Brittany Ervin
Pain, loss and suffering brought Pastor Jeff Jackson closer to Christ. After reaching a point where he no longer wanted to live, his life changed after someone gave him a Bible during one of his darkest moments.
Today, Jackson serves as senior pastor of Shaker Heights Community Church, where he shares a message of hope and restoration through Jesus Christ. After overcoming personal struggles, he said he felt called to the ministry.
Shaker Heights Community Church, 20120 Lomond Blvd., describes its ministry as having an “end-times focus.” Its stated mission is to teach what the church describes as “the uncompromised Word of God.”
The beginning and turning point
Jackson grew up in East Cleveland in a blended household of eight. His life took a dramatic turn when he dropped out of high school during twelfth grade. He said he became involved in street life despite the risks. Jackson eventually left street life behind and he married at his mother’s encouragement. However, he lacked structure and did not have a spiritual foundation. His marriage ultimately suffered and eventually ended in divorce. Jackson said he experienced suicidal thoughts after the marriage ended and was briefly hospitalized.
Soon afterward, he began deepening his faith and seeking a closer relationship with Christ. Jackson started reevaluating his life and shifted his focus. Facing those challenges helped him grow personally and spiritually.
When asked what causes people to struggle with their faith, Jackson replied, “Pain and suffering. People question their faith when the answers don’t come the way they expect. No matter how hard life gets, if we trust in the Lord even in our weakest moments, we can persevere, trusting that a blessing awaits us if we press through the circumstances.”
Finding love again
Jackson eventually gave love another chance. He first noticed Dionna, who later became his wife, through a storefront window while on his way to get a haircut.
Jackson said she was not initially interested but later agreed to go out with him. They have now been married for nearly three decades.
He spoke fondly about his wife, Dionna, and said she is creative, expressive and fun to be around. “She can make a moment of hardship turn into laughter,” Jackson said.
Dionna Jackson, who serves in the church role commonly called first lady, said she admires the way her husband keeps moving forward despite how he feels. The couple continues to impact the lives of others by discussing life and spiritual concerns with biblical principles.
Jackson said he has improved his problem-solving skills and continues learning how to balance his work, marriage and relationships within the church.
Stepping into the role
Jackson takes his role as pastor seriously and said, “The best thing about being a Pastor is “responsibility” and “accountability.” Being an example before the people and those in the world while representing Christ as an ambassador.”
While taking on this responsibility is fulfilling, it comes with its share of challenges too. “The challenging part about being a Pastor is trying to support those who don’t appreciate your time, efforts, and study. It’s difficult to watch those who need the Truth and are not receptive to it,” said Jackson.
He also relishes being able to connect with people of other faiths: “The first opportunity that we are blessed to engage with someone who may not have had the privilege to hear about Jesus and learn of His promises must be with patience and understanding.
We must ask the people what future and hope does their religion offer at the end of life? Also, what does their god offer as a remedy to sin?”
Role of the church
Jackson believes that the first love of the church should be Jesus Christ, and that churches losing sight of this is one reason they haven’t been as effective in communities as in previous decades.
“The church has become more of a place of entertainment. People can talk about Jesus, yet not want a real relationship with Him. Many pastors are no longer preaching truth with conviction. Just because a church has a large congregation does not mean everyone is saved,” he said.
By contrast, the Shaker Heights Community Church engages the community by teaching the gospel “without compromise and with conviction.”
Even so, he believes there is room for improvement.
“The church must improve in Unity as the body of Christ and involvement with community affairs, along with the breaking down of the altars of cultural changes that promote satanic lifestyles,” Jackson added.
Encouragement for nonbelievers
In order to reach those who have not found the church, he suggested “giving a good witness along with a stern warning of why they should consider a life-changing commitment to Christ is key.”
“Seeing the transformation of people’s lives is a rewarding experience,” Jackson said. “My encouragement would be for anyone to look at all of the time spent with their choices they’ve made and examine the results. Take that same effort and put it towards Jesus Christ and change will come. I call it the difference between a uman result and a God result.”
Shaker Heights Community Church
20120 Lomond Blvd.Shaker Heights, Ohio 44122
Brittany “Miss Brit” Ervin is an author, speaker, creative and a freelance journalist.
