Jackson served and was honorably discharged from the United States Marine Corps, graduated Summa Cum Laude with a Phi Beta Kappa Key from the University of Massachusetts at Boston, and then graduated from Harvard Law School. While in law school, he was accepted into the Baptist ministry and studied at Harvard Divinity School.
He practiced law for 15 years in Boston, and later devoted his full time to ministry. His first book, "Ten Commandments to an Extraordinary Life” was published in 2008. His second book, “America the Beautiful – Reflections of a Patriot Descended from Slaves” is scheduled for release on July 4th of this year.
He is the Founder of Exodus Faith Ministries, a nondenominational Christian church in Chesapeake, Virginia and Boston, Massachusetts. On July 4, 2009, he launched S.T.A.N.D. – Staying True to America's National Destiny (www.standamerica.us), a national grassroots organization dedicated to restoring America's Judeo-Christian heritage and values.
Originally from Chester, Pennsylvania, Jackson and his wife Theodora were sent to Boston on orders from the United States Marine Corps in 1971. They came to Virginia by choice in 1998, motivated by the desire for an environment more in sync with their Christian values. Bishop was also moved by the knowledge that Virginia is his ancestral home. His family’s history in Virginia dates back to the time of the Revolutionary War. His great grandparents (Gabriel and Eliza) were a sharecropper family in Orange County according to the 1880 census. His grandfather, Frank Jackson, moved to Richmond and to Pennsylvania where Jackson was born. “When my wife and I moved to Virginia, it was a spiritual homecoming,” says Jackson. He and his wife visit Orange County from time to time. Says Jackson, “Only in America could a descendant of slaves be a candidate for the United States Senate. If the people of Virginia allow me the privilege, I will go there to fight for our precious freedom, the freedom which made our country great.”
Among his accomplishments, Jackson led the historic Conservative Emergency Task Force (CETF) Summit in Washington DC on March 15, 2011 which brought together Congressional Representatives, Tea Party leaders, social and national security conservatives in unity to address what Jackson calls “the present national emergency”. He hosts a weekly conference call to facilitate communication and cooperation among conservatives of various stripes, and is establishing similar efforts nationwide. He and his wife founded the annual Chesapeake MLK Leadership Breakfast which draws hundreds to celebrate the life and ideals of Dr. King. He is also the founder of "Youth With A Destiny", to help youth avoid gangs, drugs and violence. He served as Chaplain for the Family Foundation of Virginia. He is a recipient of the Family Life Award from the African American family Association, the Republican Party Statewide Award for Outreach in 2010, and the “Excellence In Leadership Award” from Lead Hampton Roads in 2009. He is also a Board Member of the Chesapeake Division of the Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce and a Trustee for Lead Hampton Roads.
E.W. started Boston's first and only all-gospel radio station; and taught Administrative Law at Northeastern University in Boston and Business and Commercial Law at Strayer University in Virginia.
His articles have been published nationally and internationally. He has been seen and heard on FOX News’ Your World With Neil Cavuto and Megyn Kelly’s America Live, ABC's Good Morning America, ABC's Politically Incorrect, Hardball with Chris Matthews, C-Span's Washington Journal, ABC Radio Network, National Public Radio and many other media outlets. His work has been reported by the Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, New York Times, Mother Jones Magazine, World Magazine and other publications.
In recognition of his national ministry leadership, he was consecrated a Bishop in 1998. He and his wife have been married for forty years, have 3 children and have resided in Chesapeake for 13 years.