When tornado sirens went off across Alabama March 1, many people hunkered down and braced for the worst.
But Joel Jackson, former director of missions for Coffee Baptist Association, never dreamed the worst would mean the loss of his third — and last living — grandson, a high school student with preacher dreams much like his own.
“My youngest son lost his son at 7 years old, and my son Mike lost his son at nearly 20,” Jackson said. It became his son Tim’s turn to grieve when a tornado hit Enterprise High School, killing eight students — including A.J. Jackson, 16.
A.J. reportedly died alongside his best friend, Ryan Mohler, as the two helped others escape a wall as it caved in. One young girl that they helped made it out with a broken back — and made it to their double funeral in a wheelchair.
“Two thousand people were at the funeral, and we just wanted to make sure they knew that if life comes to a quick end as A.J.’s did, the only way to be ready is through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ,” said A.J.’s uncle Mike Jackson of the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions.
That’s what A.J. would’ve wanted, said Mike Jackson, who preached the March 6 funeral. “I think God had a special call on his life, and I really believe even in this tragedy that there’s no telling how God’s going to use him.”
Tim Jackson said his son wanted to follow in the footsteps of his “papa” — Joel Jackson — and be a preacher. The two even preached once on the same Sunday, with Joel preaching in the morning service and A.J. preaching in the evening service.
“Papa” smiled at the thought and said he and his grandson had a special relationship. “He was a fine young man that was ready to do what God wanted him to do,” Joel Jackson said. “He loved people and he always had the Lord in his focus.”
A.J. had quite a focus, too, he added.
When A.J. determined that his football skills wouldn’t guarantee him a college scholarship, he quit the team and became a stuntman for the cheerleading squad, thinking that would be a safer shot at college aid. And he didn’t do it halfheartedly. He was named top stuntman at his school at a banquet several weeks ago.
Likewise when the active member of Bethel Baptist Church, Enterprise, knew God was calling him into ministry, he began asking to preach at church and take guitar lessons so he could be a more effective youth minister one day.
It was no surprise to those who knew him that the vibrant young man who embraced life preached on laziness in one of his first sermons.
And played “Victory in Jesus” as one of his last songs.
“He loved the Lord,” Tim Jackson said. “He gave his life to Christ at an early age, and he left an impression with you.”
Mike Jackson said he and his brothers know how God’s mercy and kindness “is something you can’t muster up until you need it — and God provides it when you need it.”
“When there aren’t enough answers, when we don’t know how to pray or feel like praying, God gives us the grace to praise Him,” he said. “His grace is sufficient.”
Joel Jackson agreed. “Through the loss of all three, we’ve leaned on our strong faith in God. We trust Him and believe He does everything right even though we don’t understand it.” (TAB)
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