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Do you aspire to run for political office someday?

I'm not currently thinking that way. I do believe people with the heart and background that I have need to be involved in politics. But I think that the moment I run for office, the moral authority that we have to call people to the table and get them involved would be compromised, and people would be skeptical of my motives.

You've recently battled cancer.

About a year and half ago, I was diagnosed with esophageal cancer, and overcoming it has been the journey of my life. This kind of cancer has a 15 to 20 percent survival rate, and folks diagnosed as late as I was sometimes don't even make it to surgery. I'm something of a walking miracle. I'm now cancer free, but I've had to cut back a bit on my activity while I do chemotherapy. I'm learning to share more of the load with my ministry staff.

Has it mellowed your activism?

No, but it has made me more focused. It made me take a harder look at the impact we want to have on the church and society. I don't want to sound either maudlin or messianic, but I feel that perhaps God has allowed me to stay alive so I can continue sounding a moral alarm.

Edward Gilbreath is the author of Reconciliation Blues: A Black Evangelical's Inside View of White Christianity (IVP), which will be released in December.

Copyright © 2006 Christianity Today. Click for reprint information.

Hope Christian Church's site has more on Jackson and the congregation. The High Impact Leadership Coalition's site also has information.

The Washington Post profiled Jackson in August 2005.

Tavis Smiley interviewed Jackson (audio | transcript) for his PBS show in February 2005.

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November 2006, Vol. 50, No. 11