Contributed-Bishop Purcell Jackson

Abortion is orchestrated and cold-blooded murder.

That's what Bishop Purcell Jackson, head of the God's Way Assembly Ministries Worldwide, believes.

Bishop Jackson, a member of the clergy for almost 20 years, says there can be no explanation whatsoever for abortion as the Bible and the Church are against it.

"It is the devil placing his tentacles, trying to wipe out the human race," he says. "Every child is a gift from God."

He explains that if a child is conceived as a result of a crime (rape), one has to be sympathetic and can look on that case based on its own merit. He adds, however, that medical history will show that a victim of rape, who aborts her pregnancy, suffers more trauma than the victim who gives birth to the child since there are options of child rearing.

Bishop Jackson, a past student of Kingston College (KC), oversees the operations of the 12 churches in his ministry with headquarters at 28 Sheffield Road, Kingston 2.

one of the youngest

Said to be one of the youngest bishops in Jamaica, after leaving KC, he went to Exed Community College and then on to God's Way Bible Institute where he earned his diploma. He then attended JCN Bible Institute in Florida where he earned a bachelor's degree in theology.

Bishop Jackson, served as pastor in many of the branch churches where he spent more than 13 years in the field. He was transferred back to headquarters in 2001 and was knighted by Bishop The Right Reverend Dr Delford Davis four years later. He has since brought much vigour to the ministries. The church has experience supernatural growth with people joining the organisation daily. He currently has a radio programme at 7 a.m. on Sundays on roots 96 FM.

Bishop Jackson says his parents, the late Bishop P.C. Jackson and Mirriam Jackson, are his first - and will continue to be his - mentors, but he looks for guidance in the field from stalwarts such as Rev Al Miller, Bishop Davis and Bishop Herro Blair, all of whom he connects with for guidance.

He serves as chairman of the Men's Commission on the Full Gospel Association's board and is the public relations officer of the Swallowfield Pastors Fraternity.

He has been married to his wife Dannette, who is a pastor and the first lady of the ministry, for the past 14 years. They have three children, Dayna, Deidra and Purcell III. "She has continued to give undying, unwavering, unsolicited support in every single area and strata of the ministry," he says of his wife.

FAMILY OF PASTORS

Bishop Jackson is from a family of pastors as his father was and three of his brothers are also pas-tors. But this was not the real reason why he de-cided to serve the Lord in this capacity.

"Three simple reason propelled me to go into ministry. The call of God on my life, the heart of caring for humanity and there was too much double standards in Christendom. So the Lord raised me up to help eradicate hypocrisy in the Church to help people rise above he status quo and societal norms. Someone has to teach the people the truth of the Bible," he declares.

He believes God has entrusted him to raise up an army of men who are not fearful and have a passion for the hearts and lives of others, so they can plunder hell and raise a standard of righteousness in Jamaica. "God has raised me up to go into the garrison and ghettos and in areas where others are afraid to go, to preach this unadulterated gospel of the truth of Jesus Christ," says Bishop Jackson, who turns 40 today. "This nation must drop un-righteousness, turn from the evil of their ways and surrender to God. Indeed, He is the way forward."

PARADIGM SHIFT

Bishop Jackson warns, though, that there is a spiritual paradigm shift taking place in Christendom. He believes the Church of Jesus Christ is on the rise and will make a mark in Jamaica as God will cause His glory to return to this country.

As a result he opines, Jamaica will become the Christian capital of the world. "Crime will come down to an all-time low and as ridiculous as it may sound to the naked ear or to the carnal ear, spiritual eyes and mouth doth declare that the right hand of God will move across this nation, justice will roll down like a fountain and righteousness like a mighty stream," he says. "Whereas in formative years missionaries came to Jamaica, God will do the inverse and send Jamaicans to proclaim the message of salvation across the world."

It may have already started. In early April, he and members of his church will be visiting the Philippines to take the gospel to the people there.