When God Says No: Listen for the Yes!: The Little Book of God’s Voice. Share Our Journey. Enjoy the Journey, Receive Your Inspiration, Reach Your Destination: Receive Your Blessings!!!

By Franklin D. R. Jackson Ed.D.

This little book is really a labor of love. It is not by chance that you are reading it. It is written out of love and through the inspiration of God to assist you and others overcome obstacles and seemingly roadblocks to achieve God’s Plan for you by listening and responding to God’s till small voice in you.
The book provides numerous examples of when God said No’s in the Bible, followed by great Yes’s. It also provides examples of when God said No’s to me, followed by great Yes’s. You will start listening more closely to God, and receive the blessings which God has for you.. The book is reader friendly. It is not about theology or philosophy, it is inspirational and faith/trust building. Please share it that you will be a blessing to others.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Balboa Press
• Release date: Jul 23, 2019
• ISBN: 9781982231682

Franklin D. R. Jackson Ed.D.

Rev. Dr. Franklin D. Jackson is a native of Jamaica, West Indies, where he attended public school. He graduated from the Jamaica School of Agriculture. He graduated magna cum laude from Tuskegee University. He obtained the Master’s and Doctorate in Agricultural Education from the University of Illinois, Champaign- Urbana. In 2014, he earned a Certificate in Global Evangelism from the Samuel Dewitt Proctor School of Theology at Virginia Union University in Richmond, Virginia. Dr. Jackson was ordained as an Evangelist by Hollywood Baptist Church, Powhatan, Virginia in April 2017 and was ordained as a Pastor by Rose Hill 3 1 Baptist Church, Fayette, Mississippi in August 2018. Dr. Jackson currently CEO/President of Evangelism by Grace International, Inc. Dr. Jackson served as Associate Dean for Extension at Virginia, Before joining Virginia State University in 2008, Dr. Jackson was employed at Alcorn State University in various capacities, including Vice President for Institutional Advancement, Planning and Research; Administrator of the University’s USDA-1890 Program; Co-Chair of the USDA-1890 Task Force Executive Team; Director Planning, Management and Evaluation; Officer for the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS). Dr. Jackson served as a consultant to many institutions and organizations in areas such as leadership development, grantsmanship, strategic planning, institutional assessment, program evaluation. He has provided training in leadership development and strategic planning for the Board of Trustees and faculty of the University of Zululand in South Africa, conducted assessments in Rwanda and Haiti, conducted leadership training in Guyana,. He has held membership in several professional and social organizations including Phi Delta Kappa, Alpha Kappa Mu, and Gamma Sigma Delta: The Honor Society of Agriculture and Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity. He is listed in Personalities of the South, Outstanding Young Men of America, and Who i’s Who World-Wide. Passion for Service: Dr. Jackson has always been helpful to individuals in need; now as an ordained Evangelist and Pastor, he wants to dedicate more time and resources to assist in meeting the physical and spiritual needs of our neighbor, and to carry out the Great Commission of Jesus to ‘GO’ and help; therefore, he established. Evangelism by Grace International (EBGI) and seeks the assistance of those who are concerned about our neighbors, wherever they reside. EBGI wants to help others to help themselves physically and spiritually. Our motto is “Who (Jesus) went about doing good”. (Acts 10; 38)

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Copyright © 2019 Franklin D.R. Jackson, Ed.D.

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Scripture taken from the King James Version of the Bible.

ISBN: 978-1-9822-3157-6 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-9822-3156-9 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-9822-3168-2 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2019909998

Balboa Press rev. date: 06/05/2020

CONTENTS

Preface

Dedication

Acknowledgement

Chapter 1    Introduction

Chapter 2    God Says No’s and Yes’s to His Children in the Old Testament

No Adam

No Satan

No Noah

Tower of Babel

No Abraham

No Abram

No Abraham

No Isaac

No Reuben

No Pharaoh

No Moses

Reflections:

No Eli

No Samuel

No Samuel

No David

No Jonah

Reflections

Chapter 3    God Says No to His Children in the New Testament

God Says No to His Son Jesus, and Yes to Humanity!

Reflections:

Jesus says No to Paul

Reflections:

Chapter 4    God Said No To Me, and I Said, Yes God, Yes:

A Door Closed at Friendship Primary School

Jamaica School of Agriculture (JSA)

Chapter 5    Years in Jamaica after The Jamaica School of

Agriculture (JSA)

The Lucrative Job at Exxon Petroleum Corporation

Words Matter—Godliness is next to Cleanliness

Words of Deacon Robert Wilson

Getting the Student Visa to Attend Tuskegee Institute

Honoring my Heroes Uncle Bobby and Aunt Lue

Chapter 6    Pursuing Education America

Tuskegee Institute

No, Franklin, No Agronomy

Working at Tuskegee Institute

New York Here I Come!

The Jewelry Store Experience

Back at Tuskegee Institute

Aberdeen County Public School and Church Experiences

Student-Teaching Experience

No, you will not get a job at Aberdeen County

Public High School:

Back at Tuskegee and Ready to go to Graduate School

Graduate School

University of Illinois

Rurban Educational Development Laboratory (REDL)

No to Virginia State College:

Chapter 7    Alcorn A & M College (Alcorn State University)

Volunteering pays off: How I got to Alcorn

Meeting Dr. Rodolph E. Waters by Chance or

Providence

Chapter 8    A Door is Closed at Alcorn: God said No!

No to Southern Illinois University

Chapter 9    A Second Yes for Alcorn

Director of University Long-Range Planning

Dedicated Administrators, Faculty and Staff

Chapter 10  Yes to Alcorn a Third Time

Losing an Election that was a Win!

Back to Alcorn

A Few Accomplishments at Alcorn

Two New Vice Presidents Appointed at Alcorn

A Small Peep at Dr. Walter Washington and Dr.

Rudolph E. Waters

Three Amazing Students at Alcorn State University

Chapter 11  Leaving Alcorn State University

No to Alcorn State University, Yes, Go to Virginia State University

How I Applied for the Position of President of

Alcorn State University

Shaking up the Human Pillars at Alcorn

Hold on a Little While Longer

Help is on the way!

Only Heather Understood and I am Leaving her Behind

Chapter 12  Nine Years in Virginia

Virginia State University

Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology-VUU:

Rev. Willis Funn

Hollywood Baptist Church (HBC), Powhatan, Virginia

Virginia Caribbean Education Exchange

Foundation (VCEEF)

Evangelism by Grace International, Inc.

(Evangelismbgi.org)

Employment Contract (VSU’s) I Could Not Accept

Chapter 13  Back in Mississippi

A Third No to Alcorn State University for Now

God is Able

About The Author

PREFACE

REVISED APRIL 15, 2020

GOD SAYS NO TO ME, AND I SAY, YES GOD, YES

By any measure, my folk back home would consider me a success even though most do not really know how much I have achieved and how much I have done to assist others. Nevertheless, many would say, from where you came, and who you were, to where you are and who you are, you are a success. And I would quickly agree with them. There are three passages in the Bible which I use to measure my success in life, both temporal and spiritual success. Two passages are from the teaching of the Apostle Paul, and one from the apostle James. They are as follows, from Paul: (1) But godliness with contentment is great gain. (Timothy 6: 6)

(2) "And be not conformed to this world: but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that ye may prove (know) what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect (complete) will of God." (Romans 12:2)

Finally, James reminds us, Every good and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variableness, neither shadow of turning (James 1:17). And I would be remiss if I did not acknowledge the influence by the teachings of the man who planted the little school in rural Alabama, Tuskegee Institute, Booker T. Washington, where Deacon Robert Wilson (Uncle Bobby) inspired me to attend. Booker T. Washington, my unmet mentor described success this way, Success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which he has overcome.

So I appropriate the foregoing quotes as the measure of my success; and folks in the District of Friendship, Hanover, and the teachers, and my batchmates at The Jamaica School of Agriculture would agree that I am successful based on the above stated quotes, even though they do not know it all. Let me hurriedly say that whatever measure of success I have achieved is because of God’s blessings. Because I have tried to listen to and respond to God’s No’s and Yes’s, and I have always worked as diligently as possible.

I hope that this little book will assist you in achieving optimal success, if you define success as doing to the best of your ability what God has assigned you to do.

Blessings to you!!!

DEDICATION

My mother Irene Stephenson Jackson was my first hero. She nurtured and encouraged me as her first son and hard-headed youth in Friendship, Hanover, Jamaica. I can still hear her quiet voice saying Come Mr. Frank, come go to school man. She was my rod of correction, and correction she did. She died four months after I received the doctorate from the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana. I owe everything to her.

My father, Honourable Arnold Scott Jackson, Member of Hanover Parochial Board (MHPB)/Member of Hanover Parish Council (MHPC), Member of the House of Representatives (MHR)/Member of Parliament (MP), was my ‘idol’. I practically ‘worshipped’ – respected- him. All his children did, and so did the people of Friendship, and most of the people of Hanover. I wanted to follow in his footsteps–most of them—and be just like him. At the age of eight years or so, he gave me the book How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie; it was and is tremendously beneficial to me.

My Aunty Melworth’s (Melworth Wilson) unfinished house on top of Jackson Hill in Friendship was my prayer and study closet, and praying and studying I did there before leaving Friendship for The Jamaica School of Agriculture. But it was not only her house that impacted my life, it was also her kindness, her goodness, her encouragement, her meals. How can I repay her? Never!

Then Uncle Bobby (Deacon Robert Wilson) who first told his Sunday school class about Booker T. Washington, a story which inspired me to attend Tuskegee Institute. Uncle Bobby’s words made a great difference in my life.

To my oldest sister PT (Pernell Elaine Jackson Crossman) the matriarch of our family, I say thank you. She tells me that much of the money which my father sent to me while I was in school came from her. I cannot repay her and her husband Rev. Stivell Crossman for their generosity toward me, so I simply say, thank you.

And to my daughter Heather Nicole Jackson, the only person who seemed to understand why I was leaving Alcorn State University in 2008, I say thank you. To these wonderful individuals I dedicate this little book - just a part of my journey.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I am delighted to acknowledge a few individuals at Alcorn State University who contributed immensely to whatever I accomplished or assisted in accomplishing there. I am focusing on Alcorn since I spent most of my career –more than thirty-four years there. First, I want to thank the presidents and interim presidents, who had the foresight to allow me and assisted me in doing my job. They are Dr. Walter Washington, Dr. Rudolph E Waters, Dr. Malvin A. Williams, and Dr. Clinton Bristow, Jr. These gentlemen were comfortable in working with this administrator who was self-assured with a ‘mild’ touch of arrogance.

Then there were the colleagues who were always so helpful to me. They included the following vice presidents: Claudine Gee, LaPlose Jackson, Wiley Jones, and Dr. Napoleon Moses. Dr. Malvin A. Williams also served as a vice president and was helpful to me in that position as well. I also want to acknowledge Dr. Samuel Donald, former Dean of the School Agriculture, Research, Extension, and Applied Sciences, who was so cooperative and helpful to me. I would be remiss if I did not mention Dr. Leroy Davis, one of the smartest persons I know, who I recruited as the Dean for the School of Agriculture, Research, Extension, and Applied Sciences at Alcorn. Dr. Davis helped to ensure that I weighed every word when I spoke with him. He helped me to be more careful in the use of language, and I thank him for that.

My greatest thanks and appreciation go to the staff members who worked with me closely on a day by day basis; they include my (former) administrative assistants Mary Irving and Lola T. Brown, and two secretaries Coretta Jackson and Alexa Mims. Then Dr. Samuel L. White, who worked with me as the first director of Sponsored Program at Alcorn State University. Without these dedicated staff members, we would not have accomplished what we did at Alcorn, and for your dedication and timeless effort, I simply say THANK YOU!

I am compelled to acknowledge and say thank you to two persons at Virginia State University who were particularly helpful to me, even though this acknowledgement focuses on individuals who were at Alcorn during my tenure there. I want to acknowledge Dr. Alma Hobbs, (former) dean for the School of Agriculture at Virginia State University, who recommended me for employment there. And I want to acknowledge Dr. Jewel Hairston, (former) assistant dean for Extension Programs at Virginia State University, who assisted me immensely in carrying out my duties as the associate dean for Cooperative Extension at Virginia State University.

I acknowledge the Extension faculty and staff members who were so helpful to me professionally and personally, and while I will not mention all the individuals who were so helpful to me, I am listing a few: Dr. Theresa Nartea (my prayer warrior), Dr. Dahlia O’Brien, Dr. Raza Rafie (a wise counselor), Dr. Brian Nerrie, Dr. Novella Johnson Ruffin (kept me in line), Dr. Larry Conatser (I am still reading the books he so generously gave to me), Dr. David Crosby, Wanda Johnson (excellent demonstration meals prepared and served with love), Chris and Jimmy Mullins, Mark Klingman, Mollie Klein, Fidelis Okpebholop, the late Troy Tucker, LaToya Graves, Sylvia Jones, Cheryl Crawford, and others. I thank you all.

Pastor O and all the members at Hollywood Baptist Church in Powhatan, Virginia, were all so helpful t o me on my journey; however, I want to give special acknowledgement to the chairperson of the Hollywood Baptist Church Deacon Board, Deacon Tammie Woodson. She was always encouraging me and pushing me along. She was right there at the Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology at Virginia Union University taking pictures when I was awarded a Certificate in Evangelism, Mission and Global Christianity. I will always be grateful for her ongoing encouragement. I thank Brother Deacon Winfred Taylor for teaching me about humility by his words and deeds. I thank Deacon Robert Moore for reminding us, in his public prayers, that the wages of sin is still death and the gift of God is still eternal life.

My acknowledgement would be more grossly incomplete if I did not acknowledge the love and support I have received over the years from the pastors and members of many churches which I attend in Mississippi. I will only name two of the churches- Hollywood Baptist Church at Fayette, Mississippi and Rose Hill #1 Baptist Church at Fayette, Mississippi. When I was being formally ordained as an evangelist at Hollywood Baptist Church in Powhatan, Virginia on the last Saturday of April 2017, I looked in the congregation and to my great and pleasant surprise there was Rev. Dr. Elvis Eli Colenberg. Rev Dr. Colenberg drove and rode 1,200 miles to be at the ordination ceremony and gave an outstanding presentation of my qualities and qualification to be an evangelist.

Rose Hill #1 Baptist Church of Fayette, Mississippi. In the congregation at the ordination ceremony were Deacon Isaac Colenberg and Deacon Albert J. Wyatt, Jr. of my Mississippi home church—Rose Hill #1 Baptist Church. They also drove and rode with Rev. Dr. Colenberg the 1,200 miles to attend the ceremony. They gave remarkable testimonials on my behalf. Hollywood Baptist Church was the first Church in Mississippi, at which I preached after being ordained as an evangelist. And how can I thank Rev. Iris Cole-Crosby for coming from Arkansas to the ordination and for her encouragement over the years.

I am thankful to my Mississippi pastor, Rev. Ernest Ford, Jr. who has inspired me over the years. It was Rev. Ford who orchestrated my "Pastoral First ‘Trial’ Sermon at Rose Hill #1 Baptist Church on August 11, 2018. The service was nicely attended with a good number of pastors in attendance. At the conclusion of my sermon, Pastor Ford congratulated me and issued me a "Certificate of License" to preach the Gospel and to exercise my gifts in the work of the ministry.

Thanks to Pastor Ford for allowing me to preach—minister at Rose Hill #1 Baptist Church and at other churches where he serves as pastor. I will always be grateful to Rose Hill #1 Baptist Church–pastor, members and guests for their generosity toward me.

I have done this acknowledgement my way, and I am keenly aware that I have failed to acknowledge many deserving persons and acts of kindness toward me, please forgive my omissions. Nevertheless, I hope that I have transmitted my appreciation and gratefulness in a clear and unequivocal manner, even to those who are not specifically mentioned.

Blessings and Joy to all!

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CHAPTER ONE

Introduction

This book is not my detailed autobiography [Dr. Franklin Delano Roosevelt Jackson], neither is it a tell all book. It is not a book on theology. Rather it is a book of my reflections on some incidents when God said No to some of His people, as recorded in the Bible, and at times when He said No to me.

This book demonstrates how God’s No’s are often followed by corresponding Yes’s. As I studied the Bible, I became intrigued on how God usually gave a corresponding Yes, when He said No. Often, the Yes is not immediately evident. I do not include every No and Yes of God, just a few examples to make the point that Christians ought to listen for the Yes’s when