Science and religion aren’t mutually exclusive – they both answer different questions and show us greater mystery.”
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John Jackman is a speaker, pastor, philosopher, and award-winning filmmaker who helps audiences explore the intersections of faith, science, ethics, and history. 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.
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.
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. Most recently he has published the first English translation of Dcerka: Daughter of God, Jan Hus’ spiritual guide for women.
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 outside Winston-Salem with two cats and three rescued drake ducks. He restores old Jaguars, and has built two harpsichords by hand — reminders that curiosity, compassion and craftsmanship belong in every calling.
John has lectured across the country, in New York, Washington, DC, Raleigh, Savannah, Orlando, Dallas, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, and many other cities.
