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Senior Pastor & First Lady
Pastor Steve Jackson & Sis. Linda Crawl Jackson
Pastor Steve Jackson Bio
Pastor/Teacher Steve Jackson has served as the undershepherd of Mt Joy Church in Edwardsville, Il for over 45 years, where he has built a diverse congregation. His focus is Youth Development, Elder care, and winning lost souls to Christ. In addition to serving as Pastor of Mt Joy, Pastor Jackson has served as an Administrator in the Edwardsville School District at the secondary level - South from 1997 to 2012, where he helped hundreds of At-Risk students learn to value themselves and to take advantage of their opportunity to succeed in education and life. His themes were Respect and Accountability. That respect was demonstrated to the students first by him and the teaching staff. This helped the students to build and understand their value. They also learned to respect others as well as believe in a hope for their futures.
His career in education was preceded by a career in Investment Banking at US Bank in St Louis, Mo, for 23 years, where he traded and sold stocks, bonds, and other financial instruments. His education includes: BS in Economics & Psychology at Southern Illinois University – Edwardsville, IL; MS in Money Markets & Banking from Rutgers University, NJ; MS in Educational Leadership - Southern Illinois University – Edwardsville, IL.
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Pastor Jackson is married to Linda Crawl Jackson and is the father of two daughters, Dr. Kimberly Nicole, and Zipporah, two sons, Antwon and Alexander; as well as six grandsons, Joshua, Isaac, Jacob, Kysen, Cannon, Royce, and a granddaughter, Khloe. He is proud of his family and takes every opportunity to encourage and bless them. His compassion, predictable demeanor and giving spirit are considered his trademark and can be counted on in all situations. One of his favorite scriptures is Philippians 4:8 that teaches us what things to think about: things that are true, lovely, honest, pure, fair, and of good report.
Linda Crawl Jackson Bio
Sis. Linda Crawl Jackson serves in the capacity of First Lady at Mt. Joy Church under the leadership of Pastor Steve Jackson. She provides support to the ministry in many capacities and is known for her encouraging spirit and organizational skills.
She hails from Hamilton, Georgia and has been a resident of Illinois since 1981. She enjoys her work with the University of Illinois Extension as the Senior Program Lead for nutrition programs across the State. For over 40 years, she has worked with local staff to improve the food accessibility and health choices for low income families in the metropolitan St. Louis area.
Her education includes a BS degree in Family and Consumer Sciences from Fort Valley State University, Fort Valley, Georgia and a MS degree in Consumer Economics from Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa. Her sons, daughters and grandchildren add an incredible level of joy to her life. Upon her retirement, her plans are to enroll the little ones in “GrannyGranny’s” fun filled, overnight monthly Life Skills weekends where they will engage in activities that will support them into teenage and young adulthood.
One of Lady Jackson’s favorite scriptures is Romans 8:28 - And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. In addition to this scriptures she also lives by Philippians 4:11-13 - I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: everywhere and in all things am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.