An Interview With the New Assistant
Moderator of the National Association
For the first time in two decades, the denomination has a new General Officer. In 2023, delegates elected W. Jackson Watts to follow William Smith as assistant moderator. Jackson has been the pastor of Grace FWB Church in Arnold, Missouri, since August 2011, after previously ministering in North Carolina. ONE Magazine recently interviewed Jackson to learn more about him.
What would people be most surprised to
learn about you?
I grew up on a farm and spent many of my formative years outdoors in the woods. While that’s quite different from the life I lead now, I still have a deep respect for and occasional fascination with agriculture.
I also have an eclectic educational background. Someone recently told me perhaps no one in the denomination has such a unique array of educational stops. I attended public school from kindergarten through high school. Then I attended our denominational school for undergrad (English, Biblical Studies, Pastoral Ministry), a Southern Baptist seminary for my first masters (Apologetics), a mainline university divinity school for my second masters (Systematic Theology), and then a confessional Lutheran school for my Ph.D. (Theology & Culture). It has been an interesting ride!
Tell me briefly about your early life.
My older brother and I were raised in a Bible-believing family in the Pee Dee region of South Carolina, 70 miles from the Atlantic Ocean. The part of town where I grew up was known as Puddin’ Swamp. (Yes, no “g” on Puddin’). My father was a third-generation farmer, my mother a dental assistant. Most importantly, my parents encouraged the Bible and church life. We started out in the conservative Methodist church of my father’s youth then moved to my mom’s home church: Horse Branch FWB Church in Turbeville. I was deeply influenced by pastors and youth pastors James Earl Raper, Todd Parrish, Charley Carmack, Jonathan Kell, and Jakey Creech. They made Scripture, ministry, and the Christian life make sense.
Who were other early influences on your life?
Parents always have great influence on their children. But my grandparents (on both sides), especially my grandfathers, really shaped the way I experienced the world and saw myself. My last grandparent (Grandma Kay) only passed in 2021, so I had her with me well into my 30s. Her way of life looms large in my mind and heart. I must return to my primary youth pastor, Jonathan Kell, who was also quite influential. While he was very different from me in personality and temperament, God used him mightily to influence my life.
Can you share your conversion experience?
I don’t remember a specific “come-to-Jesus” moment. However, I remember as early as four to six years of age believing in Jesus, knowing I needed Him to deal with my sin, and trusting in Him as the way to eternal life. Some will chuckle, but I recall praying an “extra assurance prayer” when around eight, thinking I needed to be able to point to a moment when I committed to the Lord. However, I am confident my conversion occurred at the younger age.
How did you meet your wife Mckensie? And how would you describe her?
I heard from Mckensie’s pastor about a singles outing at his church, and he invited me to come. I got the info from their singles group coordinator and planned to go. The church where I served, coincidentally where Eddie Moody pastored at the time, was hosting a (somewhat disastrous) Valentine’s Day banquet. Dr. Moody knew I was planning to attend the singles event, so he told me, “Go ahead; you can’t do anything to fix this mess!”
I was the only single not from the other church who attended the singles outing. Color me embarrassed! However, I met Mckensie at Applebee’s in Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina, among a group of young adults from her church. I got her email address from the group email chain and asked her out via email. You know, the old-fashioned way. Not a dating app. The rest is history.
Mckensie is a down-to-earth, conscientious person. She is a wonderful mother and capable in teaching and managing children. She handles herself well in all kinds of social situations, has a big smile, and an even bigger heart. She is a great cook, and I’m not the only one who thinks so. It’s amazing how long it took me to find her, but all that matters is I did.
As you look back over your life, how did God prepare you for this position?
Learning the Scriptures so well prior to college is perhaps the greatest head start I could imagine for someone with teaching the Bible at the heart of his calling. I credit my mother, CTS coaches, and other church leaders/teachers for that. Also, in my church and community life, we interacted with many different people — old, young, white, Black, Hispanic, etc. I think that fosters a comfort level with different kinds of people, and perhaps even helps you love them better.
My four years at Welch College were profound in many ways, but especially in cultivating relationships, discipline, and learning to recover after mistakes. My four years working alongside Eddie Moody and Bryan Hughes prior to being a pastor myself was helpful in so many respects. Strangely, being single for so long also helped a lot. The flexibility of my schedule allowed opportunity for social engagement with many people in many situations.
Serving as a board member and officer at the state level for over a decade has given me experience with meetings and situations that mirror, on a slightly smaller scale, the issues that arise at the national level.
What excites you most about serving as assistant moderator?
The most exciting aspect is serving on the Executive Committee, which includes the officers, but also includes several other wonderful men from different regions. I knew many of them before coming aboard, but this opportunity helps me get to know them better and work with them in promoting the healthy operation of our General Board and the denomination. I’m not shy to speak, but being in the room with this group makes listening interesting and helpful.
From your perspective, describe the job of assistant moderator.
Three things: 1) support the moderator in every way I can as it serves the interests of the meeting or situation; 2) keep eyes and ears open for things that might go overlooked or awry in a meeting, and 3) support the vision of the executive director.
For what one thing are you most grateful?
Jesus loves me; this I know.
What would you say to Free Will Baptists?
I have been thinking a great deal about what Benjamin Franklin said after he finished signing the Declaration of Independence. “Gentlemen, we must now all hang together, or we shall most assuredly all hang separately.” As a denomination, we are going to have to decide if we believe “better together” is a biblical mandate, or just a slogan. If we believe the former, it raises the stakes on what we are willing to do together to promote healthy churches, evangelism, church planting, global missions, family disciples, and the other two or three things that really matter most.
I’m not talking about denominational preservation only. That’s a means, not an end. Jesus being glorified in our communities and in the nations is the ultimate end. If we keep the end in view and realize "better together" is an essential, mandatory strategy toward that end, then I predict we’ll be just fine.
For those struggling, remember discouragement and fear may be Satan’s most powerful tools to keep us from fulfilling the Great Commission. Decide today if you’re going to give him the satisfaction, or if you’ll lean into Jesus, keep waging war on the flesh, and love your neighbors.
