Dallas Jenkins is a well-known American film and television director, writer and producer who has created several faith-based projects, such as The Chosen, The Resurrection of Gavin Stone, and What If… But is he related to Jerry Jenkins, the bestselling author of the Left Behind series and other Christian novels? The answer is yes, they are father and son. Here is everything you need to know about their relationship and careers.
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Dallas Jenkins: The Creator of The Chosen
Dallas Jenkins was born on July 25, 1975, in St. Charles, Illinois. He is the son of Jerry B. Jenkins and Dianna Jenkins. He graduated from University of Northwestern-St. Paul, where he met his wife, Amanda. They have four children together.
Dallas started his career in filmmaking at the age of 25, when he and his mother founded a production company called Jenkins Entertainment. Their first film was Hometown Legend, a faith-based film that was distributed by Warner Brothers in 2000.
Dallas then directed two short films and his feature-length debut, Midnight Clear, in 2006. The film was based on a short story by his father and starred Stephen Baldwin. It was distributed by Lionsgate.
In 2010, Dallas directed What If…, a film about a businessman who gets a glimpse of what his life could have been if he had followed God’s calling. It starred Kevin Sorbo, Kristy Swanson, John Ratzenberger, and Debby Ryan.
In 2017, Dallas directed The Resurrection of Gavin Stone, a comedy-drama about a former child star who pretends to be a Christian to get a role in a church play. It was produced by Blumhouse Productions and WWE Films.
Dallas is best known as the creator, director and co-writer of The Chosen, the first multi-season series about the life of Jesus Christ. The series was crowdfunded by fans and became the most successful media crowd-fund of all time. It has been praised for its high production quality, historical accuracy, and diverse cast.
Jerry Jenkins: The Author of Left Behind
Jerry Jenkins was born on September 23, 1949, in Kalamazoo, Michigan. He is the son of Harry Philip Jenkins and Bonita Grace Thompson. He attended Moody Bible Institute and Harper College.
Jerry began his career as a sports reporter while he was still in high school. He later worked as a radio editor, magazine publisher, and writer-in-residence at Moody Bible Institute. He also served as a member of its Board of Trustees for 17 years.
Jerry has written more than 200 books in various genres, such as biography, self-help, romance, mystery, and young adult fiction. He has collaborated with prominent athletes and religious leaders, such as Hank Aaron, Bill Gaither, Walter Payton, Joe Gibbs, Mike Singletary, and Sammy Tippit.
Jerry is most famous for co-writing the Left Behind series with Tim LaHaye. The series consists of 16 novels that depict the end times according to a dispensationalist interpretation of biblical prophecy. The series has sold over 60 million copies worldwide and has been adapted into films, video games, graphic novels, and audio dramas.
Jerry has also written other novels with eschatological themes, such as Riven (2008), Soon (2003), Shadowed (2005), Silenced (2004), and Kingdom Come (2007).
The Father-Son Connection
Dallas and Jerry Jenkins share more than just their last name. They also share a passion for storytelling and a commitment to their Christian faith. They have collaborated on several projects over the years, such as Midnight Clear (2006), Though None Go With Me (2006), Hometown Legend (2000), and Soon: The Beginning of the End (1996).
They have also supported each other’s work and expressed their mutual admiration and respect. Dallas has credited his father for inspiring him to pursue filmmaking and for teaching him how to write compelling stories. Jerry has praised his son for his talent and vision as a director and for creating The Chosen.
According to Dallas Jenkins’ website, he considers his father to be his “best friend” and his “hero”. He also says that they talk almost every day and that they have “a blast” working together.
According to Jerry Jenkins’ website, he is “proud” of his son’s accomplishments and “thrilled” by the success of The Chosen. He also says that they have “a great relationship” and that they “enjoy each other’s company”.
The father-son duo have also faced some controversies together. In 2021, Dallas Jenkins sparked some backlash when he appeared on a Mormon podcast LDS Living and said that Mormons are saved and that he considers them to be believers. He later clarified his remarks and said that he was not endorsing Mormon theology, but rather affirming their love for Jesus.
Jerry Jenkins has also been criticized for his involvement in the Left Behind series, which some Christians have accused of promoting a false and sensationalist view of the end times. He has defended his work as a fictional interpretation of biblical prophecy, not a theological statement.
Despite the challenges and differences, Dallas and Jerry Jenkins remain close and supportive of each other. They are not only related by blood, but also by faith and creativity. They are a father-son duo that have made a significant impact on the Christian media landscape.
