Jackson TerKeurst

Author, Speaker, Adoptee

Jackson TerKeurst is an author, speaker, and adoptee originally from Liberia, West Africa. At seven years old, he was separated from his family during the Liberian civil war and spent years living in an orphanage. At age 15, Jackson came to the United States as part of the African Children’s Choir, where his journey eventually led to his adoption by an American family. Despite arriving with limited formal education, he defied the odds and became the first person in his family line to graduate from college. Today, Jackson shares his remarkable story to inspire hope, resilience, and purpose in others. Drawing from his experiences of loss, displacement, adoption, and personal transformation, he speaks on identity, belonging, faith, and overcoming adversity. He is the author of The Only Way Forward Is Back and lives in Tennessee with his wife, Amanda, and their children.