Bridging Ideas Across Disciplines, Real-world Wisdom
John Jackman is a speaker, pastor, philosopher, and award-winning filmmaker who helps audiences explore the intersections of faith, science, ethics, and history. He is a dynamic speaker who has appeared before hundreds of audiences.
John’s work is driven by a lifelong fascination with how the mind works — how brain, belief, and behavior shape one another. Drawing from neuroscience, faith history, and ethical reflection, he challenges audiences to rethink certainty, understand cognitive blind spots like the Dunning–Kruger effect, and embrace intellectual humility as the beginning of wisdom. He sees doubt not as a threat to faith, but as a vital form of searching.
Ordained in 1982 and currently Senior Pastor of Trinity Moravian Church in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, he holds a B.A. in Philosophy from Moravian College and an M.Div. from Moravian Theological Seminary, with additional training in ministry to those living with mental illness.
Beyond the pulpit, John is a recognized expert in television lighting and visual storytelling. He has taught for the American Film Institute, lectured at the Library of Congress, and spoken at colleges and film schools nationwide. He is the author of Lighting for Digital Video & Television and Blue Screen Compositing, and has served as a contributing editor to DV Magazine.
Whether speaking to churches, universities, or mixed audiences, John brings an accessible, story-driven, humorous, and thought-provoking style. Audiences leave intellectually challenged, inspired to rethink assumptions, and encouraged to see mystery not as weakness, but as wonder.
He and his family live in the woods with two foundling cats and three rescued ducks. He restores old Jaguars, and has built two harpsichords by hand — reminders that curiosity, compassion and craftsmanship belong in every calling.
– Theo G. Capin