Jackson Baptist Church dedicated its new worship center “for the glory of God, the furtherance of his mission, and increase of his kingdom,” on Sunday, November 15, 2015. The building project had been underway for nearly three years, including a 16-month delay while the church awaited building permits for approval for various phases of construction to proceed.

Pictured (l-r) are: Guest Pastor Jack Hackworth, JBC Pastor Gary Haskell, Sr., and Church Member Frank Leporacci. A Church plaque commemorates dedication of the new Worship Center. 

During the hour-long ceremony Pastor Gary Haskell, Sr., recognized the many invited guests who had had a hand in making the worship center a reality. Among those recognized were local business owners and contractors, many of whom were in attendance. Susquehanna County Commissioner Alan Hall was also notably present. Pastor Haskell shared various anecdotes of obstacles overcome and the contributions of church members who had given so generously of their time, tithes, prayers, and sweat. Pastor Haskell also recognized his Assistant Pastor, Duane Bayle, who co-labors in the ministry of Jackson Baptist Church.

Guest speaker for the event was Pastor Jack Hackworth, visiting from his home church in Ohio. Pastor Hackworth’s sermon was focused on the Bible passage Joshua 4:1-8, in which Joshua chose 12 faithful men to build a lasting memorial to Jehovah. Pastor Hackworth had previously served as a professor at Baptist Bible College in Clarks Summit, and Pastor Haskell acknowledged him as his mentor while matriculating at BBC. Pastor Hackworth’s mentorship and spiritual leadership had had such a decisive impact on Pastor Haskell’s young Christian life that he could think of no one more appropriate to speak at this momentous event. (And Pastor Hackworth could not have chosen a more appropriate passage for elucidation at this dedication ceremony.)

Before presentation of the plaque commemorating the new worship center’s dedication, Pastor Haskell spoke movingly of his own conversion to Christianity on April 9, 1981, at 11:40 p.m. He testified as to how transformational was his new life in Christ, and he invited those present to likewise yield their lives to the Savior. The new worship center, he noted, is dedicated to furthering the church’s outreach to the world. Jackson Baptist Church is the home base of operations for missionaries currently serving in Haiti, Korea, Philadelphia, Sierra Leone, and numerous other locations--as the congregation endeavors to carry out The Great Commission.

Also appropriately participating in the dedication ceremony was Pastor Haskell’s life-long best friend and fellow Christian, Frank Leporacci. Pastor Haskell acknowledged Frank’s positive influence on his life both then and now. In the presence of his wife (Joan), his mentor, his best friend, his Assistant Pastor, and over 100 congregants and guests, Pastor Haskell averred the seriousness of his calling, the church’s fidelity to preaching Biblical Truth, and their four-square principles of freedom and patriotism.

Jackson Baptist Church is located at 17280 Route 92 in Jackson, and conducts 9 a.m. Bible Study and 10 a.m. Worship Services each Sunday.