Charles Daniels
Charles Daniels was born in nearby Richmond, CA, and was happily pursuing a career in music management ("I wanted to be the next Barry Gordy") when his life took a turn: "I received my calling about two years ago," he recalls. "God said: This is what I want you to do now." After Charles and his pastor at Evergreen Missionary Baptist Church in Oakland did some research, Charles entered the Certificate of Ministry Studies (CMS) program in 2006.
"It's a way of getting me back into the classroom," he says, "which is what I needed because I've been out of school for so long." Charles points out that many of his childhood friends are either in prison or dead, and that he himself went through some rough patches growing up. "But God brought me through, for which I’m thankful. When I get up and preach to a young audience, I will know how to speak to them from my heart because I’ve lived through a lot."
Charles appreciates the intensity and the diversity he finds at PSR, both among his fellow students and in the classroom. "I believe in ministry that you're always going to encounter diversity and challenge," he says, "and being in the CMS program is giving me a lot of tools for my future ministry. PSR is a small and quiet school, but it’s a powerhouse in its teaching."
