September 2024 Newsletter
IMPACT - An impelling or compelling effect. As the Lord’s children, we are called to make an impact for Him! The Lord Jesus states: “You are the salt of the earth. You are the light of the world” (Matt. 5:13-16). He has also called us to “bear fruit”! Jesus states: “You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you” (John 15:16 NKJV).
A young man just called my name in the parking lot of a hospital from his car! He came to me to thank me for loving him at the Jefferson County Jail! Another young man called my name in the lobby of a big business! He came to me to thank me for loving him at the Jefferson County Jail! Another man who was truly Born Again at the jail was waiting at our car as we pulled into the parking lot of Lebanon Baptist Church in Talbott, TN. He was so clean that I did not recognize him! He told me that he has not been this happy in over 30 years! Pastor Charles Brewer has already baptized him! When I gave the public invitation at the close of the morning message, he came forward to surrender to his Lord’s call on his life!
A handsome young man came into the church room at the jail with tear-filled eyes! I told the men about the man who was baptized at Lebanon Baptist Church. His powerful testimony paved the way for a deep and powerful move of the Holy Spirit! I could tell that he was a broken young man! He looked as if he could just fall out onto the floor and weep! During the prayer time, he said with passionate tears: “I need prayer today and lots of it. My wife and friends tell me that I just need to be saved. I just keep fighting it, but today I need you men to pray for me because I want to be saved!” I led him to faith in the Lord Jesus in front of a room full of men who watched the transforming power of God in action! I wish that you could have seen the look of amazement and wonder on their faces! They also witnessed me do the follow-up with him! They knew that they were in the presence of the living God! This has never happened in my four years serving my Lord here! Oh, how your passionate prayers are being answered! I asked him what he was experiencing in his heart. He stated: “I have peace like I have never had in my life! All of my worries are gone.” Being Born Again will do this to you!
On the next Thursday of the month, a man from a foreign country was in attendance at the jail service. Conviction was very strong! He was very gracious and kind to me. He did not speak good English. The men had to tell me what he was saying. He did not take his eyes off me during the entire service! He sat beside a man with a Bible and read with him. Before he left the church room, he thanked me with the love of the Lord Jesus in his eyes and in his heart! When I returned home, I looked at the decision cards and he checked on his card that he had prayed to be saved! The Gospel still works in any setting (Hebrews 4:12)!
The following week, I saw the hungriest group of men for the great heart of God that I have seen in the four years that I have been coming into the Jefferson County Jail! You could not only see it in their faces, but you could feel it coming from their spirit! As soon as I told them that we were going into the prayer time, one man immediately said: “I need prayer!” He began to pray for himself out loud! “Lord, I’m tired of living this way! I’m an embarrassment to my family. Please forgive me! I want to live for you!” I wish that you could have seen this group of men laying their hands on each other’s shoulders and praying powerfully! Another man said: “We need to pray for this nation!” All of us got down on the floor and prayed! Four men were gloriously saved this past month while twenty men rededicated their lives to their Lord! Of course, everyone does not fill out a decision card!
Our great God is also moving through the television ministry! A dear lady messaged me last Sunday. She stated: “I enjoy your messages on TV! I pray that you continue this ministry.” I also received a beautiful hand-written letter from a man in another city. He stated: “I’ve been catching some of your sermons on the Tazewell TV station recently and you’ve still got the gift! You hit me right between the eyes with a sermon last week. I needed it too!”
On Sunday, August 11th, Pastor Charles Brewer hosted me at Lebanon Baptist Church in Talbott, TN. I have already told you the story about the man from the jail waiting on me as I got out of my car! He came forward and surrendered his life to his Lord in response to the message Are You Truly Born Again? A young mother also came forward like she was literally shot out of a cannon! She was under such strong conviction that she was crying loudly and gasping for breath! I knelt beside her and asked her why she came, and she said: “I need to rededicate my life!” She did so! On Sunday night, my Lord had me to address homosexuality, and the power of God was again moving mightily! A mother came in brokenness to pray for her children! The chairman of deacons addressed the church: “Church, we have heard from God today!”
On Sunday morning, August 18th, I was blessed to proclaim the gospel at Beulah Baptist Church in Mosheim, TN. The message was titled Repent and You Will Have No Regrets. You could feel very strong conviction! As soon as I gave the public invitation, people came forward and hit their knees on the altar! We know of at least one recommitment!
Pastor Justin Randolph of Zion Hill Baptist Church in Sevierville, TN hosted us on Sunday morning, August 25th. The power of God was all over the place! Kim, my wife, and Pastor Justin’s wife, Stephanie, sang the beautiful song “Come Thou Fount.” People were literally praising their Lord with powerful shouts! A dear lady seated in the back row came running to the altar weeping with brokenness! Ladies from all over the church gathered around her to pray for her! When she got up, she had the Victory! Oh, the powerful and spontaneous movement of the Holy Spirit can truly take your breath away! I have learned in my life that you do not work up the Holy Spirit, you pray Him down! The message was titled Are You Truly Born Again? You could hear a pin drop on the floor as a powerful holy hush swept across the worship center! People came with burdens to pray!
This is the longest ministry newsletter that I have ever written, but I want the very few people who pray for this passionate soul winner to see how your powerful prayers are being answered! James states: “You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask” (James 4:2 NKJV). With all of my heart, thank you for praying and sharing! This nation is in desperate need of a God-sent Holy Ghost revival like she has never ever witnessed! May it begin in my heart and life! I love you!
For Souls Forever In Heaven,
Jeffrey L. Harvel
2 Timothy 4:1-5
