The Life of John Allen Jackson’s – John Jackson went home to be with Jesus, on December 4, 2022. This summary of his life is intended to give his descendants an awareness of how God used a poverty-stricken person who commits himself to the Lord. John wrote most of his own obituary, which was a blessing to his family, because we learned and appreciated his life and love for his family even more. His family condensed his writings to include the highlights. He begins... “In looking back on life, I can see the hand of God on my life from birth until now. It is amazing how God has worked all things for good.” God’s hand is evident throughout my life.

Growing up – John was born to Tom and Ethel Jackson on August 24, 1931, near Cleveland, Texas. His family moved to Shawnee, Oklahoma in late 1933 and then moved to the country about 5 miles outside of Shawnee one year later. John was the third child of six children. As a child, he attended a three-room schoolhouse with grades of 1st -7th. Their only mode of transportation was a wagon until he was in High School. Living on a farm required cutting the firewood, feeding the cows, horses, pigs, and chickens and sometimes this was done by way of a kerosene lantern. His chores continued into the night shelling corn into milk for the pigs and churned cream into butter. There was no electricity, gas, running water, or indoor plumbing. Everything they grew was used to feed the family, livestock, and other animals, so nothing went to waste. At the age of nine, John attended a winter revival with his brother Kenneth, age seven where they both accepted the Lord as their Savior. The cold weather thrilled both boys because they were baptized in the baptistry instead of the pond. In December 1947, his family of eight moved to Abilene, Texas. Shortly after the move, his dad died when he was 16, and John enrolled in vocational training, working five hours a day in a sheet metal shop and full-time in the summer and after graduation.

Military years 1950-1954 – John had no desire to fight in the Korean war, so John enlisted in the Air Force for a four-year term. While in basic training, he received a draft notice for the Army to fight in the Korean war. As a result of his sheet metal experience, he was assigned to Mississippi AFB, to work with civilian workers to build and install dryer and oven vent hoods. In March of 1951, he was sent to Burtonwood AFB, near Liverpool, England. While in the Air Force, John led the children’s church which averaged about 20 children. The church grew to an average of 60-70 children. John was transferred to Del Rio, Texas and over the next 15 months he attended different churches, meeting young people who were interested in growing in the Lord. They decided to start a Youth for Christ group, which met in the city park. One night he was able to lead a drunk hobo to the Lord and he instantly became sober. The group continued to grow running 80-100 people each week allowing them to rent a facility.

Education 1954-1958 – In August 1954, John was discharged from the Air Force and enrolled in Hardin Simmons University and worked full-time as a music director in churches. He studied hard achieving all A’s in every subject but was failing English. He learned English by taking two years of Greek making A’s and became a paid grader during Senior year. After graduation in June 1958, he worked full-time for an insulation company as an estimator, selling insulation, heating, air equipment and insulated boilers and refrigerated cold storage units.

A Love Story – 63 years – John met Lena, when meeting her sister, Betty, at church for a blind date. Lena and John dated for a few months and married November 28, 1959, at Crescent Heights Baptist Church in Abilene, Texas. In December, they moved to California with everything they owned in a two wheeled trailer. After driving day and night, they arrived in Madera, a small town north of Fresno, on January 1, 1960. They stopped for Breakfast 50 miles outside of Madera, they had a car wreck that would change bond their marriage beyond their expectations. This wreck was a God thing. At age 28, John was very independent and possibly even stubborn and Lena, at 25, was also independent. The wreck made them closer and more dependent on the Lord and continued for 63 years of our marriage.

Death to a Vision and a Birth – John setup an interview in San Francisco with a Sheet Metal Shop, with a vision of going to Seminary for a Music Education degree. He boarded the bus and arrived in San Francisco little money. He pawned his new wedding ring to pay for the taxi to the interview, but by the time he arrived the job was filled. He walked to a blood drive station where he was able to eat doughnuts and donate blood for money. He paid the pawn broker the blood money to get his wedding ring back. He hitched-hiked back to Madera with one dime left in his pocket. They stayed with Lena’s cousin in Fresno until they were they found work. John was offered a job the first place he went, and Lena got a job the same day. Shortly after Randy was born, they bought a house using John’s GI bill. John said, “the house seemed so large, it was a whopping 1,313 square feet.”

Changing John’s direction – John and Lena joined a church where the pastor helped John grow and referred him to another church to lead their music part-time. Not long after taking that position the pastor left and another man became pastor. The Lord used that pastor to spur a desire in John to become a Pastor. John’s former pastor encouraged him to preach at small churches in the mountains and each time he would preach, they asked him to be their pastor. The steel industry was on strike and John couldn’t find work. He learned how to stucco from wire scratch coat to color coat. Little did he know these skills would assist him later as a pastor. Unemployed again due to the building recession, he went to sheet metal shops offering to work for free to prove his value. Several sheet metal Foreman went to the board and recommended John for a journeyman sheet metal worker, although this wouldn’t guarantee him a job. While waiting to hear the results in an adjoining room, John said, “Lord, if I don’t get in the union, I’m returning to Texas tomorrow.” That night he became a union sheet metal worker and was hired at the shop where he interviewed. He worked in sheet metal until he became a full-time pastor.

The Pastorate – First Southern Baptist Church in Reedley (1963-1969) - The Secretary of So. Baptist Association asked John to come in view of a call at First Southern Baptist Church in Reedley. After the evening services they called him to be their pastor. The church grew on the first Sunday because, the Jackson 3 were now the Jackson 5 with the addition of Rick and Sherry. The growth continued and they were able to hire a carpenter and paid John a full-time salary to build the education building and eventually was able to make John the full-time pastor. He was finally able to attend Seminary and would drive back and forth to Golden Gate Seminary for the next four semesters. Although John wanted to move closer to seminary, God had other plans. While studying for spring finals with a good friend, he continued to pester John about submitting his name to Crescent Baptist Church in Anaheim, CA. John told him, “I’ve taken all geographical barriers off of God and I’ll go where he wants me to go.” His friend immediately called the chairman of the pulpit committee. This call resulted in John and Lena going to Anaheim to meet with the committee. After meeting and driving home, John said, “Lena, this is where God wants us to minister”. He remained at Crescent for 22 years.

Crescent Baptist Church – Anaheim, CA (1969-1991) - John had 89 in attendance on their first Sunday and grew to 500+. The Lord provided the resources for John to fly to San Francisco until he graduated from Golden Gate Seminary. While at Crescent, they started two missions. The most successful one was Saddleback Valley Community Church. When the pastors in the association heard the new church name, three association members came to John’s office and demanded the name be changed or they would not give the mission money to the startup. John said, “Rick Warren and I have prayed about the church name, and this is the will of God.” The association members insisted on a change. John told them, you don’t have to give the $400 dollars a month, but I will take the $400 dollars out of our church missions and give it to Saddleback. Crescent was the largest giving church in the Association, so the association members backed down. Saddleback membership is now over 10,000 members.

God’s Blessings – Built a 10,000sq. ft. two story Education building. Built a three-story educational building with classes, offices, a gym, kitchen, and parking on the first floor. John was elected to the Foreign Mission Board, aka International Mission Board. Elected twice as President of the California Southern Baptist Convention. Traveled with four other state leaders and their wives to Russia. Traveled to meet the missionaries servicing in other countries and sharing the gospel in Africa, Philippines, Japan, and Korea. John and Lena developed lifelong friendships with many wonderful people, while at Crescent, and on their many travels.

First Baptist Church of Fairfield, CA (1991-1994) – God used John and Lena to help heal and restore this church that experienced some difficult times. The church continued to grow. John was elected as Chairman of the Foreign Mission Board. This role required a great deal of time because the former president took a position with a new mission board. John would leave on a red eye flight Thursday night and return on Saturday. He was Pastoring full-time and serving as the Chairman of the Foreign Mission Board.

Immanuel Baptist Church, Highland, CA (1994-2004) – Rob Zinn, the pastor at Immanuel Baptist Church encouraged John to come and work with him. John became the Executive Pastor overseeing all the staff and the project manager. Attendance grew from 800 to 1,800 in Sunday School, and they were soon offering three morning worship services. He oversaw the building of two 42,000sq. ft. education buildings. Built a softball field, basketball court, two-story bus barn, prayer garden, pavilion, bookstore, and 700 new parking spaces. Planted trees, landscaping, and remodeled the worship center expanding seating capacity by 500 making it a beautiful place to worship and fellowship.

Retirement 2004 – In July 2004, John and Lena moved back to Texas. John said, “the last eighteen years have been exciting and difficult. It is difficult to have spent years working long hours to yard work and the occasional golf game, well maybe a little more than occasional.” John said, “one thing that has been fulfilling, is teaching a Bible class at First Baptist Forney.” God has used John in teaching others to continue to grow in their walk with God through this Bible Class. After moving to Texas, John wrote a book entitled, Spiritual Warfare a Guide to Controlling the Mind and the Emotions. He taught this book many times at First Baptist Forney, TX. While dad spent most of his adult life serving the Lord, he shared all of that with his family. He set an example of a hard work ethic, service and dedication to others that was passed down to his kids Randy, Rick, and Sherry. While his ministries didn’t allow much time for family outings or activities, he did provide a family culture starting with after church on Sunday evenings followed up with popcorn Pepsi and TV time as a family. He enjoyed throwing the ball around with all three kids and he always enjoyed listening to them sing. He had a love of fishing. If he wasn’t fishing with the boys in his bass boat, he and Lena enjoyed spending time together. John enjoyed exercising his competitiveness on the church softball teams during the Crescent days. He showed that competitiveness on the golf course past 90 years old.

John was proud of his kids and their families. He enjoyed playing and sitting back watching his grandkids' successes and those of his great-grandchildren too. He was proud of the family that was created so many years ago. The kids all grew up hearing “this could be my mean day” and of course everyone would laugh. If there were sweets to be had, he was all in. He’d often follow up his goodbyes with “I love ya and be sweet”.

Dad was not an overly affectionate person, he left that to Mimi, but he showed his love through encouragement, questions, and true interest in what was happening with us and of course his uncontainable curiosity of where we were with the Lord. He desired to make sure we’d all end up at the same place. He showed no shame in Christ and set such an example for us to follow.

Final Thoughts from John Jackson – God took me, a rough country kid from humble beginnings and brought me into his kingdom. He molded my young life for his usefulness. He brought people into my life to fulfill his plan and purpose. He’s allowed me to be a vessel for His goodness. I know what it is to have nothing, and I know now what it is to have everything.

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