Jackie Crist – Bio & Blog

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Where were you born and raised? I was born in Bellevue, Washington at Overlake Hospital on August 5, 1989. The first four years of my life my family lived in a little mobile home in Duvall, Washington. When I was four we moved to, what I think is the coolest house ever built in Bothell, Washington. That house holds all of my greatest childhood memories. In 2004, when I was 14, my family moved from Washington to Maynardville, Tennessee where we are now living. I love Tennessee and I hope I never have to move away from it. Its home!

 

Tell us about your family – My family includes my Dad Richard, my Mom Lisa, my older sister Breana, and my younger sister Valerie. Oh and of course Breana’s Great Dane Coraline, and my Mom’s goats Bingo and Bongo. Valerie also has a Beta fish named Elton… we’ll see how long he lives. My sister and I are members of Sevier Heights Baptist Church in Knoxville. We are involved with the college ministry there, “The Walk.” I consider our college students to be family also. I love our church. J

 

What are your favorite places to eat on the road? When we are on the road I like to eat anywhere where there is a healthy option. I love Panera Bread and Jason’s Deli. I also love Mexican food!!! The best place to have Mexican food while on the road is in Texas. It DOES NOT get any better than Mexican food in Texas!

 

What are your Interests and/or Hobbies? My number one interest is my boyfriend, Micah Schweinsberg! He lives 3 hours away from me in Nashville so I try to see him whenever I can when we are home. I LOVE talking about him so if you see us in concert and want to ask about him DO NOT hesitate!

 

I also love Volleyball. I would play that everyday if I could. I played for 6 years when I was still in school. I love going fishing with my Dad in the spring and summer. Speaking of fish, I love sushi! It has to be good sushi though. Not the kind you can buy pre-made and the grocery store. I love animals. I would love to have a dog again someday. I had a little Jack Russell mix named Penny but someone thought she was cute too and took her while I was gone somewhere singing. L Bre’s dog is pretty nice to me though. I think I’m Cora’s favorite, after Bre of course. I love doing anything outdoors. I love camping, hiking, swimming, wakeboarding, anything in that category. If I ever have the opportunity to go to school again I would love to go for Massage or Physical Therapy.

 

What is your personal testimony? I grew up in a Christian home, went to Church on Sundays and Wednesdays, and I went to Christian school Kindergarten through 6^th grade. I asked Jesus into my heart in Kindergarten. I remember it like it just happened. Some people might think that you are too young in Kindergarten to understand that sort of thing but when I think back to that day I know God was speaking to my heart. However, asking Jesus into your heart and to forgive your sins is not the same as living for Him once He is in your heart. I missed that part of it. God started to move in my heart when my family picked up and moved to the south. I’ve seen God work in others lives before where He needed to allow someone to be brought down to a very low point in order for them to see their need for a relationship with God. That is exactly what happened with me. I had no friends, no where to go, nothing to distract me from anything when we moved to Tennessee. I HAD to start relying on God. I am still growing in my relationship with Him and I hope I always am. That’s where I want to be.

I didn’t have struggles with drugs, alcohol, hanging out with the wrong people, parties or any of the “regular” things that young people usually face. But I still have an awesome testimony that God protected me from all of that stuff. And His grace is just as amazing in my life as anyone else because He saved me from the same Hell that He has saved and is still saving those who fall far away from Him.

 

What is your musical history? I was in choir from first to sixth grade at Heritage Christian School and in 7^{th and} 8^th grade at Skyview Jr. High in Washington. I took piano lessons for three years and I played drums in band while attending Heritage Christian. I started singing full time with The Crist Family in 2004. I had my first solo in 2008 singing “Jesus Hold My Hand” on the Gospel Classics V2 CD.

 

Tell us your future ambitions - I have a huge passion for youth! I love working with middle school to high school students. When we weren’t too busy traveling I had the opportunity to help out at my church in the student ministry. It was awesome! So maybe someday I will be able to do that again. I would love it! I also help out when I can in the college ministry at our church.