From Darkness to the Light: Jackson Ranck’s Story of Rebuilding
Jackson Ranck’s spiritual journey began with his grandfather, Robert Ranck, who served as a pastor in Menominee for 30 years. While his grandfather was the first to introduce him to God, as a child (and baptize him as a baby), those words felt more daunting than comforting. Jackson often looked at the church and felt a lingering sense of inadequacy, believing he simply wasn’t "good enough" to be there.
That feeling was deeply intensified by a trauma he experienced in the third grade—a sexual assault that shaped the next several decades of his life. This event led him down a path of isolation, anxiety, self-sabotage, and pain. By the age of 18, Jackson turned to alcohol to cope. He spent years in what he describes as his "first life" as a welder, engaging in hard, blue-collar work that felt as though it was slowly draining the life out of him.
The Breaking Point
Five years ago, Jackson’s world shattered when his brother passed away from a fentanyl overdose. In the devastating aftermath of that grief, he lost nearly everything: his marriage ended, he left his career in welding, and he even faced a period of homelessness. At his lowest point, he found himself "smack-talking" God, demanding answers for the suffering he was enduring. The spiritual darkness he felt was so heavy it became physical; he truly didn't believe he would survive much longer.
However, even in those trenches, God was "cooking" something new for him.
Finding a New Family
Jackson eventually found his way to Green Bay Community Church (GBCC) because it felt like a safe haven; he had never forgotten the kindness shown to his family during his brother’s memorial service there. In late 2025, he reached a point of total surrender. He stopped trying to "earn" his way into favor or use his painful past as an excuse to stay stagnant.
He began attending Alpha, where he experienced a profound shift: for the first time in his life, people were praying over him rather than "preying" on him. This was the turning point. For Jackson, God became his antidepressant, and the Bible transformed from a "dressed-up" book into a living, breathing guide. He began to see God’s presence in "winks"—through nature, recurring numbers, and the "step-family" he found with his coworkers on the GBCC facilities team.
Reborn and Refreshed
This past Easter—on Good Friday, which was also his birthday—Jackson was baptized. It served as a symbolic "refresher," a public declaration that he was never going back to his old life. Just weeks before the ceremony, a car accident totaled his Jetta GLI. To Jackson, it felt as though God was clearing away the final remnants of his past to make room for a new beginning, a new life in the church.
As he emerged from the water, he felt a sense of peace and calmness he had never known. He transitioned from walking in a total darkness where sadness was his constant companion to a life of total positivity. It was as if a heavy filter had finally been lifted from his eyes.
A Message of Hope
Today, Jackson serves as the Facilities Lead at GBCC. He is currently enrolled in the Navigate course, learning how to leverage his unique gifts to further the Kingdom. His heart is set on discipling others who feel trapped in the same darkness he once inhabited.
If there is one thing Jackson desires others to take away from his journey, it is this: Never give up on yourself. God’s always got you. He believes that while you may feel alone, that feeling is merely an illusion of the darkness. Jackson wants everyone to know that they are good enough, and that sometimes it takes being in the hardest, darkest places to realize that God is right there—holding you and waiting for you to realize how much you are truly loved.
Jackson’s story is incredibly raw and powerful. It moves from deep trauma and loss to a place of genuine peace, making it a perfect example of how God works in the "trenches" of life.
Written by Mary Deckert
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