January 2026
Happy New Year! My cousin Holly gave me TikTok for my 80th birthday. A couple of years ago, I asked the Lord for younger friends, since my older ones were dying off. These new friends are now welcoming me to TikTok; the Lord taking me to new heights. The prophet Isaiah, proclaimed:
"But those who wait on the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint" (Isaiah 40:31, NKJV).
My New Year's Testimony . . .
On December 2, 1945, I was born in Dallas to wonderful, churchgoing parents who owned Watson's Grocery in Copeville.
I went to school eight miles north in Farmersville, and became a star athlete and honor student. I entered North Texas University in '64, but dropped out after three years of partying and moved to California for college. I smoked my first marijuana, got a job selling wigs, picked up Dennis Wilson of The Beach Boys hitchhiking, and I took him home where I met Manson in '68. I got into heavier drugs, dropped out, joined the Manson cult, believed his lies and deception, and then chose to commit the Tate/LaBianca murders at 23 years old in '69, while trying to find acceptance. I received the death penalty, which was abolished in '72. Then, I was transferred to California Men's Colony in San Luis Obispo, California.
Christ came into my life in '75, and totally changed my direction. I entered the ministry, co-authored the book "Will You Die For Me?", got married and set up Abounding Love Ministries in '80. I did 21 years at the Colony, 24 years at Mule Creek State Prison, and then I was moved to Richard J. Donovan in San Diego in 2017. You'll find that I am a truth-teller in the midst of myths and lies, but my purpose isn't to straighten them out, rather to share the Truth of the Gospel. I simply ensure what I put out about my past is true and tells my story, which I have done for all these years. Won't you join me for a new perspective in my latter years? BTW, God sent me new friends from around the world in answer to my prayers. Won't you be one?
My Purpose In Life . . .
The only purpose I had growing up was to go to college, to get a job and get out on my own. That frightened me to no end! I drank to medicate my pain, moved to California to avoid the shame and eventually a madman gave me a purpose. But the Lord had another purpose, Who said:
" For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope" (Jeremiah 29:11, NKJV).
Not until I received Christ into my life, did I find purpose! He not only forgave me for all my sins, but He gave me eternal life, purpose, future and hope. Since then, I've been able to bring people alongside of my purpose in Christ, to kickstart them into their purpose like mine, to bring glory to God. I have several, beautiful, young brothers and sisters in Christ working with me to make TikTok videos for Abounding Love Ministries. This isn't a new purpose, but a vision that has developed over the past 50 years. So, if you are ever led to create an original video, submit it to Holly@aboundinglove@gmail.com, who has gained a new purpose as well. This new adventure has changed the entire trajectory of the ministry, but not the purpose, which is to win souls to Christ. You have a wonderful opportunity to be involved. Won't you come alongside us to help?
My Life Today . . .
I have aged well! When I proudly tell people that I'm 80 years old, they don't believe me until they consider the era of the crimes, my years in prison and how old I was when jailed at 23 years old. They walk away amazed and shaking their head, with me thanking God for keeping me strong and healthy for all these years. It's because of several reasons. For one, I inherited good genes. My great-great-grandfather was born in 1840, and lived 87 years, until 1928. He ran a ferry across the Mississippi and was an itinerant Baptist preacher. When we live in God's presence, the Holy Spirit strengthens every cell in our body [Colossians 3:16]. I believe the joy of the Lord in our lives produces health, ". . . for the joy of the LORD is our strength" (Nehemiah 8:10).
Also, I've been a pescatarian for all my prison life on a vegetarian diet. Though the Thanksgiving meal was the worst I've seen over the years, the prison does feed well. Ordinarily, men get the standard meat diet, unless they choose kosher, halal, vegetarian or plant-based, which I am for health reasons. I make great soups in my hot pot from state-supplied veggies, along with products from the canteen and my quarterly food package. I weigh only 148 at six feet, one and a half inches. Stretching has been a big part of my healthy lifestyle, since the day I entered county jail. It's not classic yoga, but a personal form, along with backbend pull-ups that have kept my muscles and joints strong from head to toe. I actually feel I'm in my 40s, but as you know, we are only as healthy as our weakest part. We do have an expiration date.
My Hope & Future . . .
The Word says, ". . . it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment" (Hebrews 9:27, NKJV). But Jesus took our judgment on the cross, so we won't be punished for our sins, if we receive His forgiveness and believe in Him for eternal life. This is a decision we each must make for ourselves. It's not our good works that get us into heaven, but simply faith in the finished works of Christ!
So, here I am at 80 years old, anointed of God to share the GOOD NEWS with you, feeling like I can jump over the moon. I don't know how many more years I have to go, but I have many friends who have come alongside of me to take the ministry into the future for the glory of God. The Lord is raising up an army, a new generation of boys, girls, men and women to reach the world for Christ. I pray that you will become one of them, going out into the world with the Word of God ". . . that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on the earth and under the earth, and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father" (Philippians 2:10-11, NKJV).
Catching The Wave . . .
This past month has been the most exciting since the founding of Abounding Love Ministries in 1980. TikTok has brought all the ministries together into one glorious testimony of the Lord Jesus Christ. "Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophesy" (Revelation 19:10c, NKJV). The ministry theme has been God's love, forgiveness, mercy and salvation, with a strong emphasis on Evangelism -- the Good News of Jesus Christ for the past 45+ years. Therefore, you'll find each video on TikTok to be inspired by God's Word and increasing your faith in His grace. I trust that you'll be led to thank, praise and worship God for all He has done for your salvation in Christ.
We have a team of video creators for spreading Jesus' testimony. Ixia is a young, new mom in Northern California, whose videos have one style, while Virginia in Croatia has videos within the videos. On the other hand, Holly has her own unique design as the administrator of the platform. I help create by providing ideas, Scriptures and a song suggestion to the creators. We are so humbled to see what the Lord has done over the past six weeks on TikTok. We hope you'll LIKE the videos, make COMMENTS, and SHARE them with others. You'll see that Holly has made it easy for you to share your faith. We need your help to share Christ successfully. Also, we need your prayers for strength, because I'm 80 years old and the creators have real jobs. But, "I [we] can do all things through Christ who strengthens me [us]" (Philippians 4:13, NKJV).
In my Monthly View for December 2025, I shared on "catching the wave" of the ministry in the Spirit. As the body of Christ, we are His hands and feet. By faith, I've been riding the wave for all these years, never giving up! I'm standing tall in Christ, but slowly coming to the heaven's shore, waving my hands in praise, listening to the Holy Spirit and telling others about Jesus and His love for them. Have you caught the wave? Jesus had three short years of ministry on earth, but He said: "But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth" (Acts 1:8, NKJV). Won't you catch the wave by receiving forgiveness and eternal life?
Creative Faith In Luke . . .
In this uplifting Abounding Love podcast, I continue a series in the Gospel of Luke. Our theme is the Kingdom of God, where our coming King lives, and where we live in the Spirit now and in the future. Through the Holy Spirit, the Kingdom of God lives within us. When we were born of the Spirit, all things become new, because we've been resurrected with Christ into His Heavenly Kingdom. You can't separate God, Jesus and us from His Kingdom. Jesus showed His authority over all the works of the Devil, commanding them to leave, and He gave His disciples authority to do what He commanded them to do. But once they were endued with power on the day of Pentecost in Acts, chapter 2, the Holy Spirit begin to work through their lives in Jesus' name.
Today, all the gifts of the Holy Spirit are available to manifest through your life, if you will yield yourself to the working of the Holy Spirit. Jesus said that we would do even greater works, sending us to the uttermost parts of the world. In the Gospel of Luke and in the Acts of the Apostles, we see the divine power of God's love flowing through Jesus and His disciples, showing us how the ministry is to be carried out. Also, we're told that Jesus, "Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it" (Colossians 2:15, NKJV). As a result, we overcome the Devil in Jesus' name. Join me as we look at Luke, chapters 11, 12, 13, and 14, plus Hebrews 4:12; 2 Corinthians 4:10: 10:3-6, and more. Selah!
[Click here for the Abounding Love podcast #074, "Creative Faith in Luke #5, dated 12/26/'25].
A Prayer For You . . .
Heavenly Father: I thank You for the zeal you have place in Charles' heart for life after 80 years old. I want that; I want to catch the wave of ministry, sharing the Good News of Your Son, Jesus Christ, with everyone around me. I yield to you now, Holy Spirit, to fill me to overflowing for empowerment to be your hands and feet in the world today! Amen!