Published: January 07, 2008 08:04 pm         

Artist to teach message of Jesus through drawings

By Melanie Patterson

The North Jefferson News



A pastor in Fultondale is reaching way outside the box in order to tell people about Jesus in a different way.

Mark Wood, senior pastor at Fultondale First Baptist Church, is handing over his pulpit on Jan. 13 to artist Kerry Jackson of Atlanta.

“He has a kind of a unique way to deliver a message,” said Wood. “We’ve had artists before, but he does it in a different way.”

Jackson incorporates music, special-effects lighting and chalk drawings to tell stories about the life and ministry of Jesus. He creates the drawings while audiences watch the stories come to life.

“We’re such a visual society,” said Wood. “If the visual will come alive in front of you, it makes a lot of difference.”

But Wood, like Jackson, is not simply interested in a good show. Wood likes the meat of what Jackson represents and imparts to audiences.

“I invited him for the gospel message. I search for any way I can get the gospel message across,” said Wood. “I’ll do whatever it takes. I like the uniqueness of how (Jackson) delivers the message.”

Jackson’s ministry is called Drawing to the Rock Ministries, Inc., which “promotes the use of visual art in worship,” according to the ministry Web site.

Jackson grew up in Jackson, Miss., and pursued art from his childhood.

He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Painting from Mississippi State University and worked in the commercial art industry before opening his own free-lance studio, KBJ Studios, according to the Web site.

Six years later, Jackson and his family moved to Texas so he could attend Southwestern Theological Baptist Seminary. He graduated in 1993.

Jackson travels across the country to minister to audiences of all sizes. It takes him and his wife about six hours to set up for each event.

For more information about the ministry, visit www.

drawingtotherock.com.

Wood has been the pastor of Fultondale First Baptist Church since September, having moved to the area from south Alabama.

Jackson will be at Fultondale First Baptist at the 10:45 a.m. and the 6 p.m. service on Jan. 13.