Terence Tavarus Jenkins
Terence was born June 2, 1970 to the late Harris Lee Jenkins, Sr. and Mary Lee Burgess-Jenkins in Selma, North Carolina. He is the sixth of eight siblings. He is a high school graduate of Smithfield-Selma Senior High School and attended North Carolina Agriculture & Technical State University in Greensboro, North Carolina for
two years.
Terence is married to Serreda Renee King - Jenkins and they together have one daughter, Solana Faith Jenkins. He gave his life to the Lord July 19, 1981 and preached his initial sermon March 12, 1990. He is the founder of Interstate Ministries in Clayton, NC which he started March 12, 2001. He was ordained bishop June 4, 2011 and is proud to state that his Christian walk began at his home church, Howell’s Chapel Church in Selma, NC.
Terence is the owner and CEO of four licensed businesses in North Carolina which are:
· Jenkins & Jenkins Builders, Inc. (Residential/Commercial) - Selma
· Jenkins Rental Properties - Selma
· Interstate Ministries, Inc. – Clayton
· Gospel Awakening Television - Clayton
As CEO of Gospel Awakening Television, Jenkins has expanded its viewership locally from Guilford County to North Carolina’s Atlantic Coast. This trail blazing television show has been rated by Neilson’s Ratings as the #1 most watched TV show on Sunday mornings at 8am. These ratings have out ranked major local news stations such as NBC, CBS & ABC. Via multimedia resources, this show is now international, featuring gospel artists from all over the world. Terence now co-hosts this show with his sister Debara Annice Jenkins – Blackwell. Their chemistry together is accredited to the show’s extreme success.
As a North Carolina Commercial Licensed General Contractor, Terence has built an overwhelming number of residential and commercial projects. He was trained to build by his father, Harris Lee Jenkins, Sr. who also was a general contractor. Together they formed a successful general contracting company in 1990 called Jenkins & Jenkins Builders, Inc. To their portfolio, they constructed a number of churches which includes: Howell’s Chapel – Selma NC, Hatcher Grove MBC – Morrisville NC, Warren’s Chapel – Micro NC, Strickland Grove – Four Oaks NC, Greater Pentecostal Church – Raleigh NC, Interstate Ministries – Clayton NC just to name a few. Though his building skills are accredited to his dad, it was his mother who was the engineer behind his administrative training as she was the company’s founding administrator.
Being taught the importance of serving others by his parents, Terence has always committed himself to a life of charity and community responsibility. He came to know the Lord at an early age and has since that time dedicated himself and his spiritual gifts to the service of the Lord.
Before becoming a paster, Terence served faithfully within his home church, Howell Chapel Church of Christ, where he was known for his strong musical talents and anointed evangelistic preaching. He served as an evangelist for many years, preaching both locally and abroad. Later, he was elevated to the position of elder in his local assembly, the Goldsboro-Raleigh District Assembly in Goldsboro, NC. He has always had a passion to minister to the needs of God’s people. It would be in the year of 2011 when Jenkins would be ordained as Bishop under the guidance of His Eminence, Archbishop Dennis M. Golphin, of the Living in Favor Global Network. Terence continues to serve as the Senior Pastor of Interstate Ministries and is a well-respected icon within his community, serving as a voice for change and hope.
Debara Anneice Jenkins-Blackwell
Debara Blackwell made her television personality debut as co-host of a Sunday morning gospel entertainment program, Gospel Awakening TV Show in 2020. Hosting the show together with her brother, Terence Jenkins, spawned the start of a brother-sister team that captivated a diverse audience. However, her humble beginnings started as a little country girl from Selma, North Carolina. Debara grew up on a dirt road where the pond across the street provided the fish for the “Fridays’ Fish Fry,” and the backyard chickens, pigs, and cows provided the meals throughout the rest of the week.
Debara was born November 7, 1962, to Mary Lee Burgess-Jenkins and the late Harris Lee Jenkins, Sr. of Selma, North Carolina. She is the third of eight siblings. She stepped into the role as caretaker for her younger brothers and sister as her mom worked in manufacturing and her father worked endless hours as a contractor. He was the first known self-employed African American general contractor in Johnston and surrounding. The name of his construction company at that time was Harris L. Jenkins Construction. He was a trailblazing entrepreneur of he day.
Debara grew up in a family that not only prayed together but sang together. Unknowing this was the planting season for her journey into the ministry of music and evangelism. Growing up in a Christian-based home, Debara was the church musician and choir leader for the youth choir at Howell’s Chapel Church of Christ - Disciples of Christ in Selma, NC. In addition, she provided musical assistance to a host of other churches and choirs in the community.
Extremely active during her high school years, Debara was a member of the chorus, band, 4-H Club, Home Economics Club, Charmettes Girls Club, and of course, she was also a driver of one of those “BIG YELLOW SCHOOL BUSES” which she drove until she graduated. After graduating from Smithfield-Selma Senior School in 1981, Debara completed a Bachelor of Science Degree in Home Economics in 1986 from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University in Greensboro, North Carolina. During her years at NC A&T SU, Debara continued doing the things she loved most. She was a member and lead singer in the Award-winning NC A&T Fellowship Gospel Choir, first African American President of the North Carolina Student Family, Career and Community Leaders of America Organization, member of Student Government Affairs, Miss United Christian Fellowship, and served as a Student Resident Assistant Coordinator. At the beginning of Debara’s senior year at A&T, (1985-86), Debara received unwavering support from her peers and school officials as she accepted the leadership mantle as Miss NC A&T SU. Her hard work, leadership and volunteer services helped to improve student services, the learning environment and innovation.
Fast-forward, from 1986-1991 Debara worked for Dudley Hair and Skin Care Products, completed advanced studies in Curriculum and Instruction at Mankato State University in Minnesota and joined the Staff at Bennett College in Greensboro. During this time, she also served as a Residential Coordinator at Barber Scotia College for one year.
What would follow this productive life would be the start of a teaching career in 1996 as a Family and Consumer Science teacher at Jones Senior High School in Trenton, NC. Recently retired from teaching in July 2020, Debara is committed to seek for talent that aligns with the goals and mission of her television show (Gospel Awakening), delivering a message of hope through interviews, music and ministry.
Debara is married to Robert Thomas Blackwell and they live in Jacksonville, North Carolina. From this union came one son, Robert Blackwell III, who resides in Selma, North Carolina.
