Jackson
One of Central Florida’s own has taken a place on the national stage: St. John-the-Baptist’s Krisita Jackson.
Jackson, who has served for years in the Central Florida chapter of Daughters of the King (DOK), recently was elected national president of DOK at the 2018 DOK Triennial Convention this summer in Austin, Texas. Daughters from across the nation met at the Renaissance Austin Hotel June 20-24 to conduct business, and for worship and fellowship.
The election was historic as Jackson is the first African-American Daughter to serve as president in the organization’s 133 years of existence, and the first representative from the Diocese of Central Florida to earn the honor. A member of St. John-the-Baptist Church in Orlando, she will serve for three years 2018-2021 until the next Triennial convention.
“When Krisita’s name was announced as the national president, the room erupted with jubilation,” said Central Florida DOK 1st Vice President Dr. Karen Adderly Clark. “You could see glory on each face. This was an exhilarating moment for all.”
According to the Daughters of the King website, Daughters of the King are women and girls between the ages of 7 and 107 who want to have a closer relationship with the Lord. Members are Christians who desire to know Jesus Christ, to evangelize, and to serve as role models of God’s love.
“My election as president is humbling,” Jackson said. “I never really imagined or aspired to hold this position. I was asked in the spring by a member of the National Council to stand for president. I prayed and listened to hear what God was calling or not calling me to do. I made the decision to do so when I was pointed to the Scripture verse: Isaiah 6:8:
“Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I; send me!” That was my answer. The Scripture echoes the words of the Daughters’ motto, which I have lived by for over 19 years:
“For His Sake…
I am but one, but I am one.
I cannot do everything, but I can do something.
What I can do, I ought to do.
What I ought to do, by the grace of God I will do.
Lord, what will you have me do?”
The process to become national president one is a lengthy one. The National Council Election is part of the business conducted at the Triennial Convention as 15 Daughters are elected to serve on the National Council joined by the presidents of the eight provinces.
Following the election by the general body, the council meets and elects officers, Jackson said. Jackson was elected president by the Council.
“The process is a bit different from regular election as Daughters who are eligible are asked to ‘stand’ for office if they feel they are called by God to do so,” Jackson said. “To be eligible, a Daughter must have served at least one three-year term on the council as an elected officer i.e., not a province president or appointee.
“I was appointed to Council to fill a vacancy in 2013 so I was not eligible to stand for election in 2015,” Jackson said. “The council votes and elects from among those who feel called for all offices: president, 1st and 2nd vice president, secretary and treasurer. Those officers make up the Executive Board.”
Jackson said the National Council meets in person annually to conduct the business of The Order. The Executive Board, meanwhile, meets monthly by conference call, she said.
As national president, Jackson said her goals are to abide by the strategic plan that was developed for 2018-2024 at the 2015 Triennium. That plan evolved from a three-year process that included surveying the membership and a number of focus groups, Jackson said.
Jackson said the goals are:
- Inspire Spiritual Growth and Development
- Strengthen Our Call to Service and Evangelism
- Nurture and Grow Our Members
- Raise Up and Mentor New Leaders
- Foster Community and Build Connections
- Instill a Spirituality of Giving
“The primary focus of my service as President will be to begin implementation of this plan,” Jackson said. “It is essential for the future life of The Order to raise up new leaders, build community and grow spiritually.
“My second challenge to the Daughters is to become more active in the Jesus Movement of the Episcopal church,” Jackson said. “Our theme for our meeting in Austin was ‘Walk HIS Way.’ Our keynote speakers taught us about evangelism, so now we must go and do! Daughters’ answers to our call is ‘Here I am Lord, Send me!’”
Bishop Greg Brewer also noted Jackson’s many other responsibilities in the Diocese of Central Florida: “Ms. Krisita Jackson is a dedicated lay leader in our diocese. She is an active parishioner at St. John the Baptist, Orlando, and currently serves or has served as our Diocesan Coordinator for the Episcopal Relief and Development Fund, secretary of the Canterbury Retreat & Conference Center Board of Directors, board advisor for the Diocesan Daughters of the King, and Diocesan lay deputy at General Convention.”