Dr. Dwayne K. Pickett, Sr., a native of the small town of Itta Bena, Mississippi, is the senior pastor of New Jerusalem Church in Jackson, Mississippi. As one church in three locations, New Jerusalem conducts four worship services every Sunday morning, that are led at staggered times by Pastor Pickett and the NJC worship team and choir. NJC is unique in Jackson for its unusually high percentage of men and young people among its membership.
Pastor Pickett, an educator by training, founded New Jerusalem Christian School. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from the University of Southern Mississippi in May 1994; a Master of Education in Administration from the University of Southern Mississippi in May 1995; a Master of Arts in Christian Education from Reformed Theological Seminary (Jackson, MS) in 2000; and a Doctor of Philosophy in Christian Education from New Orleans Baptist Seminary in May of 2011.
His wife, Dr. Tracy Evans Pickett of Laurel, MS, earned a B.S. in computational science and physics before completing an M.S. in physics, a Ph.D. in physics education, and a M.A. in Biblical Studies. She serves as Director of Christian Education and is a former, assistant professor of physics at Jackson State University. The Picketts have five sons—Julian, Kendedrick, Malcolm, Dwayne, Jr., and Keishun—and three beautiful grandchildren and counting.