Life Stories: Saving Lives by Advocating for Donation

Reverend Charles Jenkins

Donation Advocate: Chicago, IL

Reverend Charles Jenkins, the pastor of Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church in Chicago, is a preacher, community leader, counselor, and a supporter of donation.

Working with Gift of Hope, an organ procurement organization, Reverend Jenkins has hosted organ donation campaigns at his church. At these events, Jenkins passes along information that has helped many church members learn the truth about organ donation.

Through Jenkins’ counsel, one of the members of his congregation was able to turn her own personal tragedy into saved lives. After losing her 26-year-old son Antowine to gun violence, Bobbie Ann Dotson made the courageous decision to donate her son’s organs to save the lives of others.

At a press conference, Dotson, a member of Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church, announced her decision to donate her son's kidneys to his grandmother, Clara Dotson, and to Fellowship Church member Kevin Vasser through the Direct Donation program. Both Vasser and Dotson were on dialysis at the time. Antowine’s other organs were also donated to additional recipients.

Reverend Charles Jenkins, pastor of Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church is a preacher and a supporter of donation—sharing information that helps his congregation learn the truth about organ donation.

Dotson was initially reluctant to donate her son's organs. “But when my pastor told me that Mr. Vasser was virtually a perfect match, it was no question,” Dotson said. She added that Antowine would be happy because “he had always told my mother that he would give her a kidney.”

“This mother, in the midst of hurt, saw the commitment and need to help, and followed her son's wishes in ensuring that in his death others would receive life,” said Reverend Jenkins. “It is really the story of triumph in the midst of tragedy.”

Reverend Jenkins’ story is courtesy of Gift of Hope, Chicago, IL.