Prior to joining Jessup University as its sixth President in March 2011, John served as the Co-Founder of Thriving Churches International and as a Senior Leader of Bayside Church, Granite Bay, California. He is the Founding Pastor of LifePoint Church in Minden, Nevada, and previously was the Executive Minister of the American Baptist Churches of the Pacific Southwest (now Transformation Ministries) where he was responsible for serving more than 270 churches in four Western states. John also served as the Senior Pastor and in several staff roles at First Baptist Church of Oxnard and as the Youth Pastor at First Baptist Church of Buena Park. Dr. Jackson earned both his Ph.D. and M.A. in Educational Administration and Organizational Studies from the University of California, Santa Barbara; M.A. in Theology (Christian Formation and Discipleship) at Fuller Theological Seminary; and a B.A. in Religion (Christian History and Thought) from Chapman University.

His strong background in executive and organizational leadership has given him the opportunity to come alongside high impact churches and marketplace leaders in national and global settings to strengthen their organizational leadership and cultural transformation capacities.

Dr. Jackson has written ten books, most recently Grace Ambassador, which is equipping believers around the world to bring heaven to earth. Other books include The Prevailing Church, The Right Choice-Choosing a College and Why it Matters, Finding Your Place in God’s Plan, God Size Your Church, Leveraging Your Communication Style, Leveraging Your Leadership Style, 30 Days to Healthier Relationships, Pastorpreneur, and High Impact Church Planting.

Dr. Jackson is married to Pamela Harrison Jackson and they live in Rocklin. They enjoy spending time with their five children, sons-in-law, and five beautiful grandchildren.

Education: Ph.D., U.C. Santa Barbara, 1986 | M.A., U.C. Santa Barbara, 1985 | M.A., Fuller Theological Seminary, 1983 | B.A., Chapman University, 1981