Allen Jackson, the senior pastor of World Outreach Church in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, will soon be broadcasting his message to a much larger flock.
Mr. Jackson will host a television program called “Allen Jackson Now,” set to premiere on Monday, June 3, at 7 p.m. Eastern time on Trinity Broadcasting Network, which also broadcasts the messages of popular Christian preachers such as T.D. Jakes and Joel Osteen.
The Tennessee pastor said the show will offer a guiding hand for people in search of positivity and constructive dialogue.
“It feels like such an important time to help bring some clarity on biblical worldview or Judeo-Christian values into the public square and current events,” he told The Epoch Times.
Mr. Jackson, who has been with his church since 1989, noted that he recognizes the detrimental effects of the current media landscape.
“I think it’s essential that Christians have a voice in the marketplace of ideas, and we not just leave our values inside a church building,” he said. “And so I want to kind of invite the Christian community into the public discussion a little more directly, not angry or belligerent, but to use their voices. And then, I think, in the broader media culture.”
His new show aims to counteract negativity by providing content that uplifts and informs viewers.
Mr. Jackson shared his thoughts on the issue of immigration.
“I think an open border is not an expression of compassion. I think if, any time you invite somebody to do something illegal, that’s not compassion. When you neglect your responsibility to the citizens of the country, I don’t think that’s compassionate,” he said.
“We’ve all come from someplace else. So we have a long history of welcoming immigrants, but we’ve historically done it in a more purposeful, intentional, orderly way,” he said, adding that the breakdown of order at the border is leading to human trafficking. “We’re promoting the trafficking of women and children, boys and girls.”
Speaking about community and the greater good, he noted that these concepts don’t have to be labeled as Christian.
“There has been a shared set of vocabulary words. We’ve talked about community standards historically, that communities got to set the standards of behavior within their community. And we have lost that for the most part, and there’s been a very aggressive, assertive attempt to rewrite the value set that we’re living under,” the pastor said, noting the importance of finding common ground.
Navigating Communication
“I think our technology has increased so rapidly, and has brought change so quickly, and changed the tools and means and availability of communications that we haven’t yet figured out the boundaries that we need to go along with. That helps us maintain our civility. That’s not unusual in history when we’ve had technological breakthroughs.”
“I don’t think I have all the answers, but I think another voice needs to be in the in the mix,” he said.
The show’s content is designed to resonate with viewers from all walks of life, addressing current societal issues while providing uplifting and constructive messages. Mr. Jackson emphasized the importance of balancing these elements to create a positive impact.
“I’m talking to people in academia, in economics, on the security front, trying to listen to people that are actually working in those arenas to hear their perspectives and begin to shape a narrative,” he said. “I mean simple things like telling the truth we have stepped away from.”
As the show prepares for its debut, Mr. Jackson said he is optimistic about its potential impact. He acknowledged the challenges of launching a new show in the current media environment but remains hopeful.
