Was Michael Jackson Saved? - Salvation before death

I would like to say that this testimony is going to be an interesting one because I don’t think most people know this testimony. With the upcoming release of the 2026 Michael Jackson biopic, Michael, I question if the Jackson Estate will end the long-awaited biopic with an alleged salvation prayer. Was Michael Jackson Saved?

From Gary, Indiana to Global Fame

Born in 1958 in Gary, Indiana to a family of eventually nine siblings, Micheal Jackson was graced with the talent of singing and dancing. His father was a crane operator and his mother was a stay-at-home homemaker and actively was a Jehovah witness. Though Micheal parents both possess some form of musical talent as well. 

At the age of 5, Michael music career started. Being part of a family collective group (later known as the Jackson 5), was a challenge for the young singer and his siblings. His father, Joseph Jackson, was very strict as they would practice for hours after school. Physical abuse with the tool of an electric kettle cord, tree branch, or belt was often used if the children got a dance move wrong. 

Once growing a respectable following from playing local gigs, Michael and his brothers went into the recording business and opened for R&B artists like James Brown and Gladys Knight and The Pips. It would eventually come to be an opportunity to be a part of Berry Gordy’s Motown. They signed in 1969 and the family moved to LA where they would live with Diana Ross from The Supremes. Fame came quickly as Micheal was appearing on American television. In December 1969, at the age of 11, Micheal saw his first Billboard #1 for “I Want You Back”. 

From “ABC” to “Dancing Machine”, Michael was dominating the charts. At the age of 13, he had his first solo album “Got to be There” which kicked off his solo career under Motown. In addition, in 1977, Micheal was easing his way down the road, in the well respected film The Wiz, (A reimagined Wizard of Oz), starring alongside Diana Ross and Nipsey Russel. 

A triple threat entertainer, a singer, dancer, and actor. This career of rising to the stars would go on until the day Micheal died and so on after. I recommend watching the TV-Movie Series “Jackson 5: The American Dream”. 

Behind the Fame: Insecurity, Surgery, and Public Scrutiny

I want to focus less on the Michael resume and more about his life away from the camera. Michael was no stranger to insecurities as he would visibly look different throughout the decades. At the age of 19, in 1979, Michael had received his first nose job (plastic surgery) after an accident onstage. His biographer, Randy Taraborrelli, said on NBC, “HE HAD THE first nose job as a result of falling on stage and breaking his nose when he was about 19,” says Taraborrelli. “And so it wasn’t for, you know, a vanity purpose. It was a medical procedure.”

It was often theorized that Michael was trying to erase the image of looking like his father Joseph while others (family, friends, the media) had criticized or poked fun at Michael's nose. With access to resources and income, Michael would eventually see himself going through a transformation of nose surgery for many years to come and throughout his music videos and press releases, you can see Micheal’s nose getting thinner and smaller. 

While often being criticized by the media for not wanting to be Black, or dark skinned, Michael faced many backlashes for his skin changes despite having vitiligo. On the Oprah show, Michael was questioned for bleaching his skin but he explained how he has a inherited skin condition where the pigment in his skin was being destroyed and make up is used to even out his skin tone. 

Despite all the appearance changes controversy, Michael would go on to become the King of Pop, selling millions upon millions of records globally. Placed at an idol status, fans would pass out at his many sold-out stadium shows. 

Allegations, Trials, and a Life Under Pressure

Later in Michael career, he would face many allegations for having sexual abuse with children due to Micheal hosting children sleepovers at his Neverland Estate. Despite the 1993 sexual abuse allegations and being declare innocent, Michael revealed that he continued having the sleepovers in 2003 in a television documentary Living with Michael Jackson, for he saw nothing wrong with having children at his estate.

A Biblical Parallel: The Thief on the Cross

Now with all that put aside, how does Christ come in all of this? Not related but related, I was watching the 90s Mexican American film - American Me. A particular person from the bible was mentioned in the mafia film. The man who asked Jesus to remember him as he was being crucified next to Jesus [Luke 23: 32-43]. A man who committed a horrible crime is on his death bed and asking Jesus if he can go to heaven. 

In response Jesus said, “'Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.” (Luke 23:43)

How does this have to do with Michael Jackson? 

Well I believe God gives every human a chance to know him and accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior. Whether that’s from hearing the Good News on a social media post, to a Christian’s testimony, witnessing a miracle, or a personal encounter with Christ. Though not everyone takes that offer while others do at an early age or right before they die. 

Michael’s Spiritual Journey: Jehovah’s Witness Roots to Personal Faith

Michael grew up Jehovah Witness and even did door to door evangelizing as a child. Though he walked away from the Jehovah Witness faith in 1987, with even submitting a formal letter of his departure to the church.

It was mentioned in the Los Angeles Times, that a representative from Jehovah’s Witness congregation of Woodland Hills, confirmed that Michael has disassociated himself from the church. He would transition from a denomination affliction to a more personal conviction spiritual journey. 

In 1993, Michael revealed to Oprah Winfrey, “I try to imitate Jesus — and I am not saying I am Jesus. I’m trying to imitate Jesus in the fact that he said to be like children, to love children, to be as pure as children, to make yourself as innocent and to see the world through eyes of wonderment and the whole magical quality of it all.” 

Rodney Jerkins and the Prayer That Changed Everything

Fast forwarding to 2003, in the midst of trials for alleged child molestation charges, Michael reached out to his friend, (award winning producer) Rodney Jerkins for prayer and support.  

In a 2025 The Breakfast Club interview, Jerkins revealed that Micheal was living in fear.

Jerkins said, “Yo you are only supposed to fear God. Man can’t, shouldn’t have you feeling like that.”

This stemmed from Michael owning half of Sony/ATV Publishing. For context, Michael purchased the publishing giant in 1985 for 41.5 million USD. This means owning the music rights to many popular catalogs including The Beatles, Queen, Dion, Jackie Wilson, and Ray Charles. This deal would be later deemed an unwise choice from the seller as Sony desperately wanted to reverse the later $1.2 billion USD value deal. It could be alleged that the deal would later affect Micheal public perception and the media tried to tear down Michael's image and character. 

Jerkin had a close relationship with Michael and helped Michael embrace his cultural background and surround him with community. Jerkin has often talked about Christ to Michael as Jerkin even shared prophetic dreams to Micheal. 

Jerkin talks about the ultimate reward was not necessarily all the hit records, awards, and stories he gets to tell but the more impactful moments in which he got to pray alongside Micheal and fellowship with him. 

“When I go to his funeral (in 2009), Sandra Crouch and Seth Riggs, his vocal coach, says ‘Yeah yeah, Michael received Christ two weeks ago. He had us pray. He had did the sinner’s prayer.’ That's the reward,” Jerkin shared on The Breakfast Club (2025). 

According to Premier Christianity, Gospel legendary singers Andraé and Sandra Crouch also confirmed Micheals interest in Christ. 

 “Michael always had a respect and curiosity for spiritual things,” they said. In the final months of his life, the Crouches visited Jackson twice — once at his home and once in the studio.

“During our meeting, not unlike many other creative/music meetings we’ve had with him in the past, we sang together, prayed together and had a wonderful time.” 

Was Michael Jackson Saved? The Author’s Position

There are conflicting claims on whether Jerkin’s claims are true about Sandra Crouch and Seth Riggs sharing the prayer of salvation with Michael. It could be questioned that one person doesn’t recall the situation as Andraé and Sandra Crouch do not recall Michael saying the prayer or having a profession of faith. Or Jenkins could have got the names mixed up in who told him what about Michael declaration of faith. It was a funeral after all. 

Therefore I am going to move with the assumption that Michael was saved. Whether someone was present with him or he said the sinner’s prayer on his own before going to bed or wearing a disguise at a random church. We will know the truth on the day of judgement. Even if the statement is proven wrong, God can use anyone’s story to bring someone else to Christ. I don’t want to pocket watch someone's salvation to see how authentic the prayer was or the circumstance that played out for only God knows the truth. So…

Despite dying from overdose at the age of 50, leaving being three children, borne from surrogate mothers, God gave Micheal grace and time to really get to know He is and find security in Jesus.

Some people could argue that Michael Jackson allegedly couldn’t be saved because of the music he made or the allegations he received, especially about Neverland. 

Some individuals might find it hard to believe that Michael could be living in Heaven despite being allegedly saved for under two weeks. I am personally neutral on this subject, as I didn’t know Mr. Jackson personally. Michael could had been a true victim of false allegations, or committed multiple crimes behind closed doors.

Yet you have to remember the man on the cross next to Jesus. He was saved for less than a day, maybe a few hours and was still open into Heaven with open arms. 

There is a verse in the Bible that reads, 

'...Jesus said to them, “Truly, I say to you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes go into the kingdom of God before you. For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him. And even when you saw it, you did not afterward change your minds and believe him. '

Matthew 21:31-32

In a church sermon I heard of this story of a guy whose friend went to tryout for a prestigious university basketball team. He was really good at the sport. He hang out with the team. Did the workouts with the team. He wore the same clothes as the team.  The list goes on. So naturally it seem fit for the guy to be on the basketball team. Then the coach came up to him and pretty much said that the man could be on the team… but he can’t. He said, “How can you play on this team if you never applied to this university”. 

Michael Jackson allegedly applied to be on team Jesus right before his death. Yes Micheal grew up Jehovah Witness, mentioned Jesus on a couple of PR talk shows, and even read the bible for himself. However, how can you get your graduation cap if you never applied to the school. Meaning how can you get into heaven without accepting Jesus as your Lord and Savior?

Conflicting identity, fear, allegations, lack of privacy, an idolized icon, child star with an abusive upbringing, Micheal was born a sinner like us all but died as a child of God, for his sins were washed away. 

A Personal Reflection: Intercession for the Jackson Children

I will openly admit, I have been very actively praying for Michael's youngest son, Bigi Jackson for about a year so far. Why? To be honest just cause. You ever seen someone on the street and be like… “I’m going to pray for you. I don’t know why, but I’m going to pray for you.” I know when I was in the music industry the last thing you would hear is, “How can I pray for you.” So naturally I was thinking, “Does Bigi Jackson got anyone praying for him?” Sure a family member could be on their knees at the foot of the Father petitioning for him every night but why not the more the merrier.

Of course it also stems from a very long pop culture conversation I had with a friend that led to this. True story, may God be my witness, in 2022, I got invited to go to a very prestigious social gathering, full of music industry professionals. Despite my walk with Christ being not as seasoned as it is now, I had a very VERY strong feeling that I would be meeting a Jackson. Like someone related to Michael Jackson.

Now I thought it would be someone from the Jackson 5. Not Paris Jackson, who was during the time on a journey of sobriety from drug abuse. Though my interaction with Paris was of me literally brushing my literal shoulder with Paris Jackson who I said, “Excuse me,” as I grabbed a very icy cold soft taco. I think it's worth mentioning that I think people tend to forget about the legacy Michael Jackson left behind. When I saw a photo of Bigi, Prince or even Paris Jackson in person. They are just regular folks. I actually thought Paris was a college student, like me, who was chilling doing her own thing. So I think that these individuals are worth interceding to spark my curiosity naturally, especially for an author who writes testimonies for a living. 

A Final Call to Prayer and Hope

With Michael Jackson allegedly getting saved at the age of 50 while his children are still children, I believe it is important to intercede and truly bombard Heaven with our request for Micheal Jackson’s children and everyone else on Earth to be saved. My only hope is that everyone, especially Michael's children, get to experience life after salvation while living a long fruitful life and not have the same fate as their father. But even if it's the case, heaven awaits them with open arms. They just have to apply because heaven has a 100% acceptance rate. Which do you know the Good News? Click Here to learn more.

Interested in another testimony?

Looking for a similar testimony? I recommend you check out The Archives of BFF. A saga about a once child star mega, co-ed music group, revealing their hidden truth to the world for the first time.