On Monday morning, Bishop Harry R. Jackson Jr., the senior pastor with Hope Christian Church in Beltsville, Maryland, passed away. He was 66.
The church confirmed Jackson's passing in a statement published on its website.
"It is with a heavy heart that we notify you that our beloved Bishop Harry R. Jackson, Jr. has transitioned to be with the Lord on November 9, 2020,” the statement reads. “Information about the memorial service will be forthcoming. Please pray for the Jackson family's comfort and respect their right to privacy at this time.”
CBN News also confirmed Jackson's death through some of his close friends, including Alveda King, the niece of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
On Tuesday morning, King paid tribute to Bishop Jackson in a post on Instagram.
“My spiritual brother and mentor, Bishop Harry called me before he “left earth”, she wrote. “He shared words of wisdom and hope. GOD please bless his family and all bereaved.”
She added, “And now, dear brothers and sisters, we want you to know what will happen to the believers who have died so you will not grieve like people who have no hope.” 1Thess 4:13 BHJ - gone, yet never forgotten... LEGACY”
Evangelist Franklin Graham of Samaritan’s Purse also paid tribute to Jackson, describing him as “a true friend of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.”
“He was with us in Washington on September 26 for Prayer March 2020 where he led in prayer for Vice President Mike Pence and our nation, and then joined me as we went to the Oval Office to pray for President Donald J. Trump,” Graham wrote on Facebook.
“I was privileged to see Bishop Jackson again in the Rose Garden for the announcement of Amy Coney Barrett as Supreme Court Justice. He was a man who stood for truth and was a great supporter of the Lord’s work around the world. His voice will be missed. Join me in praying for Bishop Jackson’s wife, family, and loved ones,” he concluded.
Bishop Jackson served as the founder and chairman of the High Impact Leadership Coalition which trains church leaders on different ways on improving their respective communities.
He has also authored several books including High Impact African American Churches, which was co-authored with George Barna, veteran researcher and founder of the Barna Group. In 2005, the book was nominated for the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association's Gold Medallion award.
Jackson’s latest book, You Were Born for More: Six Steps to Breaking Through to Your Destiny, was published in 2013.
Growing up, Jackson earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Williams College and later received a Master of Business Administration from Harvard Business School.
Bishop Jackson was also known as a conservative political figure while upholding biblical principles. He served as an evangelical advisor to President Trump and has been invited to the White House on multiple occasions.
In April, Jackson partook in an Easter blessing alongside President Trump at the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic.
At the time of this writing, Bishop Jackson’s cause of death remains unknown.
Photo courtesy: Franklin Graham Facebook
Milton Quintanilla is a freelance writer and content creator. He is a contributing writer for CrosswalkHeadlines and the host of the For Your Soul Podcast, a podcast devoted to sound doctrine and biblical truth. He holds a Masters of Divinity from Alliance Theological Seminary.
