[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 74 (Tuesday, May 8, 2018)]
[House]
[Pages H3786-H3787]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1015
                    TRIBUTE TO DR. JIMMY E. JACKSON

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Alabama (Mr. Brooks) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. BROOKS of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 53-
year pastoral career of Dr. Jimmy E. Jackson, who is set to retire in 
early June.
  I first met Dr. Jackson 38 years ago in 1980. Over those 38 years, I 
have grown to very much appreciate and admire all that Dr. Jackson has 
done to improve the physical and spiritual lives of Tennessee Valley 
residents.
  Dr. Jackson has dedicated the last 40 years of his pastoral service 
to the congregation of Whitesburg Baptist Church in Huntsville, 
Alabama. My colleagues may recall when Dr. Jackson served as a guest 
chaplain for the House of Representatives in April of 2015.

[[Page H3787]]

  Dr. Jackson's walk with Christ began on October 26, 1968. That day, 
Dr. Jackson made the solemn decision to accept Jesus Christ as his 
Savior and devote his whole life to serving God.
  Dr. Jackson has said that he ``knew about Jesus before October 1968, 
but on that morning when I knew myself to be lost and turned to Jesus 
Christ in faith, I was converted by the grace of God.''
  Through 40 years at Whitesburg Baptist, Dr. Jackson has remained 
committed to leading people in the Rocket City and Alabama to Christ 
and has been integral in the spiritual life of the people of the 
Tennessee Valley.
  Under Dr. Jackson's leadership, Whitesburg Baptist Church has grown 
to 7,100 members, making it one of the largest and most successful 
churches in the Tennessee Valley.
  In Matthew 28, verses 19 and 20, Jesus instructed his disciples to 
``therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the 
name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit and teaching 
them to obey everything I have commanded you. . . . '' Dr. Jackson has 
lived this Great Commission through his long pastoral career at 
Whitesburg Baptist and in our community and the broader Christian 
faith.
  In addition to presiding over Whitesburg Baptist Church, Dr. Jackson 
served in a number of distinguished capacities, including but not 
limited to: the executive committee of the Alabama State Board of 
Missions, the executive committee of the Southern Baptist Convention, a 
trustee of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, and on the board 
of regents of the University of Mobile.
  I commend Dr. Jimmy Jackson on his exceptional career and service to 
God. I wish Dr. Jackson many years of happiness as he begins this new 
phase of life with his bride of nearly 58 years, Bobbi; his children; 
his grandchildren; and his great-grandchildren.

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