Karen Ware Jackson
Co-pastor, First Presbyterian Church
Greenville, NC
In each edition of IG Mix, we ask a guest writer two questions about serving in ministry.
What keeps you up at night?
The concern of my heart right now is how to reach kids who we haven't been able to reach with online church. With our youngest children still not eligible for the vaccine, it might be quite some time before children and families are comfortable in large indoor groups, and some may never come back to worship or educational programs in the same ways. And this isn't just the church. The number of "lost children" -- kids and families who have fallen off the grid and become unreachable in the last year – is truly staggering. How can we reimagine our discipleship programs to reach these families? How can we be the church for the least, the lost, and the lonely?
What gets you up in the morning?
I got a Nesspresso for Christmas, and it's saving my life! But really, what gets me up in the morning is the same thing that has always motivated me: Jesus Christ. As a pastor, I get to be an agent of Christ's love and grace in all kinds of spaces and all kinds of ways. As hard as it can be, it's also an unspeakable blessing.
Karen Ware Jackson is a dynamic pastor who is passionate about curating engaging worship for all ages. She and her husband, Rob, are the senior co-pastors of First Presbyterian Church in Greenville, NC. They have two elementary-age children who keep them busy, fill their lives with joy, and ask great questions. Speaking of questions, Karen is the co-editor of When Kids Ask Hard Questions: Faith Filled Responses for Tough Topics Volume 1, and Volume 2, which will be released in October. You can learn more about Karen's speaking, writing, and workshops at KarenWareJackson.com.
Other IG Mix Articles, September-October 2021
The Joy of Shared Life
A Place, a Purpose, and an Invitation to Belong
Intergenerational Worship Leadership: Lots of Ideas!
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