Hello friends! I am Marcus Jackson
WoW! The journey was been long, trying, but a demonstrated faithful promise of God asking me to "Go" Where He Leads. After completing my "awesome" 8 years in the US Army in Sept. 1992, I received a prophetic word from a woman working in the Newark International Airport during my layover to out process the Armed Forces. As a newly committed follower of Jesus Christ of about a year, I was seeking direction for my life because this passion for Ministry was brewing in my heart. It was during the period I received a specific directive from this lady in the Airport's USO area for Military Community. As we talked, she confirmed that I was born again and she states that, " You need to go to a University that will teach you how be sensitive and Led by the Holy Spirit. You need to go to Oral Roberts University." I had no clue where this school was located, How I was going to get there, When I was going to start attending and much more. After a period of 2 years adjusting to being out the Armed Forces, I was excited & attended Oral Roberts University in 1995. I Graduated my 4 year Undergraduate Theology & Mission Degree in 1995. But, after completion of that program and starting attending Oklahoma State University's Professional Counseling program, I found myself in another "hold pattern" until I receivied a call from a former ORU Ministry Department Head - Scott Mclean. He recruited me to come work for Him in Arkansas Inner-change Freedom Initiative located at Tucker Prison. Scott was the Executive Director of IFI - Arkansas. During that time I developed a strong passion to facilitate classes for program members and a continued development of Holy Spirit giving insight into various situations and personal development. After a few years and becoming the Manager of IFI, we faced a tight notification from Prison Fellowship that they could no longer fund IFI - Arkansas. Scott was blessed to birth Pathway to Freedom during this transition, and it was a tough but powerful experience to see God show His hand in the matter of providing continued programing for the Arkansas Department of Corrections and those inmates who would be eligible to participate in that Reentry Program. After a few more years with Pathway To Freedom, I stated to sense transition again and it resulted in my resigning for a role that was powerful and hard because I was literally leaving family behind in the Inmates who themselves were preparing to make Parole. After completing that season, I entered another tough time where my "ordered steps" pressed me even more concerning staying the course ordained by God or a course I thought was one that I needed to take. After fighting and failing, I conceded in prayer broken, humbled, alone, broke, and an inward drive to be in purpose. I received my next directive via a "small still voice" of the Holy Spirit stating, "I need you to move to Batesville." I assumed it was somewhere here in Arkansas. Within days, I was on the road in a U-haul, with my puppy & a place ready for me to move into, cramping during the entire trip and needless to say - descending a steep mountain road into Batesville in June 2015.
After a few months trying to figure out employment, I again had to walk through the door Holy Spirit was leading me and again - the instruction was to "get involued with working with people." This resulted in me facilitiating a Domestic Violence Shelter for men - another tough but educational experience involving a Industry I didn't know existed. But, more specifically managing the only Safe Shelter for Males Victims of Domestic Violence. I worked there from October 2015 to September 2022. It was about this time I started to experience tugging to "move on", yet the experience was like no other. This includes completing many national presentations from California, to Oklahoma City Veternans DV Conference, to SpringField, Missouri, to as far as Kazakhstan. It was a glorious experience gaining the International appeal, but Holy Spirit was leading me away from that Industry and for the next 2 years to the planning & development of this Organization & Program: Laborer's Academy & Ministry.
After a few months trying to figure out employment, I again had to walk through the door Holy Spirit was leading me and again - the instruction was to "get involued with working with people." This resulted in me facilitiating a Domestic Violence Shelter for men - another tough but educational experience involving a Industry I didn't know existed. But, more specifically managing the only Safe Shelter for Males Victims of Domestic Violence. I worked there from October 2015 to September 2022. It was about this time I started to experience tugging to "move on", yet the experience was like no other. This includes completing many national presentations from California, to Oklahoma City Veternans DV Conference, to SpringField, Missouri, to as far as Kazakhstan. It was a glorious experience gaining the International appeal, but Holy Spirit was leading me away from that Industry and for the next 2 years to the planning & development of this Organization & Program: Laborer's Academy & Ministry.
There were many "ground level" activities that help me gain a better idea of culture here. Just like I was on a Mission Field in another Country. The lessons were vast. The trials were tough & trying. Several heart aches and spirituall attacks and many success stories of developing a heart & passion for the men hurting in the area due to various activities and the breakdown of the moral compass in their lives.
This is a short summary of many events that makes up my current mission & plans. As hard as they were, with moments of disappointments, targeted biases, I was a soldier being development to defend a mission ordain of God via Holy Spirit. The training and preparation was necessary and the plan of God.
The mission statement of Oral Roberts University (ORU) is to develop leaders who are empowered by the Holy Spirit to impact the world through whole-person education: ORU's vision is to raise students to go where God's light is dim and healing power is not known. The university was founded in 1963 by Oral Roberts based on the authority of scripture and the power of the Holy Spirit. ORU's whole-person education approach is holistic and grounded in faith. It focuses on successful student outcomes and aims to educate the whole person, including their mind, body, and spirit
There were many "ground level" activities that help me gain a better idea of culture here. Just like I was on a Mission Field in another Country. The lessons were vast. The trials were tough & trying. Several heart aches and spirituall attacks and many success stories of developing a heart & passion for the men hurting in the area due to various activities and the breakdown of the moral compass in their lives.
This is a short summary of many events that makes up my current mission & plans. As hard as they were, with moments of disappointments, targeted biases, I was a soldier being development to defend a mission ordain of God via Holy Spirit. The training and preparation was necessary and the plan of God.
The mission statement of Oral Roberts University (ORU) is to develop leaders who are empowered by the Holy Spirit to impact the world through whole-person education: ORU's vision is to raise students to go where God's light is dim and healing power is not known. The university was founded in 1963 by Oral Roberts based on the authority of scripture and the power of the Holy Spirit. ORU's whole-person education approach is holistic and grounded in faith. It focuses on successful student outcomes and aims to educate the whole person, including their mind, body, and spirit
My experience
Since starting a Career track that I didn't see coming at me was hard to do considering the Legacy subjested track. My Worldview changed the moment I left home for the US Army. Purpose and a fully tangible Christ experience continue to lead me towards a plan that's needed all of the world. "I need you to Go," the Holy Spirit stated. The "going" and many times very hard lesson prepared me to be more prepared to go into hard places and work with more challenging people.
25 years of Professional Experience working to
Restore Lives - from Youth to Adult Men alike in various Controlled programs and State Prison settings.
