When
Greg Jackson was a teenager, his parents divorced and his life radically
changed. Although raised in a Christian home and baptized in the
Holy Spirit at age 13, doubt and rebellion consumed him and he walked
away from God into the arms of worldly pleasures.
"I got involved in the party lifestyle," Jackson, 39,
of Modesto, California, said. "During this whole time, the
Holy Spirit was tugging at me and trying to pull me back."
Jackson enjoyed some in the exotic dance industry, but that lifestyle
couldn't satisfy the spiritual hunger growing in his heart. His
pursuit of satisfaction soon found a dead end.
"It's amazing, the wickedness I was involved in," Jackson
said. "The sky was the limit when it came to the Devil. I prayed,
'Lord, get me out of this!' I knew it was wrong and I knew I was
going to hell." So in August 2001, under the Holy Spirit's
conviction, Jackson left the entertainment industry, walked into
Neighborhood Church Assembly of God in Modesto and recommitted himself
to Jesus Christ.
Now Jackson knows what satisfaction is. "I needed to surrender
everything," he said. "I needed to empty myself, to die
to myself, to die to my flesh. And the blessings came. His love
is everlasting despite my wicked past. I have peace in my life."
Jackson's appetite for the world was replaced with a passion for
the Word. His aunt, a missionary in La Paz, Mexico, directed him
to Global University, and he is now studying to earn a B.A. in Bible
and Theology.
Jackson's personal Web site was created for people involved in exotic
entertainment. It helps them to understand his departure from that
lifestyle, how Christ changed his life and why they, too, need Jesus.
"I wanted to reach them and let them know that the sexually
immoral will not inherit the kingdom of heaven," Jackson said.
The Web site immediately delivers visitors a poignant message, "When
[eternity] comes, who will be there to meet you?" Other pages
on the web site detail Jackson's testimony and the way to salvation
as shown in Scripture.
Global University has enabled Jackson to study the Word and know
his Savior better. "Global University has been instrumental
in my life and I thank God for the privilege to be able to study
His Word formally, through Global," he said.
Jackson is a full-time legal clerk in Modesto. Although the road
to ministry may be long and present many challenges, he said time
isn't a concern. "I don't have an agenda," he said. "The
only thing that I know for certain is that I hunger for God's Word
and want to study."
