Bishop Joe Jackson Sr., the only son and the youngest of six children of Rebecca G. Jackson, was born June 18, 1960, in Beaufort, South Carolina. After graduating from high school, he enlisted in the U.S. Army. He was baptized in Jesus name and filled with the Holy Ghost in 1974, in Saint Helena Island, South Carolina. In 1974 he became affiliated with Jehovah Church of Jesus Christ, St. Helena Island, South Carolina and served faithfully on the Young Adult Choir.

As a young man, he met and married the former Miss Sarah L. Smalls, the daughter of Julia and Josephus Smalls. This union produced three children, Joe Jr., Christopher, and Quentin Jackson. First Lady Sarah L. Jackson went home to be with the Lord on May 3, 2002.

Dr. Jackson’s service to God extended to Columbus, Georgia, where he served at Prayer and Faith Temple Church of God in Christ for three years. In 1981 he moved to Fort Hood, Texas where he was appointed as a Deacon at Pentecostal Experience Church of the P.A.W. In 1983, he moved to Germany where he served three years as the Church Administrator at Holy Ghost Headquarters, Church of God in Christ. In 1986, he moved to Columbia, South Carolina, where he served at Friendship Holiness Church II. During that time he taught bible study for over seven years at Jireh Pentecostal Church, Timmonsville, South Carolina.

In 1990, military duty called him to Saudi Arabia. While in the desert Dr. Jackson preached the gospel to his fellow soldiers. In 1991, he returned to Columbia, South Carolina where he served at New Love Temple. In 1998, Dr. Jackson retired from the U.S. Army after serving 13 years active and 7 years reserve. In 1994, Dr. Jackson pastored Prayer and Faith Apostolic Ministries for over 18 years and in 2006 he was Ordained and Consecrated as a Bishop at Greater Gethsemane Apostolic Church of Jesus Christ, Inc., by Bishop Kenneth J. Swaringer.

Dr. Jackson’s is the Executive Director and Founder of Community Assistance and Mentoring Program (CAMP) which is a 501 c(3) non-profit organization which focuses on developing community based programs in the area of Family Development, Improvement of Family Housing, assisting families with monthly payments while they are seeking employment, pays arrearages in order to bring their loan current, and help families with transition funds from homeownership to rental housing through SC HELP. He is also, the Executive Director and Founder of TJ Housing Home Health Care, a for-profit company that provide service to family members with physical challenges no matter the case.

Dr. Jackson’s educational achievements include: Bachelor of Arts in Christian Leadership, Master of Science in Business Management and Doctor of Pastoral Ministry from C.E. Graham Bible College, Columbia, South Carolina. On March 29, 2003, Dr. Jackson married the former Evangelist Tarry L. McDonald of Florence, South Carolina. She is the mother of one child, Terrance M. McDonald. Together they are the parents of four children.