Jill Biden returned Sunday to the South Carolina Baptist Church, where she said she started to rebuild her relationship with God six years after her son’s suicide from brain cancer.
The first lady flew quietly to West Columbia to make a surprise appearance at 50th anniversary celebrations for Pastor Charles B. Jackson Sr., Brookland Baptist Church. She ended up giving one the most detailed explanations of her faith after Beau Biden’s passing and how she found her way back home to God through Robin Jackson, her prayer partner.
Biden thanked Charles Jackson for leading a ministry that feeds the hungry, offers college scholarships, and runs a program to improve health and well-being.
She told him, “You have brought many people to God’s grace,” “You remind me that we are the body Christ.”
She began her remarks by telling the story of Robin Jackson’s meeting, and stating that the relationship “shaped my entire life.”
They met shortly after Joe Biden had visited the church with his spouse after he announced that he would be running for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination.
Both women reported that Jackson approached Jill Biden to ask her to pray for her.
“And I don’t know if her sensed how moved she was by the service,” said the first lady Sunday. “I don’t know if she could still sense the grief that I feel, but it hides behind my smile.”
“But, I do know that it was like God spoke to me when she spoke. ‘OK Jill, you had enough. It’s time for you to return home.
Beau Biden, the 46-year-old son of the Bidens, was married with two children and died in 2015 from brain cancer. First lady, who said that she prayed and prayed for Beau to live, was shocked when his prayers were not answered and he died.
She said, Sunday, “I felt betrayed and broken,” breaking her voice. She claimed that her pastor used to email her to check in on her and invite her back to church.
“But I couldn’t go. I couldn’t even pray. She said, “I wondered if joy would ever come back to me.”
She met Robin Jackson four years later.
The city’s newsletter stated that Robin would text Dr. Jill every Wednesday to inform her she had called their names in prayers. Dr. Jill would always send a thank you text to Jill.” Jill Biden is referred to as “Dr.” due her doctorate.
In February 2021, Jill Biden stated to Kelly Clarkson that Robin Jackson has made a significant difference in her life.
Clarkson was told by the first lady, “It really helped my find my faith again.”