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Raising up urban leaders
Eleven years ago, Kerigiti (Keri) Jackson started down a path—a path not too many Black men in WELS have followed. He wanted to prepare to become a pastor, to share his Lord’s love and his love for his Lord in his community.
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On May 22, 2026, Keri graduated from Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, Mequon, Wis., through the Joshua Urban Ministry Program (JUMP), an arm of the Pastoral Studies Institute with a vision to “train the city to serve the city.” He was assigned to serve as pastor at an urban congregation, St. Philip, Milwaukee, Wis.
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A few days after Keri’s ordination and installation at St. Philip, we talked about how he got to this point, starting with what he felt during the ordination—the culmination of his journey.
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E-news exclusive photos for this story
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Many WELS pastors from around the Milwaukee area attended Keri Jackson's ordination service on June 28. Aaron Robinson, one of Keri's mentors, was there to offer a blessing on his ministry.
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Raymond Kimbrough, who recently retired after serving as pastor at St. Philip, Milwaukee, for 35 years, passed the mantle to Keri Jackson, who was assigned to serve St. Philip in May. “He told me, ‘Take my stole. It is now your duty to lead God’s people at St. Philip.’ The tears were flowing,” says Keri.
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Photography by Michael Kuether
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WELS youth groups from across the US and Canada traveled to Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, Ohio, for the 2026 WELS Youth Rally July 14–17. About 2,200 people—1,700 teens and 500 adults—participated in worship, large-scale . . .
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Two new directors are now serving at the WELS Center for Mission and Ministry in Waukesha, Wis.: Mark Maurice as executive director of WELS Investment Funds and WELS Foundation and Carolyn Barsch as director of communications. Maurice . . .
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Around noon on Monday, July 27, a tornado ripped through northeastern Wisconsin, causing damage to Bethel, Menasha, a bilingual WELS church with about 500 members. The tornado also damaged the Menasha location of Shepherd of the . . .
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