Myrtle Tree Ministry Strategies

“So the priest Hilkiah, Ahikam, Achbor, Shaphan, and Asaiah went to the prophetess Huldah ... where they consulted her.”

2 Kings 22:14 (NRSV)

OUR FOUNDER

Earind Jackson, M.Div.

Founder, Myrtle Tree Ministry Strategies

Earind Jackson descends from four generations of pastors and has served in local church ministry for more than 25 years. She holds a Master of Divinity from George W. Truett Theological Seminary at Baylor University. Her career spans nearly two decades of nonprofit leadership, including C-suite roles as Chief Impact Officer of the Central Texas Food Bank and Chief Strategy Officer of Girl Scouts of Central Texas.

HER STORY

Raised in the Church. Tested in the Executive Suite.

Earind was raised inside the local church. She is the daughter of deacons, was baptized by her grandfather, and spent her after-school hours in the church office where her mother and godmother worked. She began classical piano at age 3, performed a recital at Carnegie Hall at age 9, and began serving as a church musician at age 12. Her father calls her a "walking church-house" for the many roles she has filled.

She trained for ministry and leadership together, earning a B.A. in Religion with a minor in Business Administration from Baylor before completing her Master of Divinity at Truett. She then spent 17 years at Girl Scouts of Central Texas, rising from program staff to the executive team, and went on to lead every program at the largest hunger-relief organization in Central Texas.

Throughout her career, leaders have brought Earind their hardest problems. Volunteers nicknamed her "The Closer" because she was sent in when an issue could not be settled any other way. Her discernment comes from years inside complex organizations and from supernatural gifting. She sees what is happening beneath the surface of a situation, and what the moment will require, before others do.

"It seems like we just give you all of our toughest challenges."

A FORMER BOARD CHAIR

Her Track Record

Proven at Scale. Trusted in Hard Seasons.

Earind has spent nearly two decades leading people, programs, and organizations through growth, crisis, and change. At Girl Scouts of Central Texas, she rose over 17 years from program staff to the executive team of a 46-county council, serving as Chief Strategy Officer. As Chief Impact Officer of the Central Texas Food Bank, she served on the executive team reporting to the President and CEO and led every network and direct-service program at the largest hunger-relief organization in Central Texas: a team of 60 serving more than 70,000 people weekly through 250 agencies across 21 counties.

SELECTED EXAMPLES FROM HER CAREER

EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP

Vision Carried to Every Level.

She has set organizational direction alongside a CEO, board, and senior leadership, carried that direction through every level of the organization, and served on a national advisory committee for Girl Scouts of the USA.

PEOPLE LEADERSHIP

People Led Well and Kept Safe.

She held oversight of human resources and was responsible for more than 26,000 members and 11,000 volunteers. She oversaw volunteer screening, adult-to-youth ratios, and training compliance for every one of them.

MEMBERSHIP GROWTH

Growth Against Decline.

She reversed a national trend of membership decline, producing 1.5 percent growth and a 13 percent increase in retention.

CONFLICT RESOLUTION

Unity Protected When Tensions Rise.

She is regularly called in to resolve staff, volunteer, relational, and community conflicts, and is certified to administer the Intercultural Conflict Style Inventory.

HIGH-STAKES DECISIONS

Hard Calls Made Under Pressure.

She led the COVID-19 response across program sites, residential camps, and the council's volunteer network, including closure and reopening decisions. No outbreak was traced to a council program or property.

See Her Full Career on LinkedIn

Her Assignment

An Augmenting Anointing.

Earind carries an augmenting anointing. She is sent to strengthen what God has already placed in a house and in its leader, never to replace or compete with either. She serves the pastor's vision, adds strength where the load is heaviest, and leaves leaders better equipped to carry the work God gave them.

Her CREDENTIALS

Rooted. Cultivated. Fruitful.

Church Roots

Four generations of pastors, including the grandfather who baptized her.
Christian education from primary school through seminary, beginning at Pilgrim Congregational and Castle Hills First Baptist Schools in San Antonio.
Daughter of deacons, involved in church from birth.
Began serving as a church musician at age 12 at Antioch Missionary Baptist Church, San Antonio, her home church, then New Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church, San Antonio, and Antioch Missionary Baptist Church, Waco.
Interim Music Director, David Chapel Missionary Baptist Church, Austin.

Education and Credentials

Master of Divinity, George W. Truett Theological Seminary, Baylor University. Theta Alpha Kappa honor society; charter member, Truett Black Student Association.
Seminary field education, Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church, Houston.
B.A. in Religion, minor in Business Administration, Baylor University.
Community and Economic Development Certificate, Harvard Summer Leadership Institute, Harvard Divinity School.
Nonprofit Management Certificate, Duke University.
Intercultural Development Inventory Qualified Administrator.
Intercultural Conflict Style Inventory, certified to administer.

Recognition and Service

40 Under 40, Austin Black Business Journal, inaugural class, 2022.
Austin Access Award, Mayor's Committee for People with Disabilities, 2017.
Junior League of Austin Sustaining Advisor of the Year, 2026. In volunteer service, a former Board Member and Strategic Planning Committee Chair, with board service in the Junior League of Waco.
Previous Board of Director, Impact Austin.
Leadership Austin, Essential Class 41, and Leadership Waco graduate.
Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated.

Her Voice

Invite Earind to Your Next Gathering.

Earind is available for workshops, trainings, panel discussions, and conferences.

Invite Earind to Speak

Myrtle Tree Ministry Strategies

Strategic excellence for fruitful ministries.