Hello, I am a seventy-two-year-old, physically fit, mentally sharp former high school and college basketball player “called” to ministry while in college. Later I became ordained through three denominational churches and two local churches. My credentials for consulting in all the areas mentioned on my website, counseling, and coaching are an extension of my nine sacerdotal duties as an ordained minister recognized by the IRS. They are preaching and teaching that cover a broad range of subjects, including spiritual counseling and finding solutions to an array of problems that I apply to my consulting service, and all the remaining duties of an ordained minister mentioned below.
My cultural experience encompasses living in the north, and south, and interacting and communicating cross-culturally with different ethnicities. After serving in the pastorate, I retired at the age of 66 and began serving as Adjunct Professor at Charlotte Christian College and Theological Seminary in Charlotte NC. I served for approximately four and a half years from 2012-2016. I taught Urban Studies which included the subjects: Urban Theology, Urban Ministry, Urban Demography, CrossCultural Outreach, Urban Community Development, Urban Evangelism, Urban/Cross-Cultural Church Planting, Contemporary Urban Issues, Black Church History, Planting & Growing Urban Churches, and Nonprofit Vision & Development. In 2016, I founded JJ Planter Books and now serve as Editor-in-Chief that later I dissolved and started my current business/ministry, JJ Planter & Middle Mission Writing & Consulting.
I have been married to Doris W. Ross for 45 years, and she is a Clinical Nurse at the Mecklenburg County Health Department. We have three adult children, Jeremy Ross (43) Loomis Security, Kassia Ross (37), Utility Administrator, Danielle Ross (35), and Nurse Practitioner.
CIVIC/CIVIL SERVICE
Appointed by the Mayor of Knoxville to the Civil Service Merit Board. Legislated issues,
concerns, and complaints from the fire and police departments.
1985-1989
Served as President of Neighborhood Housing and Commercial Services Board mandated by the
Federal Government to revitalize declining neighborhoods in the inner city.
1990-1991
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Nativity Pageant Advisory Board for annual citywide nativity pageants.
1995-2002
Served as Associate Chaplain to the University of Tennessee Football Team. Held chapel
services before home games and visited the players at practice for counsel and prayer.
1998
Fort Sanders Health Center Pastoral Care Board. Connected patients and families to hospital
services and personnel.
1996-2000
AWARDS
City of Knoxville Outstanding Service
1989
Knox/Knoxville Community Action Committee Leadership
1990
The City of Knoxville Proclamation–Jarvis Ross Day
1991
University of Tennessee College of Law Speakers Award
1998
UT Phil Fulmer Letter of Recognition
1999
Church Planter Assessment (CPAC) Rating: “Well Qualified Church Planter
2004
WRITINGS
Books
“Agenda for Racial Reconciliation”
“The Proactive Agenda for Racial Reconciliation”
“Urban Discipleship” (How to Grow Plants through Concrete)
“Season of Discontent” (A Visionary’s True Confessions)
New Projects: Race Relations Matter to God; The Art of Reconciliation (Breaking Down Historical
Stereotypes); “kingdom of the iconic god” (Novel); “What a Man Really Wants” (Novel); “The
Road Back Home” (Identifying Your Biblical Heritage); “Picking Up the Broken Pieces of Life.”
Compilation of Curriculum and Various Lecture lessons
Booklets
Cross-Cultural Development Process & Program
Predestination: God’s Eternal, Pre-Ordained Plan of Salvation
Human Sexuality and the Christian
The Tabernacle Concept of Ministry (Cross-Cultural Worship; Service; Fellowship; and Witness)
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Parenting: The Ideal Model for Discipleship
Plays
Wrote, produced, and directed play productions at a local theater: Ordinary People; Rhapsody; The
Kisss
INTERESTS & ACTIVITIES
Playing Chess. Working Out at Home. Reading and Writing. Traveling and meeting different
people. Shopping with my wife for clothes and household goods. Debating the issues, socializing,
and listening to good music.