The African-American pastor at Fenimore Road United Methodist Church (FSUMC) says his imaginative and prescient for the 134-year-old church in Brooklyn, whose congregants are predominantly Caribbean, has its roots in 1 Corinthians 12: 4-6.
“’There are completely different sorts of items, however the identical spirit. There are completely different sorts of service, however the identical Lord. There are completely different sorts of working, however the identical God, who works all of them in all individuals,’” the Rev. Roger Jackson, a local New Yorker, informed Caribbean Life solely on Saturday as a part of a sequence in celebrating African-American Historical past Month in February.
“I envision ministry at Fenimore Road to more and more mirror the beloved group of religion, the place the individuals are empowered to do ministry as an outgrowth of our participation in discipleship fashions of bible examine,” added Rev. Jackson, who, on July 1, 2021, was appointed to serve FSUMC, on the nook of Rogers Avenue and Fenimore Road, as pastor.
“I consider that one of these examine is not going to solely nurture, encourage and assist every of us to appreciate and/or articulate our distinctive calling by way of the expression of our items and abilities, however to brazenly share our religion with all whom we encounter in our each day lives,” continued Pastor Jackson, who was born and raised within the Queensbridge Housing Tasks in Queens. He and his spouse, Kim, have been fortunately married for 25 years.
Rev. Jackson stated, whereas the boys at FSUMC are “few in quantity, they actively take part in ongoing tasks, and lead reward and worship on the second Sunday of every month.
“I envision that, at some point quickly, that the boys would attend bible examine and prayer conferences,” he stated.
As well as, Pastor Jackson envisioned that FSUMC will “search out methods to take part in collaborative ministry initiatives with these church buildings in our Brooklyn Downtown South Cooperative Parish.
“Could God’s grace proceed to tie us along with an unbreakable wire of affection for His glory and our profit,” he stated.
Pastor Jackson stated he’s the youngest of 9 youngsters born to Robert and Catherine Jackson. His father’s household is from Jap Lengthy Island, and his mom’s household is from the Savannah, GA space.
Earlier than his appointment at FSUMC, Rev. Jackson, who has been pastoring since 2007, served because the senior pastor of St. Paul’s United Methodist Church of Vanderveer Park in Brooklyn.
He stated prior appointments had been at St. James United Methodist Church in Lynbrook, Lengthy Island; First United Methodist Church of Hollis, in Queens; and First Roosevelt United Methodist Church in Lengthy Island.
Pastor Jackson stated he additionally served as a volunteer preacher for Sunday Providers on the United Methodist Far Rockaway Mission Heart.
As a part of the method of changing into an ordained elder, he stated he accomplished supervised ministry stints at Grace United Methodist Church in Valley Stream and Wesley United Methodist Church in Franklin Sq., each on Lengthy Island.
He stated each of those ministry settings had been “cross-cultural and cross-racial assignments.”
Pastor Jackson stated he obtained his name to ministry whereas attending Springfield Gardens United Methodist Church below the Pastoral management of the Rev. Dr. Cecil B. Stone.
“I spent 10 years serving this loving and accepting congregation as a member of the church’s ministerial employees,” stated Pastor Jackson, a graduate of New Brunswick Theological Seminary with a Grasp of Divinity.
He additionally has a bachelor’s diploma in organizational administration from Nyack Faculty and an affiliate diploma in enterprise administration from the Borough of Manhattan Neighborhood Faculty.
“Out of all my accomplishments, that which stands head and shoulders above the remaining was my good sense to have at some point stated ‘sure’ to Jesus Christ, when He known as me out of a world of darkness to turn out to be a disciple of His,” Rev. Jackson stated.
“I attempt to dwell a life emblematic of the truth that, ‘I’ve been crucified with Christ and I now not dwell, however Christ lives in me. The life I dwell within the physique, I dwell by religion within the Son of God, who liked me and gave Himself for me,’” added Rev. Jackson, quoting Gal. 2:20.
He stated he has discovered the congregation at FSUMC to be “heat and welcoming to my spouse and me.
“Fenimorians have confirmed to be beneficiant in spirit, courteous and respectful to pastoral management, and have a willingness and openness to discover new issues,” Pastor Jackson stated. “None of this was a shock to me, as a result of they had been outlined as such by my former District Superintended Rev. Kim.”
He stated, whereas he and his spouse are amongst a handful of African-People worshipping at Fenimore, “this has not created a cultural barrier between us and the primarily Caribbean congregation.
“All of us work collectively effectively and serve the Lord willingly,” Pastor Jackson stated.
“It was with pleasure to additionally uncover that Fenimorians are keen to have interaction the group by way of initiatives that assist in addressing meals insecurity, which is one thing that’s near my coronary heart,” he added.
