By Glenn Dromgoole

I’m sure you’ve passed by the church on the highway to Anson, its lighted sign proclaiming “Jesus Saves.”

I don’t even know the church’s name. It’s just the “Jesus Saves” church.

And that’s a good thing to be known for. Jesus saves. Indeed.

When my wife Carol and I drive by the church on our way to or from somewhere, I invariably break into song.

The hymn, written by longtime Baltimore public school teacher and poet Priscilla Owens in 1882, begins:

We have heard the joyful sound:
Jesus saves! Jesus saves!
Spread the tidings all around:
Jesus saves! Jesus saves!
Bear the news to ev’ry land,
Climb the steeps and cross the waves;
Onward! ’tis our Lord’s command;
Jesus saves! Jesus saves!

My favorite verse is the second one because of its rich, robust imagery:

Waft it on the rolling tide:
Jesus saves! Jesus saves!
Tell to sinners far and wide:
Jesus saves! Jesus saves!
Sing, ye islands of the sea;
Echo back, ye ocean caves;
Earth shall keep her jubilee:
Jesus saves! Jesus saves!

Ah. Waft it on the rolling tide… Sing, ye islands of the sea. Echo back, ye ocean caves. 

No wonder I break into song. 

Glenn Dromgoole’s newest book, coming out this fall, is The Christmas Spirit: A Celebration in Word & Song. He and Carol own Texas Star Trading Company in downtown Abilene.