Dr. M. L. Jemison serves as the Senior Pastor of St. John Missionary Baptist Church (Oklahoma City, OK), providing spiritual leadership and pastoral care for one of the largest congregations in Oklahoma City, OK. As St. John’s Senior Pastor, Dr. Jemison also serves as CEO of the W.K. Jackson Leadership Academy where academic excellence meets endless possibilities. Dr. Jemison first came to St. John in 1984 as Assistant to the Pastor, later serving as Co-Pastor with Rev. Dr. Walter K. Jackson, and becoming Senior Pastor in 2003.

Dr. Jemison was licensed in the Gospel Ministry (1974) and Ordained (1982) at the Concord Baptist Church (Dallas, TX) by the late Dr. E. K. Bailey.

In 2006, Dr. Jemison completed a historic four-year term as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Progressive National Baptist Convention, Inc an association of approximately 2,000 Baptist churches throughout the world with a collective membership of more than 2.5 million persons. As President of PNBC, Dr. Jemison provided exceptional leadership related to the convention’s involvement in, advocacy and support of a number of civic issues and concerns, especially those directly related to the plight of African Americans and our brothers and sisters on distant shores.  Dr. Jemison previously served PNBC as 1st Vice President on the local level and as President of the Southwest Region, later moving to 2nd Vice President and 1st Vice President of the national body before being elected President in 2002. 

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Dr. Jemison has extensive academic training and achievements. His academic achievements include: 

• Harvard University School of Divinity (Cambridge, MA), Certificate, 1994

• Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (Kansas City, MO), Doctor of Ministry Degree, 1990

• Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University (Dallas, TX), Master of Theology Degree, with special emphasis on Church Ministries, Pastoral Care & Counseling, 1982

• Timberlawn Psychiatric Hospital ( Dallas, TX)  Certified Psychiatric Counselor, 1979

• Bishop College (Dallas, TX),  Bachelor of Arts Degree in Religion & Philosophy, with emphasis on Church Ministries & Pastoral Care, 1977

 

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Mrs. Jacqueline Renee Jemison,1st Lady Jacquie€ as she is fondly called, was born February 18th in Wichita Falls, Texas to James and Leona Norris.  She is the third of six children. Mrs. Jacquie has been married to Pastor Major L. Jemison for the past 41 years and has one son, Mr. MaKinsley Jemison.  

Mrs. Jemison is a 1977 graduate of Bishop College in Dallas, Texas , receiving a bachelor’s degree in public administration and law.  While attending Bishop College, she sang and traveled nationally with the renowned Bishop College Concert Choir and performed with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra as a contralto soloist.

Mrs. Jemison is a faithful member of SJMBC and has emerged as a detailed conference planner and Black History Program Director and Chairman over the recent years at this church.  She has brought in many dignitaries and distinguished personalities for honor and recognition from our church.

Mrs. Jemison is the founder and organizer of St. John’s 1st Annual Women’s Conference. Under her leadership, St. John has hosted several successful women’s conferences. She has brought in citywide, state and national names and musicians such as Vanessa Bell Armstrong for these events.

As chairman and co-teacher of the WMU OHJ Mission Circle  Mrs. Jemison provides a very active and loving mission class on Monday nights. Her passion is to visit the sick and shut-in with her mission group. Mrs. Jemison has introduced many ideas and changes to the women of SJMBC.

She has also assumed positions of leadership beyond the church, in the Oklahoma City, state and national arena serving as the First Lady of the Progressive National Baptist Convention from 2002 to 2006, and as chairman of the State of Oklahoma Lupus Board for over 4 years.  Under her leadership, a massive fundraiser was developed with the Remington Park Assoc. for Funds to Lupus.  She also served on the National Board of Lupus in Washington, D.C. as Chair for Development. Mrs. Jemison has traveled to Washington as a representative of Oklahoma for advocacy for Lupus at the capital. Because of these trips, medical funds were released by the senate for drug research for Lupus patients.

• She is a proud AKA member and has served on committees with her chapter.  She currently serves as a member to the Board for the Ralph Ellison Library and is serving on the Board of BLAC., Inc.  

• Sister Jemison has worked for over 35 years at the University of Central Oklahoma in the Departments Of Admissions and Financial Aid  She is well recognized, respected at the university and has helped many students from our church and community.  She is always available to help members and friends get assistance into and through their college experience.  She travels and teaches financial aid regulation to her colleagues.  She spends many days with high schools doing financial aid awareness for seniors preparing for college.

• All in all, she is a loving and caring First Lady, a great listener, easy to talk to, kind and fun to be with, with no restrictions. She is a prayer warrior, and is exceedingly gifted.  She will do all she can and then some more for anyone in this the Lord’s Church.  Mrs. Jemison is a woman of God, a political activist, an innovative program planner, an avid church leader, and a wonderful wife and mother.