape through Fellowship Chicago. He established Inspired People, a music company connected to his church ministry, and produced The Best of Both Worlds. Released in 2012, the album introduced “Awesome”, a praise song written by Jenkins that became his signature recording. The project reached No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Gospel Albums chart, while “Awesome” also reached the top of the gospel singles chart.

The success of The Best of Both Worlds brought Jenkins significant industry recognition. At the 28th Stellar Gospel Music Awards in 2013, the project and Fellowship Chicago won five awards, including Song of the Year, CD of the Year and Choir of the Year.

Major Albums and Songs

Jenkins and Fellowship Chicago followed The Best of Both Worlds with Any Given Sunday in 2015. The project again reached the top of the gospel album chart and was led by “War”, another major Jenkins recording. His work during this period combined traditional gospel foundations with contemporary urban production, helping his music reach audiences beyond the conventional church choir setting.

After his work with Fellowship Chicago, Jenkins began developing a solo catalogue. His 2016 album Think About These Things incorporated stronger R&B and contemporary influences while retaining his gospel themes. He subsequently released shorter projects and singles, including A Charles Jenkins Christmas, “We Found Love” with Kierra Sheard, “God Be Praised” with Elder Eric Thomas and the 2023 EP Gospel Music Changed My Life.

Musical Style and Songwriting

Jenkins’ music has consistently drawn from gospel while incorporating contemporary R&B, soul and urban production. His songwriting often centers on praise, encouragement, faith and personal affirmation. “Awesome” is a clear example of this approach, combining a straightforward declaration of praise with a polished contemporary arrangement.

His background as both a pastor and songwriter has strongly influenced his material. Jenkins has described songwriting as something he began doing privately as a teenager, initially as a creative outlet rather than as a planned recording career. His transition from writing devotional songs to recording and producing commercially successful gospel music became one of the defining developments of his career.

Ministry, Leadership and Community Work

Music has been only one part of Jenkins’ professional life. During his years as senior pastor of Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church, he became involved in civic and community initiatives in Chicago. Fellowship Chicago describes his work as including service on several Illinois boards and commissions and involvement in economic and community development initiatives.

His leadership has also extended into entrepreneurship. Through Inspired People, Jenkins developed a platform for music production and artist development, while his wider work has included mentoring, public speaking and community advocacy. His ministry and business activities have therefore remained closely connected to his broader interest in using music and leadership to serve communities.

Current Career and Legacy

Jenkins continues to release music while expanding beyond his earlier identity as a gospel recording artist. His current work under the name Dr. Chuck incorporates pop, soul and R&B influences, reflecting a broader musical direction. His official biography describes this period as a new creative chapter, while recent releases include The Blue Chevette in April 2026.

Charles Jenkins’ place in contemporary gospel music is closely associated with the success of “Awesome”, the Fellowship Chicago recordings and his ability to connect traditional gospel ministry with contemporary musical styles. His career has developed across several fields, from pastor and choir leader to songwriter, recording artist, producer and entrepreneur. That combination of ministry and music has remained central to his public identity throughout his career.