Pastor Darrell Lamar Jackson, Pastor Emeritus
Pastor Darrell Lamar Jackson is a native Chicagoan and a third generation pastor. He succeeded both his father, Pastor Abraham Patterson Jackson and grandfather, Pastor Durmon Zollie Jackson. He pastored Liberty Baptist Church of Chicago for twenty-four years; therefore, the Jackson family dynasty prevailed for over 93 years.
Pastor Jackson is a second generation graduate of Morehouse College, Atlanta, Georgia, where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology. He is also a second generation graduate of Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary, Evanston, Illinois, where he received a Master of Divinity degree. Pastor Jackson was honored with the Garrett Theological Seminary Distinguished Alumni Award at the 147th Commencement in May, 2004.
During his pastoralship, Pastor Jackson initiated numerous outreach ministries in order to address the sociological needs of a distressed community and world. These ministries include: Couples, Singles, True Love Waits, Grief and After-Care, Free N One (Substance & Alcohol Abuse), Sisterhood, Brotherhood, The Bridge Young Adult Ministry and a Godfathers of Wisdom Mentoring Program. Additionally, he helped lead the effort to establish Vision House, a residence for families that are HIV positive or battling AIDS. and served as the Chairman of the Board of Directors for fourteen years. Vision House was established in 1995 as a partnership with Liberty Baptist Church, The Outpatient AIDS clinic at Cook County Hospital and Interfaith Housing Corporation. Pastor Jackson's leadership role in this effort was featured in the article "Sanctuary," which appeared in the February 29, 2004, issue of the Chicago Tribune Magazine. The article highlighted Black churches responding to the needs of AIDS victims.
His personal outreach ministries include: former Chaplain at Leak & Sons Funeral Chapel, Cage Funeral Home, A.A. Rayner & Sons Funeral Chapels, and 8200 South Champlain Block Club. He was a member of the Minister's Council of Chicago's third, fourth and seventh Congressional Districts, and Hirsch High School Local School Council. He was elected as president of the Hirsch Alumni Association and chaired the United Negro College Fund telethon church committee. He also served as a youth motivational speaker on numerous occasions.
Pastor Jackson served on the State of Illinois Committee for the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. National Holiday, was a former chaplain of the Cook County Correctional Center in conjunction with the One Church-One Inmate prison ministry, and was featured in Dr. Henry Young's book “The Clergy and Harold Washington.”
Additionally, he has been actively involved in the Progressive National Baptist Convention (PNBC). He was a featured speaker for the 1995 Annual Winter Board Meeting, Chairman of the Hospitality Committee for the1997 Midwest Regional Conference, and formerly served as a member of the Home Mission Board, Economic Development Committee and the AID’ S Education Committee. In addition, he served as a member of the Moderator Department and was Chairman of the AIDS Commission.
In 1994, Pastor Jackson helped to establish the Abraham Patterson Jackson scholarship at Garrett- Evangelical Theological Seminary and in 2004, the seminary honored him at his tenth anniversary by adding his name to the scholarship. This scholarship endowment is presently known as the A.P. and D.L. Jackson scholarship and is the only Baptist father and son endowment at this Methodist seminary. Pastor Jackson served as a Field Education Supervisor to numerous Garrett-Evangelical students at Liberty Baptist Church. He also supervised seminarians from McCormick and the University of Chicago.
He has been the recipient of numerous awards during his Pastoralship:
Keeper of the Vision--Vision House
Distinguished Alumni Award –Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary
Gospel Supreme Service Award
PNBC Presidents Distinguished Service Award
Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Monarch Award in the field of Religion
Hidden Jewels of the Neighborhood Award from Jewel-Osco
Featured on a radio commercial for his accomplishments as Co-Founder of Vision House
Appeared on several talk shows featuring his work with Vision House
Enverite Progressive Charity Award
Hirsch High School Dedicated Service Award
Numerous recognitions from the State of Illinois, and the White House
On a personal note, Pastor Jackson is the loving husband of Michele Bullock, a Northwestern University graduate and retired Chicago Public School educator; and a devoted father to their grown son, Maurice Patterson Jackson. On September 11, 2019, they will celebrate their 42nd wedding anniversary. Leisure time activities include listening to his iPod, watching videos, tapes and DVD’s, viewing sports (especially basketball games), and playing computer games. He is one of the biggest BULLS fans you could ever meet!
Pastor Jackson retired on December 30, 2018 after being employed at Liberty Baptist Church of Chicago for forty years, where he served as Assistant-to-the Pastor, Junior Pastor, Acting Pastor and “THE Pastor”.