Uncle Charlie, (Charlie Bancroft) has served in public ministry for over 37 years. He spent his first 21 years serving on staff as local church youth pastor in Southern Baptist churches across Texas & Oklahoma. Then in 1997 Charlie founded his own ministry called Upward Bound Ministries, a para-church ministry serving children of all walks with his music and teachings. Charlie traveled the country and abroad leading kids worship at summer camps, events, and concert venues for over 15 years.
Besides touring, Charlie has recorded over 7 albums and has created kids worship tools for churches world-wide, and has led kids worship training at children’s ministry conferences across the U.S. Uncle Charlie has also partnered with many other ministry outlets such as Salvation Army, Hope for Refugees, Baptist Children’s Home, Royal Family Kids, Nathaniel’s Hope and Special Touch Ministries to reach less-fortunate kids.
Charlie has also been to Uganda, East Africa 4 times to lead worship for a special kids camp involving over 1000 orphan children under the care of Watoto Childcare Ministries. It was there where he picked up his stage name, “Uncle Charlie”. (Children in Uganda call all adults “Uncles and Aunties” as their term of respect for their elders.)
UC is currently retired for touring, and has developed a new ministry designed to help kids fighting life’s toughest battles. His new ministry is called VBG (Valued By God). UC created a free faith-based video library available on web or app that reaches thousands of children fighting uphill battles, (Children with special needs, life-threatening illnesses, foster kids, kids in hospitals, children’s homes and orphanages, etc.)
UC is also the creator of Carlitos, the “Be Brave” monkey. UC sells Carlitos to families with children or grandchildren, and each purchase enables him to give away Carlitos to less fortunate kids as part of his ministry. Carltios leads all kids and families to UC’s VBG videos, which encourage kids and let’s them know they are loved and valued by God.
More plans for Carlitos are in the horizon, as Uncle Charlie’s desire is to write a faith-based children’s book series called “The Adventures of Carlitos”.
Charlie lives in Tampa, Florida with his wife Tammy. They have been married 40 years and have two sons and two grandchildren. Charlie and Tammy both are active members and serve at Idlewild Baptist Church in Lutz, FL.
