Mike Jenkins

Storyteller with a Song - Mike Jenkins

In an age where pop stars are born almost overnight - and frequently disappear just as quickly - singer-songwriter Mike Jenkins has proved that a long, quiet career can bring greater rewards and take you just as far, albeit in a less glamorous way.

Indeed, most of Mike's career, spanning two decades and over forty countries, has been spent travelling around the world not in limousines and jet aircraft, but in a converted ambulance.

Born in late-fifties London, Mike's career in music began when as a teenager, he set off with his first band to tour Europe. Once back home, he began songwriting and within a year signed a publishing contract with EMI. Seeking wealth and success, Mike headed off to the USA.

But Mike soon found himself on the stereotypical path of the promising new music star, eventually turning to hard drugs and alcohol abuse. The 'American Dream' he had set out to find was rapidly turning into a nightmare.

The ensuing years saw him criss-cross America and finally return to Europe, searching for truth and meaning in his experiences. Among his adventures, he was held at gunpoint by a crazed Texan and lived like a tramp on the streets of New York.

At perhaps his lowest point, Mike stumbled upon what he now realises is the truth he was always searching for:

'One morning, while I was living in my beat-up old ambulance and at the mercy of a bitter Amsterdam winter, I turned to the Bible for some comfort. I had what could only be described as an experience of God. It changed my life.'

Thanks to his new-found faith in God, Mike found the strength to kick his drug habit. He dedicated his life to travelling and sharing the hope he found in God.

'I want to show people how the power of God can change a ruined life. And I feel it's important to encourage young people who are interested in making music to write from their hearts, not purely for money,' he says.

Mike has spent the past eighteen years travelling through every continent, taking his music and his message to everyone that will hear him.

Mike has shared stages with the likes of David Bowie, Crowded House and Michelle Shocked. He has also appeared on national television in Hong Kong, Australia, New Zealand, and on the BBC in the UK. Today you'll find him ministering anywhere from the television studio to the local pub.

His music, a blend of acoustic pop, folk ballads and the blues, complements lyrics inspired by his many experiences. His songs tell powerful stories. Indeed, a review of his last album described his songs as "haunting" and declared him a "gifted wordsmith".

But Mike's true talent perhaps shines brightest when he engages with a live audience. With a rare emotional candour, he uses his repertoire of original songs to both entertain and awaken his listeners to deeper truths.

By Alistair Metcalfe