Pastor Darrell Jackson, Sr., son of the late Bishop Andrew Charles "A.C." Jackson and Jannie Lumpkin Jackson was born in Columbia, South Carolina.  He is the oldest of five children.  After graduating from the Richland County public school system (Dreher High School), he earned his Bachelor of Arts Degree from Benedict College, majoring in Political Science with a concentration in Public Administration.

While a student at Benedict College, he served as President of the Student Government Association, and was the recipient of the Most Distinguished Student Award.  He is a 1982 graduate of Columbia International Seminary.  In 2000, he received an Honorary Degree from Richard Stockton College of New Jersey, and in 2002, he received an Honorary Doctorate Degree from his alma mater, Benedict College of Columbia, South Carolina.

Pastor Jackson has always been involved in civic affairs.  He served as Commissioner for Richland County School District One from 1990-1992. In November of 1992, he was elected to the South Carolina Senate, becoming the state’s youngest African-American Senator ever elected.  Jackson continues to serve in the South Carolina Senate today (District 21), where he represents Richland County.  Click here to learn more about Senator Darrell Jackson, Sr.

In 1999, the South Carolina School Boards Association presented him with an Outstanding Legislator Award.  And, the South Carolina National Chapter of Social Workers presented him with the Legislator of the Year Award in 2000.  In 2006, Jackson was one of only five South Carolina Legislators who received the Seatbelt Champion Award from Nashville based Meharry-State Farm Alliance.  This is a national recognition which applauded their success at inserting a primary enforcement amendment into existing seatbelt statute that became South Carolina law.

As a businessman, Darrell Jackson, Sr. has enjoyed unparalleled success as the founder and owner of South Carolina’s oldest African-American owned PR firm.  Jackson founded Sunrise Enterprise of Columbia, Inc. in 1986.  Sunrise is full-service public relations, marketing and consulting firm. 

Jackson has extensive experience in strategic planning and management of public relations and marketing campaigns for both private and public sector organizations.  His primary areas of expertise are political consulting, market research and church management. 

In 2006, Bible Way Church of Atlas Road was named one of “America’s most influential churches”. The 9,000+ member congregation where Jackson is Senior Pastor, is featured in Volume I of America’s Most Influential Churches by Dr. John N. Vaughan, founder of the American Society for Church Growth.  Bible Way Church of Atlas Road is the only South Carolina congregation featured in this first volume on megachurches.  

Jackson is also the author of “A World of Possibilities,” his newly released self-help book designed to unleash the power of possibility within every individual.

Pastor Darrell Jackson, Sr. is married to the former Willie Mae Rooks of Spartanburg, South Carolina; they have two sons, Darrell Jr. and Antoine Joseph.