By Katie Ginn
Each year, MCL asks for nominations for Christian Leaders of the Year for our December cover story. This year’s honorees represent everything from a preschool choir to economic development, and they share a robust faith in Christ. Listen to MCL’s “A Closer Walk” podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify to hear the full, uncut interview – including the hardest and most fun aspects of their ministries!
Meet the leaders
Sydney Charlton
Missions associate, Crossgates Church, Brandon
From her nomination: “Sydney was a speaker at the single mom’s conference a couple of years ago. I had a friend who attended, and Sydney was so intentional with her. Sydney ended up being there to cheer her on at her community college graduation. That’s a small example, but it encompasses who she is: a leader who practices what she preaches.” – Chrissy Sanders, friend
Eric & Susie McNair
Worship / senior adult pastor, preschool minister, respectively; McLaurin Heights Baptist Church, Pearl
From their nomination: “A memory from a number of years ago is of a particularly challenging middle school student. This student was always ‘extra!’ After youth choir one Sunday, she asked Eric and Susie to please come to her dance recital the next Saturday. Although they had a very busy week and other things planned for that Saturday, they made arrangements to attend, making a real difference for this young student. This servanthood mindset has been repeated over and over throughout their years in Christian service in many different situations.” – Sarah Odom, friend
Joanne Bell
Founder, Woman to Woman with Joanne and Joanne Bell Ministries; worship team member at Pinelake Madison; licensed sales agent with Humana
From her nomination: “Joanne exemplifies servant leadership by ministering through song. … She also commits to going on annual international mission trips in service to others. Locally, Joanne serves by hosting a Bible study on social media and by volunteering at local food pantries. Service to Christ is Joanne Bell’s lifestyle.” – Kimberly Funchess, former coworker
Todd Jackson
Executive VP, Area Development Partnership (regional chamber of commerce / economic development), Hattiesburg; active member/volunteer at Crosspoint Community Church, Hattiesburg
From his nomination: “One specific way Todd Jackson has impacted my life was during a particularly difficult season when I was feeling overwhelmed, undervalued, and unsure of my next steps. Instead of brushing it off or offering surface-level encouragement, Todd took the time to listen. He didn’t try to fix everything. He simply reminded me of my worth, both professionally and spiritually. … His belief in me helped restore confidence I didn’t even realize I had lost.” – Chelsey Everett, coworker
The interview
Katie Ginn: Who are the Christian leaders who’ve influenced you?
Todd Jackson: My wife and I were pretty lost in our first four to five years of marriage. When she got pregnant with our first child, we said, we need to find a church … So we went to a little Methodist church, and we met two of the most real, authentic Jesus followers, pastor Craig Carter and pastor Mark Jackson. They were absolutely instrumental in demonstrating what it really looks like to lead and to love Jesus authentically.
Then when we relocated to Hattiesburg, we visited Crosspoint (Community Church) for a long time. Dr. Dean Register, who was pastor at the time, is one of my favorite people on earth. And we got to be great friends with his son, Wes, and his wife, Nicole. Crosspoint is where I first heard the term ‘spiritual maturity.’
Joanne Bell: In ministry, I have to say Joyce Meyer. Watching her be as open and honest as she can be about the things she has experienced, the forgiveness she has had to extend. It (also) encouraged me that her ministry didn’t start till she was in her 40s. Watching her teach the Word of God the way that she does, I think that encouraged me to step up.
Susie McNair: Mr. Buford Francis was my youth minister and minister of music at First Baptist West Point. He had a lot of trials and tribulations, but he still sang the praise and meant it. You could see it, the way he lived. And Mary Ingram, she taught the Bible stories for children’s church, and she made them come alive. Mike Simmons was in the bus ministry, and I would go with him to the neighborhoods and invite children (to church).
Eric McNair: My minister of music when I was a teenager was Lynn Madden. He was my first mentor. He is just a great example of what a Christian should be and what a worship pastor should be.
When I was at William Carey University, Dr. Donald Winters taught me so much. One day, Dr. Winters was down on the (hallway) floor cleaning – somebody had spilled some Orange Crush. (My friend and I) said, ‘Dr. Winters, there are folks that can do this.’ And he looked at us and said, ‘Boys, I’m not too good to clean up stuff.’
Sydney Charlton: My husband Joseph is an educator at our school district’s alternative school, which is a ministry in itself. Joseph leads with patience and compassion in a very, very hard place. And he leads our home the same.
(And) my supervisor, Scott, is a dear friend to me and my family. … (My) 10-year-old has big goals of going with Mr. Scott to Afghanistan as soon as she’s 18, because she’s heard his love for the people there.
When I was a freshman in college, I didn’t know what ministry would look like. I ended up under the leadership of Dr. Greg Belser at Morrison Heights in Clinton. I got to stock vending machines in the student building, and he would come every Thursday with me to do that. The senior pastor didn’t have to do that. But he was helping me navigate, what does it look like to be called to ministry?
KG: How did each of you get to where you are today, in terms of career and/or ministry?
SC: I grew up in a really small town here in Mississippi and thought I would go off (elsewhere) to school, (but) I ended up (at) Belhaven.
Then, after I finished seminary, (my husband and I) had joined Crossgates (Church in Brandon), and I was working at a locksmith shop. And I was really disgruntled. ‘This is not why I went to school.’ And the Lord really had me there to humble me. These gentlemen really needed to hear the truth.
Then someone in our life group who was on staff at Crossgates called while I was building locks and said, ‘I would like to offer you a job.’ That was in student ministry. I did that for 11 years. Then the Lord delivered me from that, and I’m thankful. (laughs)
Now I’ve been working in missions (at Crossgates) for about eight years. My start in ministry was just continuing to say yes, even if it didn’t make sense.
EM: I really felt the call to ministry my senior year of high school, but I didn’t want to do that. I thought everyone would think, ‘He just wants to be like Lynn (Madden).’ But I finally came to terms with, this is what the Lord wants.
I started serving churches as a sophomore (at William Carey University) and just haven’t stopped. (Susie and I) were married, served (at a few different churches, and then) the Lord called us in 1985 here to McLaurin Heights. This was a larger church than (our previous one in) Pelahatchie … and I remember on our way home after our trial weekend, I asked Susie, ‘Do you think I can do this?’
And she said, ‘No … But I think the Lord through you can.’ So that’s what we’ve been doing all these 40 years now.
JB: Humana is a ministry for me. When I was 13, my uncle died … I remember being at the funeral home, (and) I found out they wouldn’t start the funeral until they knew where the money was coming from. And we had one aunt that was ‘well off’ … so she paid for the funeral. I never forgot that.
So that’s part of my ministry now, helping people see the importance of having coverage. It’s not for you, it’s for those you leave behind.
But I remember when I was a young girl (in) Georgetown, Mississippi … God laid it on my heart to go around to the seniors in the area and read the Bible with them. (That) was, of course, stepping outside of my comfort zone. But that was an encouragement to me. (Now) whenever I feel like God is telling me to do something, I just take off running (toward it). I don’t have the money, I don’t have nothing, we just go. (laughs) But He always has the provision.
So Woman to Woman with Joanne was started in 2014. At that time in my life, I felt like I had lost my voice – as a woman and all the things. You know, we go through things, we choose wrong … But it started as a Facebook page just to share how I was feeling. … and women started commenting and saying, ‘I feel this way too.’ So we (started having our yearly) women’s conference that next year, 2015.
God has had to remind me several times that Woman to Woman with Joanne is not about Joanne. It’s not about how I look or how I feel, but it’s about encouraging other women to move forward with whatever God has put on their heart to do.
Then Joanne Bell Ministries is just what I’ve been doing all my life. I’ve been singing since I could talk, I think. I lead worship wherever I’m called.
SM: Ever since I can remember, I’ve loved babies. So at 13 or 14, I thought I’d be a pediatrician. So when I entered college at William Carey, I signed up for all the biology courses. That summer, (a doctor) invited me to come sit in with him one afternoon.
(His) last patient was a guy with half his finger hanging off. The doctor said, ‘Get in here and look at this.’ So I leaned over, but it really wasn’t to get a better look, because the room had started spinning. I was leaning over to try not to pass out.
(After that, I believed God) was calling me to be a teacher. My first year out of college, in Star … I taught seventh-grade math, because I had minored in math, but I came home every day saying, ‘Please don’t make me go back! Those girls are so mean!’
I taught second grade the next year. Then we started having children after about four years, so I wanted to stay home as long as I could. So we managed (that) for two years. Then we came here (to McLaurin Heights and) I started teaching preschool here, and I’ve loved that.
A friend of mine’s daddy was in charge of the Rankin County Baptists and needed somebody to lead a conference. So I led a Sunday school conference for preschool (ministry). So that started a whole new ball rolling. … I spent several years being in charge of conferences.
I’m still here (at McLaurin Heights) as the volunteer preschool ministry person.
TJ: My wife and I are both engineers, went to Mississippi State, started working for GE, and moving around the country, and the plan was just to climb that corporate ladder.
Did that for about a decade, and then at some point after we had our first child, we moved to Hattiesburg, and I worked for a startup … (After) four years there, I was fired. I mean not just fired, I mean in a blaze of glory, escorted out by security.
We had been going to Crosspoint. (So) on my first Monday (after being fired), I go to Crosspoint and I just hang out. And I end up serving in different little areas. And it really was about surrounding myself with godly people.
I felt called to economic development …. So I go meet with the now president of the ADP, Chad Newell. And he (says) anytime somebody came to him about getting into economic development, he’d tell them to go take some classes and get some training, but I was the only one who actually went and did it (and came back).
He was crazy enough to give me a shot. And we were crazy enough to … my first job out of college had paid more than my first job at the chamber. That’s how much faith it took. But I knew that this was exactly what I was being called to do. Now I’ve been doing that for a decade, (and) days I still want to quit, but I am reassured about it nonstop.
KG: How would each of you sum up your calling in one sentence?
TJ: This is our church slogan for a reason: to love and lead like Jesus. A lot of times it’s hard to lead. Sometimes people don’t want to be led where they need to go … But doing that in love, genuinely and authentically wanting the best for that person …. I don’t have many gifts in life, but one of them is just being who I am, completely – the good, the bad, and the ugly sometimes. But (my wife) Jennifer and I both live our lives that way, and that is our calling … and owning up where we fall short on that.
JB: To treat people the way I want to be treated. It’s hard because sometimes people don’t treat you the way you want to be treated. (laughs)
SM: To lay the foundation in preschoolers’ lives so they can make the most important decision of their life later, which is to follow Jesus.
EM: I liken my calling to, the Pearl school says they want to teach people to be a lifelong learner, and I want to teach folks to be a lifelong worshipper.
SC: I think my calling is to be interruptible, and to serve Mississippians well.
KG: What encouragement or advice would you give to believers who’d like to follow in your footsteps?
TJ: Die to yourself. When you really start to pick up your cross daily – and there’s a reason He said daily, because we’re sinners every day – I think that’s when things in our lives started to move in the right direction.
JB: I would first just encourage people that ministry doesn’t just mean you’re standing before people. Your ministry can be (as) an at-home mom. Being in a tech booth can be your ministry. So don’t get stuck on, ‘I can’t be in ministry’ because you’re not a pastor or preacher.
SM: I would say put God first, and read your Bible. The answers are in there if we read.
EM: Every (believer is) called, whether (to) full-time ministry or as committed lay folk. The two most frustrated people are folks that are (trying) to be something they’re not, and folks that are called but refuse the call.
Like the rich young ruler, it’s that letting go that’s hard. But if the Lord has it before you, just give in to it. Because you’re going to be miserable if you don’t.
And then, you know, in whatever type of ministry it is, do it to the best of your ability, and serve the people. It’s easy to be onstage and sing, and you almost think, ‘I did pretty good.’ (But) I would rather folks say, ‘Man, what a great God we have’ instead of, ‘That guy has a good voice.’
SC: Don’t try to figure it all out (before it happens). And like I said before, be interruptible. If our schedules are so full that we can’t stop for the one person who needs us, then are we really ministering in a way that honors God?