Reflections of a Messenger

A Dialogue with Gary Jackson (AIM '77)

Since coming to AIM as a young man in September 1977, Gary Jackson has gone on to a career in missions ministry. He and his wife, Danita (AIM '77), have two grown children and are currently serving in Beijing, China while in language school. The following was published in the December 2004 issue of Beyond Imagination, the newsletter of AIM.

Gary and Danita Jackson during a visit to the Great Wall of China.

Beyond Imagination: What was your AIM experience like?

GJ: Having spent most of my life in the small, rural West Texas town of Hart, the AIM experience was a real eye-opener. I had never heard teaching and preaching the likes of Richard Rogers and Jim McGuiggan.

Beyond Imagination: In summary, what have you done since your time in AIM?

GJ: After returning from Ontario, I worked for a half of a year and then went to SIBI. Soon after starting Sunset, Danita and I were married. After graduating from Sunset, Danita, our 9-month old son, Joshua, and I joined a team going to Belgrade, Yugoslavia. We worked there as missionaries for 10 years, serving as coordinators for 4 AIM teams, and adding a daughter, Elizabeth, to our family. From 1993-1994 we served as Visiting Missionaries at Abilene Christian University, where I finished my Bachelors, and we also worked on forming a team for our new mission to Moscow, Russia. We worked in Moscow until 2003, where we coordinated another 4 AIM teams. After leaving Moscow, we served as Visiting Missionaries at Harding University for one year. Since September 2004, we have been working in Beijing, China.

Beyond Imagination: What have been some of your most valuable lessons learned about missions?

GJ: That if God doesn't establish the house, then it will certainly fall. I have also come to believe that God is more concerned about the quality of our work than the quantity of those we baptize.

Beyond Imagination: From your perspective, how has AIM changed and grown over the years?

GJ: There have been many changes since those early years, but I think they have been for the better. The training seems to be better as well as the process of choosing those who will go on to the field. The idea of having former AIMers serving as mentors is a great idea and I think has been very fruitful. I think that the AIM program will continue to improve in the coming years in training new workers for the Kingdom.

Beyond Imagination: As coordinators of AIM students in Yugoslavia and Russia, what role do you feel you were able to play in the development of the AIM students who worked with you?

GJ: We felt like our most important role was to be something of mentors for the students. We gave our students a lot of freedom (probably too much) but feel that it was very important for us to model mission work. Our weekly meetings, study time, prayer, and meals prepared by Danita were also very important for maintaining team spirit.

Beyond Imagination: What have you observed are some of the ways AIM students are able to have the greatest impact on their fields?

GJ: The AIM students play several important roles: 1) They provide a necessary support group for young Christians, 2) They provide leadership in the early days of a work when there are only a few local mature believers, 3) They are older peers for our children, and 4) They are friends and encouragement to the Mission Team.

Beyond Imagination: Looking back, what have been some of your greatest triumphs in the years since?

GJ: I really don't know how I would answer that, since I believe that all of the triumphs have been God-induced. I have tried to remain faithful to follow God's leading, and He has been faithful to bless our ministries and our family. Our children are faithful followers, and Danita and I have been married faithfully for almost 25 years. We have been used by Him to plant churches in Yugoslavia and Russia and hope to be of service to Him now in China. There may be other places he would like to send us in the future, and we hope we will be ready.

Beyond Imagination: What are your dreams and plans for the future?

GJ: For now, to learn as much as possible of the Chinese language and culture and make as much of an impact as possible while we are here. We don't know what God has in store for us, but we would like to be involved in training future missionaries at some point in the future.