Spotlight: Jackie Sanderlin
1. Tell us a little bit about who you are (where are you from, family, work, etc)
I was born Jackie Tissot Sanderlin. My Mother, Camilla Ray, was from Oxford, NC. She met my father, Robert Tissot, while studying in Geneva Switzerland. They fell in love and he followed her back to the US and they were married in Oxford. They moved to Long Island, NY where I was born. My mother became a Christian when I was 5 and she led me to the Lord. We moved to northern Virginia a year later where I spent the next 11 years. We were blessed to be a part of a great church that taught the Word of God. Between church and home, I had the privilege of growing up in the Lord. My father’s job moved us to Thousand Oaks, California in my freshman year of High school – only to move back the next year. Later, my father became ill and died during my Senior year in High School. I attended Peace College in Raleigh for one year, and then transferred to Meredith. My mother was offered a job at Columbia Bible College in SC with free tuition for employee’s children – so I transferred and graduated with a BA in Bible from what is now Columbia International University. It was while I was there that I met my wonderful husband, Ed. We married in 1981 and after graduating, he chose a career in Army Aviation flying Apache helicopters. His job took us all over the US and Europe and through many deployments. The Lord blessed us with two wonderful children who are both following Christ. Eddie is married to Mallory and working on his PhD in Biomedical Research and Lizzie is working as a nurse at Rex Hospital in Raleigh. Ed and I were married 10 years before we had children. During that time I worked as an Administrative Assistant and Property Manager for a real estate firm. I stayed home after the children were born and had the privilege of teaching them in all aspects of life and school. Later when they were older they were enrolled in a private Christian School as I returned to work. Today I enjoy working at SEBTS for the Provost.
2. If you had a free day and unlimited money, what would you spend your day doing?
Well, it has been said that the only thing that lasts is “Word of God and the souls of men” so I would probably try to give away as much money as I could to further the gospel through the work of his servants. I would start by completely funding SEBTS and set up funds for students to get their degrees and go all over the World to share the Gospel. J
3. Who is the most influential person in your life?
I must say that Jesus Christ is. My mother taught me at a very young age that to know and understand who God is would change my life. It has affected how I view life and others. Next to Jesus, I think my husband has influenced me the most. He is a man that seeks after God’s heart and lives authentically. I admire him greatly!
5. What is a verse that you would consider your “life verse”?
2 Corinthians 9:8
“And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work.”
6. What are three words that people would use to describe you?
I would hope: “ Follower of Christ”.
4. What is one book that you think everyone should have on their bookshelf?
Trusting God by Jerry Bridges. It is not a highly theological work, but it speaks to one of the most fundamental issues I think we face as Christians. Knowing who God is and trusting him in all the circumstances of life. It is the key to living the Christian life.