NEWS & ANNOUNCEMENTS HARVEST For over thirty-five years Richard Jennings has been shepherding the flock through his preaching and teaching ministry. He and his wife Jane have six children and fifteen grandchildren. After serving the last eighteen years at Faith Presbyterian Church in Goodlettsville, Richard resigned to work with Harvest Prison Ministry, as well as to continue his missions outreach to India and Sri Lanka, Richard is a valuable addition to HPM. He will be implementing and teaching a new seminary-level curriculum to the inmates, as well as introducing leadership training to aide in planting a church behind the walls. His experience as a leader is invaluable in discipling men and teaching them to do the work of the ministry. Aftercare is an essential to any prison ministry. When men return to society they have a myriad of needs and concerns, both financial and spiritual. Richard will be coming alongside to aide men in securing a job, reconnecting with family members, transportation, etc. It's been shown that men who have a mentor to assist them fare much better and are much less likely to return to prison. How do you plant a church behind the walls? Richard will be working with us to devise a strategy and vision, and to help bring it to fruition. The Gospel is the power of God and that is what changes lives. We will be working to train the leaders, equip the saints, and pray that the Lord will bring form to His Church Behind the Walls! Please be in prayer for Richard as he begins his work. He is working on getting his financial support and is busy telling the story of what God is doing at Charles Bass Correctional Complex. By the way, we have been doubly blessed--Richard and Jane have joined us at Hickory Grove Presbyterian Church, and our people have fallen in love with them! _____________________________________
Harvest Prison Ministry began eight years ago as an outreach to the inmates at Charles Bass Correctional Complex. While there were many church services available, and some mentoring, there seemed to be a real need for bible study, discipleship, and solid biblical literature. We are a ministry of Hickory Grove Presbyterian Church, Mt. Juliet, and the elders serve as our board . Scripture teaches that the church is responsible for teaching "faithful men who will be able to teach others also" (2 Tim. 2:2). If we can teach the believers inside that they are the witnesses called to go to their cells, guilds, yard, and institution, we can see a true revival of the Church behind the walls. How often are we in CBCX? We teach Bible classes two days a week and preach on Sundays. Each quarter we have a rally that consists of food, music, and preaching, lasting about two hours! All inmates that attend these rallies are overwhelmed that people would give up their Friday nights to come see them! We usually have one of the pastors and praise teams from a local church come and lead. Who supports HPM? We are supported by local churches and individuals. Hickory Grove PC, Covenant PC, Christ Community Church, Faith Presbyterian, Grace Presbyterian, and Redeemer Presbyterian, are the churches that help us reach CBCX with the Gospel either by volunteering or financially or in prayer. HPM is supported by tax-deductible donations from churches and individuals as well as by support from the Nashville Presbytery of the PCA. HPM's greatest need? Prayer. If God does not build the house it will not stand. We have seen lives changed by the Gospel because God has set His people to praying! Hudson Taylor wrote, "I have seen many men work without praying, though I have never seen any good come out of it; but I have never seen a man pray without working." Harvest Prison Ministry is committed to:
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