From Texas to Uganda, children know worship leader as ‘Uncle Charlie’_100404

Posted: 10/01/04

From Texas to Uganda, children know
worship leader as 'Uncle Charlie'

By Leann Callaway

Special to the Baptist Standard

Five years ago, musician Charlie Bancroft picked up a nickname while on a mission trip to Uganda, and it's stuck with him.

Now, children everywhere call him “Uncle Charlie.”

“They have a custom in Uganda to call all adults uncles and aunties,” he explained. “That name stuck with me, and now that's what kids all over the world call me.”

Bancroft has continued ministering in Uganda to children by leading worship at a camp for more than 1,000 orphans.

“Through the years, I have developed a strong bond with the kids in Uganda, and to me, there's nothing better than ministering to orphan children and watching them grow in their faith and develop into responsible leaders.”

Wherever Bancroft leads worship, he insists his goal is to lead children to the heart of Jesus.

“I want them to see Jesus in me, on and off the stage, and to love the Jesus that I love,” he said.

“Our goal should be to lead our audience to the heart of Jesus. That doesn't mean we can't have fun. Believe me, we have tons of fun; that's where kids are at.

“But a quality of a good worship leader is to take the children's energy and channel it towards focusing on Jesus.”

At age 16, Bancroft made a profession of faith in Jesus Christ while attending an outdoor crusade in Lawton, Okla. At age 19, he dedicated his life to full-time ministry and began serving as a Baptist youth minister.

He was involved in youth ministry 21 years, serving in Baptist churches across Oklahoma and Texas, including Central Baptist and West Side Baptist churches in Wichita Falls.

In addition, he established “Off Campus” evangelistic rallies in southern Oklahoma and founded Young Men of Integrity, a ministry for teenage boys.

In 1997, Bancroft created Upward Bound Ministries, which evolved into a full-time children's music ministry.

Last year, he led worship at 70 children's conferences and rallies. During the summer, he often leads worship at Mount Lebanon Baptist Encampment's preteen camp. Bancroft recently moved to Tampa, Fla., where he attends Idlewild Baptist Church, but most of his events still are in Texas Baptist churches.

“To me, the ultimate experience is when children give their lives to the Lord,” he said.

“That's what it is all about. Whether through camp, rallies or conferences, the whole point of what we do is to point kids to Jesus and have fun while doing it.

” I jokingly say it took 21 years of youth ministry to prepare me for children's ministry.”