Unconventional pastor bridges divide
Biker, hunter, man of the cloth sports goatee, gold rings and a golden tongue
If you tried to guess the occupation of the large man who loves hunting and motorcycles, has a bald head, goatee and wears flamboyant gold rings on most of his fingers, your first choice probably wouldn't be pastor.
But for those who know the Rev. Jackson, the leader of the Rock Canyon Assembly of God Church, it makes perfect sense.
"I think he's really great because he just accepts everyone," Provo Mayor Lewis Billings said. "It doesn't matter who you are or what you wear or what you believe in or don't believe in, he's willing to help you."
The Rev. Jackson is a bit shy about receiving praise. At a recent meeting, he shook his head and seemed embarrassed at the applause for being named Utah's Communicator of the Year at the Golden Spike Awards.
Lately, he has been doing a lot of communicating with the community.
The pastor is president of the Provo Rotary Club, chaplain for Chapter Four of the Blue Knights, a law enforcement motorcycle club, and he oversees a community council formed by Utah Valley State College. The community council grew out of the outcry in conservative Utah Valley when UVSC student leaders invited liberal filmmaker Michael Moore to speak there before the presidential election.
"Anyone who has heard the reverend knows he can preach, but his ability to communicate to a broad cross-section of the general community goes far beyond the walls of his church," former U.S. Sen. Jake Garn said at the communicator award ceremony.
The Rev. Jackson is quick to compliment his "awesome" wife Marlys, who he says "feels called" by God to serve Rock Canyon church members the same way he does.
He says she's the brains and heart of their marriage and the reason he's been able to accomplish so much during his 13-year tenure as Rock Canyon's pastor.
Marlys Jackson directs the credit back to her husband.
"We help each other out, but he really is an incredible communicator," she said. "He has a fabulous way of taking things that almost seem impossible to understand and bringing them down so we can understand them. He's just really gifted. He can put into words what the rest of us can't."
The Rev. Jackson has made his mark in the heart of Utah Valley, where an estimated 90 percent of residents are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
He has taught his congregation to embrace the religion-influenced culture around them — even if they're offended by the monolithic tendencies of LDS neighbors and leaders.
"Every community has some dynamics you have to deal with," the Rev. Jackson said. "There is going to be a majority and a minority opinion no matter where you go. What makes religion, in particular, such a problem is that you're often dealing with people's core beliefs."
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