Derrick Jackson currently holds the title of Lead Pastor at Wheaton Christian Center Church-Aurora Campus in North Aurora, Illinois. He has served as an assistant pastor to Pastor Carlton R. Arthurs for 34 years and has been in the full-time ministry for over 37 years.
At Wheaton Christian Center, Pastor Jackson has functioned in the youth ministry, music ministry, drama ministry, outreach ministry, cell ministry as well as normal assistant pastoral duties.
At Wheaton Christian Center, Pastor Jackson has functioned in the youth ministry, music ministry, drama ministry, outreach ministry, cell ministry as well as normal assistant pastoral duties.
Pastor Jackson is a Wheaton, Illinois native who graduated from Wheaton Central High School in 1974 where he achieved all-state honors as a basketball and baseball player. He was drafted by the Texas Rangers professional baseball team out of high school but elected to attend Georgetown University on a basketball scholarship where he played four years for legendary basketball coach John Thompson.
After four years he became Georgetown University’s all-time leading scorer; along with several other all-time records. Presently, he ranks 9th on the all-time scoring list, behind such notables as Patrick Ewing and Alonzo Mourning; and still holds the record for highest free-throw percentage in a given year.
After four years he became Georgetown University’s all-time leading scorer; along with several other all-time records. Presently, he ranks 9th on the all-time scoring list, behind such notables as Patrick Ewing and Alonzo Mourning; and still holds the record for highest free-throw percentage in a given year.
While at Georgetown he was three-time Metro player of the year in Washington D.C. from 1976-1978. He was one of the select players invited to the U.S. Olympic and World Games tryouts in 1976 and 1979 respectively. Upon graduation he attained All-American honors and was drafted by the Golden State Warriors professional basketball team.
He achieved his greatest basketball honors by being inducted into the Georgetown University Basketball Hall of Fame in 1996; and the state of Illinois Basketball Hall of Fame in 2001; the All-century Georgetown University basketball team in 2007; which is the illustrious honor of being one of the top 25 best basketball players in 100 years of Georgetown basketball. And finally, Jackson was inducted into first ever Wheaton Central high school’s Sports Hall of Fame in 2009.
He achieved his greatest basketball honors by being inducted into the Georgetown University Basketball Hall of Fame in 1996; and the state of Illinois Basketball Hall of Fame in 2001; the All-century Georgetown University basketball team in 2007; which is the illustrious honor of being one of the top 25 best basketball players in 100 years of Georgetown basketball. And finally, Jackson was inducted into first ever Wheaton Central high school’s Sports Hall of Fame in 2009.
In answer to the first phase of God’s call, he elected to forsake the NBA and instead chose to play basketball for Athletes in Action, the athletic arm of Campus Crusade for Christ International. For three years Pastor Jackson literally traveled the United States and the world as a missionary, visiting over 20 nations, using the platform of basketball to share the claims of Christ. It was during this time that the pastoral ministry began to form.
At the conclusion of three successful years, he decided to heed to the second phase of God’s call and returned to Wheaton to serve and support Pastor Carlton Arthurs in any way necessary, where he’s been for the past 30 plus years.
At the conclusion of three successful years, he decided to heed to the second phase of God’s call and returned to Wheaton to serve and support Pastor Carlton Arthurs in any way necessary, where he’s been for the past 30 plus years.
In agreement with the vision of Wheaton Christian Center Church to take the gospel to the world, Pastor Arthurs assigned Pastor Jackson to reach the Aurora area through a church plant called Wheaton Christian Center-Aurora. Called to teach God’s word, Pastor Jackson systematically expounds the Bible so that it is practically applicable to everyday life.
In 2007 Pastor Jackson entered a new phase of ministry. He published his first book ‘Perpetual Abundance: God’s Idea of Man’s Financial Provision’. Two years later, in 2009, he entered film school at the College of Dupage to fulfill a life-long dream of directing a feature length film. In 2011, he completed his first film, a documentary entitled ‘Abandoned: One Man’s Journey To Overcome.’
Pastor Jackson presently holds a Public Administration degree from the school of business at Georgetown University. His formal theological training has come through such notable institutions as Campus Crusade For Christ, Oral Roberts University, and Wheaton College. His informal training is through many years of intense daily Bible study and prayer. He has been married to his wife Patrice for 33 years and they have one son, Derrick II who was a 2007 Cum Laude graduate of Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
