This weekend, Rev. Watson Jones III will be delivering God's Word to us in our LAC services. Rev. Jones serves on the pastoral team at Salem Baptist Church, one of the largest churches in Chicago, under the leadership of Rev. Senator James T. Meeks. Watson has always had a passion to see people's lives change through the power of the gospel of Jesus Christ. This passion dates back to when he was a high school student on Chicago's south side. While in high school at Chicago Vocation Career Academy, Rev. Watson engaged in a courageous approach to ministry by starting and sustaining Bible studies reaching out to people in Chicago's south side urban community who were least likely to attend church..

Rev. Jones earned his Bachelor of Arts in Business Marketing at Trinity International University in Deerfield, IL. More importantly, while there, he met his wife, Kelli Jones. (She is a great blessing to all whose paths cross hers.) Following college, Watson attended Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, where he earned his Master of Divinity in 2010.

Prior to becoming a staff pastor at Salem Baptist Church of Chicago in 2010, Pastor Watson served as the Director of Multicultural Development at Trinity International University from 2008 to 2010. In this position, he worked diligently to help bridge the kinds of cultural divides that exist on campuses transitioning from being traditional mostly-homogeneous student bodies to ones that are more diverse.

Rev. Jones has a strong belief and conviction that the Christian life is to be lived outside of the four walls of church and that it is up to Christians to be the hands and feet of Jesus Christ. He serves as a member of the IDeaL Education Foundation, a non-profit organization that serves the community via educational and leadership development. His involvement in Boy Scouts of America allows him to mentor kids on a weekly basis. Those close to him speak of how naturally he befriends people of all ages and walks of life as he seeks to live in a way that glorifies the Lord Jesus.

Please welcome Watson to our church family this weekend. I saw personally the impact of his intimate walk with God and his strong leadership skills when I was president at Trinity. I know that the Lord will use his ministry to enable us to be more fully devoted Jesus followers and to have a greater impact in our own neighborhood.

To His Glory,

Dr. Greg Waybright
Senior Pastor