Dr. Jackson is a native of Alexandria, Louisiana, currently resides in University Place, Washington. He’s married to Rev. Evette Jackson, and they have two sons, Omari and Eric, II.
After serving for several years, Pastor Jackson was licensed and ordained at Hopewell Missionary Baptist Church, in Norcross, Georgia, by Bishop Dr. William Sheals. He went on to serve as Assistant to the Pastor, Youth Pastor, and Singles’ Pastor at The Greater Piney Grove Baptist Church, in Atlanta, Georgia.
He was the founding pastor of the Greater Heights Christian Church in Lithonia, Georgia, where he served for 8 years. After leaving Georgia, he served as the senior pastor of the Main Post Chapel Gospel Congregation in Schofield Barracks, Hawaii. Prior to 2014, Dr. Jackson resided in Ewa Beach, Hawaii (the Island of Oahu), while serving a tour of duty at Schofield Barracks and Fort Shafter. He now lives in University Place, Washington, and serves as senior pastor of Bethlehem Baptist Church in Tacoma. Additionally, Pastor Jackson’s ministry has reached abroad, as well. He’s taken pilgrimages throughout Israel and done missionary work in Haiti.
In 2003, Pastor Jackson earned a Master of Divinity degree (cum laude), with a concentration in Psychology of Religion and Pastoral Care and completed additional course work in Homiletics, at Morehouse School of Religion at the Interdenominational Theological Center (ITC) in Atlanta. Previously, in 1992, he received a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Computer Information Systems from the University of Louisiana and graduated from Peabody Magnet High School. Understanding the necessity of education and preparation, Pastor Jackson returned to the academy, and in May 2012, he earned a Doctor of Ministry degree (summa cum laude) at the ITC, where he specialized in Pastoral Counseling. (Dissertation: “Bridging the Gap between Sunday in the Combat Zone and Sunday at Home: Case Study: The Intersection of War, PTSD, and Pastoral Care & Counseling for Soldiers and their Families”).
Additionally, he has spent over 30 years in the military – over 25 years as an officer. From 2007 to 2008, Pastor Jackson completed a tour of duty in Iraq, where he ministered to hundreds of Soldiers on a weekly basis and trained over 50 ministers – two of which were licensed into the Gospel ministry. Upon completion of his tour, he became an Army Chaplain and continues to minister today. He has also served in this capacity in the local chapter of his fraternity, Alpha Phi Alpha, where he’s a Life Member. Likewise, he was certified by the Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police as a police chaplain.
Over the years, Pastor Jackson’s ministry has been heavily involved in the lives of the youth and unmarried adults. Beyond that, he has developed a seven-phase series of Ministers’ Development Training courses, in which he covers various subject from ministerial conduct to roles of a pastor. In 2001, after having trained more than 75 ministers, Pastor Jackson launched EDJ Ministries, Inc., whose goal is to educate and elevate the thinking of ministers and lay-leaders.
This man of God is a preacher, teacher, speaker, poet, and the author of Good News From On High! His personal mission is to educate, empower, and encourage all people – both young and mature, “churched” and “un-churched,” laypersons and ministers. With such a love for people, Pastor Jackson has devoted his life to God’s service and people.
Pastor Jackson’s motto is: “Preaching to encourage…and teaching to empower.” This is a goal he sets for reaching God’s people, so they are spiritually equipped. Above all…Pastor Dr. Eric D. Jackson is spirit-filled. He loves the Lord, is crucified with Him!
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