Last fall, we began a series on the awesome women in Southern Gospel Music: women like Vestal Goodman, Eva Mae LeFevre and Mom Speer in the past, to current legends like Connie Hopper, Lou Wills Hildreth and Elaine Wilburn. Not all the amazing women of Southern Gospel have sung on the stage, however. Many of these ladies are the quiet force behind the leading men of the industry. Ladies like Kathy Jackson, wife of Paul Jackson of the Prophets Quartet.

Paul and Kathy Jackson were involved in evangelism and were also pastors of a church for 18 years. Paul was also a songwriter for a choral music company called Prism Music. The Jacksons had been good friends with Johnny Minnick for over 30 years when Johnny called Paul and asked him to sing lead for the Prophets Quartet. Kathy took time from her busy schedule to talk to SGM Radio about becoming a quartet wife.

“Our boys are now grown and we have a little extra time, so we decided that [joining the Prophets] might be a good thing,” says Kathy. “This is a new thing for us, but it is fun to be back out with people. It’s exciting to be out on the road again. This quartet will not travel extensively but I really look forward to it.”

“We do intend to keep our pastorate.” Kathy continues, “Also we have our community choir that is about 7-8 churches in Little Rock, that we lead. We sing in churches in about a hundred-mile radius of Little Rock. We are excited about all of it and enjoy singing about the Lord!”

Family agreement in ministry is very important to Kathy. “Our boys are really behind what we are doing. They are both married. No grandchildren yet! My whole life may change when I have grandchildren!”

Kathy, a lovely brunette whose big smile and infectious laugh are contagious, has a warm personality that speaks of her commitment and love for the Lord. She is also a huge part of the ministry of the Prophets.  “I am planning on traveling most of the dates with the Quartet. I’ll try to keep everyone organized, their clothes washed, that kind of thing; I think that’s my main job. I’ll be making sure everyone has clean clothes to wear!”

“Pastor’s wives do have a lot on their plate,” says Kathy. “But our church has really encouraged us to do this. When we left evangelism, we sort of lost touch with a lot of people. Our church really wants Paul to use his talents and get back out with the people. Our son, Micah, our ‘Old Testament son’, is the Associate Pastor and he fills in for his Dad. Matthew, our ‘New Testament son’, also fills in and they work really well together when their Daddy is out of town.”

As a Christian woman, wife and mother, Kathy Jackson has had to firmly set her priorities. “For all these years until the last seven or so, my priority was my children; staying home and protecting my children as much as possible. Making sure my boys played soccer, basketball, baseball, etc. I really focused on taking care of my children, whether Paul was at home or away.”

“Paul was a really good Dad. In fact, that was the reason we got off the road, primarily. His Dad retired from the church and we took on the church when he retired”, Kathy explains. “I always saw my role as a protector of my children. I have all my friends at church and when Paul’s gone I do all the hospital visits, but our sons do that now very well. When they got married, frankly, I was a little lost. It took me a while to find my place in a new lifestyle.”

Being a pastor’s wife for so many years has taught Kathy many useful lessons for becoming a quartet wife. “I think the primary thing is learning to take criticism and to realize that you can’t be everything for everybody. The way I look at that is that usually your critics are more honest with you than your friends. They point out things that maybe you need to change or maybe you need to look at. For instance, maybe you come across in a way that you don’t realize you are.”

“On the other hand,” says Kathy, “ I’ve also learned to consider the source, evaluate, deal with it, and forget it. It’s really taken me 35 years to do that! I feel I have a grasp on that now. As any wife would know, it’s harder when people criticize your husband than when they criticize you. And it’s even worse when they criticize your children!”

“I’ve really tried to learn to look at the criticism and if there is anything there that I can change, or anything that will help my husband or my children, then I will change that. If not, I just consider the source and their motive, and go on and live the best I can. I need to do what the Lord puts on my heart to do.”

Being a pastor’s wife and a pastor’s child, Kathy is determined to live her life in a way that is pleasing to the Lord. “I feel like, in this day and time, we need some heroes. We really need people who actually live what they sing and what they say. So that’s my goal, to try to not disappoint anyone. But most of all, I’ve had to learn that the only One whose opinion really counts is my Lord. I really feel like I’ve mastered that. Tomorrow it may be different, but today, I feel like I have!”

Kathy Jackson is really looking forward to this new venture with her husband, Paul, and the Prophets Quartet. “It’s a new chapter in our lives and it’s a freedom for me, really. I did the best I could to raise my kids and they are doing very well. I feel like I can leave town and relax! So I’m excited! I’m glad to be out on the road again.” 

For more information on Kathy and Paul Jackson, and the Prophets Quartet, click onto Paul Jackson’s website at www.pauljacksongroup.com

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