Forty Days in the Covid Wilderness

<p> Rev. Dr. Embra Jackson Jr. is the first African American Senior Pastor of First United Methodist Church Tupelo Mississippi. Prior to this appointment he had been the District Superintendent of the Starkville District since 2011. He served as the Administrative Assistant to Bishop Hope Morgan Ward from 2005 to 2011. He is a retired pastor of the Mississippi Conference. </p><p> Rev. Dr. Jackson graduated in 1974 Cum Laude from Tugaloo College (Jackson MS) with a bachelor's degree in Political Science; in 1979 he earned a Master of Public Administration from the University of Mississippi (Oxford MS); in 1985 he received a M. DIV. from the Interdenominational Theological Center (Atlanta GA). In 1992 he received a teacher's certification from Mississippi State University. In addition in 2003 he received a Doctor of Ministry (D. Min) from Memphis Theological Seminary.</p><p> Rev. Dr. Jackson has served as pastor to Holmes County Larger Parish of the UMC; Kosciusko Wesley UM Charge; Griffin UMC; St. Paul UMC West Point MS; Central UMC Jackson MS; and Aldersgate UMC Jackson MS. He has been the Executive Director of the United Methodist Metro Ministers Jackson MS; Chaplain of Hospice Ministries Inc. Ridgeland MS; Instructor at Wood College; and as a teacher in the Starkville Public Schools.</p><p> Embra possesses an ecclesiastical endorsement from The Board of Higher Education and Ministry. He is a Certified Coach in the International Coach Federation and CoachNet and currently a Spiritual Leadership Institute Apprentice.</p>