Mission accomplished for Parson’s Pantry as Jackson hits the open road

At the end of an extended hike that took him step by step from Gaffney to Georgia and back, Ron Jackson was able after his 111-mile trek to give his feet a rest and a victory sign for a mission that accomplished more than its goal.

Parson’s Pantry founder Ron Jackson along his walk.

Jackson, who will turn 70 in November, set out on his long walk at the first of the month, attracting not only attention from the media and passersby, but also receiving donations of more than $27,000 to support the Parson’s Pantry that he founded in 2005, while he was pastor of East Gaffney Baptist Church.

Since then, Parson’s Pantry has provided financial assistance of more than $300,000 to 400-plus needy pastors, widows of pastors and married ministerial students.

Jackson, who retired in 2007 after eight a half years at East Gaffney, said he is “amazed that we have been able to do this.”

He continued, “I didn’t realize at the time just how great the need was for this ministry or how generous the response to it would be.”

At the outset of the ministry, Jackson hoped that Parson’s Pantry would be able to offer $100,000 of assistance “before the Lord called me home.” And now? “Maybe we should set a goal of a million dollars,” he said.

To cap the successful campaign and to celebrate “what the Lord has done,” Parson’s Pantry is hosting an Oct. 25 banquet at Providence Baptist Church in Gaffney, starting at 6:30 p.m. The speaker is Don Wilton, pastor of First Baptist Church in Spartanburg. The fund-raising effort will get a boost from the sale of tickets to the dinner at $10 each.

Jackson is no stranger to the open road, having completed a marathon and riding his bicycle from Inman to the Baptist Building in Columbia to personally deliver a check for missions when the church he led – Rock Hill Baptist – reached its goal. He ran track in high school, and he and his wife, Karen, try to take an hour-long walk each evening.

The peripatetic retired pastor attracted looks of interest and waves of support from folks who had seen him on television or read about him in the newspaper. And he drew more than looks from some. “I received more than $200 from people who just came up to me as I walked along, and handed me money.”

Jackson was thankful for every contribution – and especially moved by one. “An older gentleman who I’m sure could have used some financial help himself, drew a dollar bill out of his pocket and handed it to me.”

By design, the walk to benefit needy pastors, their widows and married ministerial students took place during the national observance in October of Pastor Appreciation Month.

Jackson, assisted by wife Karen, runs Parson’s Pantry out of his home, receiving names of those in need from pastors, directors of associational missions and the Baptist universities – and so far, the ministry has been able to help meet each need.

Parson’s Pantry operates with a board of directors – 20 laymen and pastors. All contributions are tax-deductible and “one hundred percent of all donations go to needy families,” Jackson emphasized.