Charles Jenkins & Fellowship Chicago Ft. Le’Andria have received an early Christmas gift. Their uplifting, finger-snapping, retro R&B-flavored cut, “Grace”
(Inspired People/Empire), hits the top spot on both the Billboard (up
from No. 2 last week) and Mediabase (up from No. 3 last week) Gospel Airplay charts this week. It marks the eighth unique Billboard No. 1 for
the Chicago-based pastor, Jenkins, over the course of his five-year
career as a recording artist. The song also makes its first appearance
in the Top Ten on the Billboard Digital Gospel Songs (sales) chart,
coming in at No. 10.
“Grace” anchors the forthcoming and tentatively entitled album, “Keep the Faith,”
which will release in 2018. The project will be recorded live during
the New Year’s Eve service at Fellowship Chicago, which is located at
4543 South Princeton Avenue, Chicago, IL 60609. The event starts at 10 PM
and admission is free. “We are really excited about this new album. God
has given me a range of singable music that will appeal to all
generations, Jenkins explains. “ The album will be full of music every
church can sing out loud! “
This Saturday, December 16th, Jenkins and Fellowship Chicago will host an event, “Christmas At The Ship,”
along with top Chicago bank executive, Bruce Hague, and several
generous donors. The holiday giveaway is set to serve over 1,500
families and provide them with food baskets, coats, and toys. The event
is an extension of an ongoing giveaway that takes place every month at
the church.
The St. Petersburg, FL native burst on the national music scene in
2012 when his debut radio single with Fellowship Chicago, “Awesome,”
reached the No. 1 spot on Billboard Magazine’s Gospel Airplay chart and
stayed there for 22 weeks. In 2014, the group followed up with the smash
“#WAR” that also hit No. 1 on the Gospel Airplay chart and was cited as
the most played gospel song of 2015 on Billboard’s end-of-the-year
chart. Jenkins has enjoyed other Top Ten hits such as “Just To Know Him”
and “Winning.”