Rob Jackson said it’s hard to leave a church family you’ve served and loved for 15 years. But even though Central Baptist Church, Decatur, holds a special place in his heart, he’s excited about the new calling God has carved out for him at the University of Mobile (UM).
Since July 1, Jackson has been spearheading UM’s new Institute for Global Leadership, aimed at equipping Christians to reach the world with the message of Jesus Christ.
He serves as a professor, a representative to Alabama Baptists and a liaison to build partnerships with international missions organizations.
“It’s exciting, the global impact we can have,” Jackson said. “When I met with Dr. Tim Smith (UM president), he shared with me a vision he has not only to train up students who are excellent in nursing or whatever field of study they may be pursuing but to train up young men and women who will be nurses or businesspeople who turn the world upside for Jesus Christ.”
The institute also will partner with RAM, an international faith-based missions organization headquartered at UM. RAM has planted more than 400 churches, opened orphanages, organized medical missions and reached thousands of people in Eastern Europe. It recently began church planting and theological education in Western Europe.
RAM — which stands for Reaching Europe, Advancing the Kingdom and Making disciples — was founded 22 years ago by Jackson’s late father, Bob, also a well-known Alabama Baptist pastor.
The cooperative work of the institute and RAM will provide more missions, ministry and service opportunities, Smith said.
“The opportunity to welcome Dr. Rob Jackson to University of Mobile … will allow the university to extend its partnership with Baptist churches throughout Alabama while providing ministry opportunities to the ends of the earth in reaching people for Christ,” Smith said. (TAB, UM)
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