We Have Heard The Joyful Sound — Jesus Saves!

“We Have Heard the Joyful Sound — Jesus Saves!” was written in 1882 by Priscilla J. Owens, a faithful Sunday School teacher from Baltimore, Maryland. Though she was not a widely published hymn writer, Owens gave the church several powerful songs of testimony and mission, with this hymn being the best known. It captures the triumphant joy of the gospel message and the urgency of proclaiming salvation in Christ to all people.

The hymn opens with the glad announcement that “Jesus saves,” repeating the phrase to drive home the central truth of redemption. Each verse emphasizes spreading the message far and wide, across land and sea, urging Christians to take up the call of evangelism. The refrain reinforces the good news, ringing with confidence and assurance that salvation is found only in Jesus Christ.

Owens’ words are complemented by the strong and uplifting tune composed by William J. Kirkpatrick, one of the most influential gospel musicians of the late nineteenth century. The marriage of text and melody gives the hymn both energy and clarity, making it a favorite in revival meetings, missionary services, and evangelistic outreach.

The hymn embodies the spirit of Romans 1:16, boldly declaring the power of the gospel. It not only affirms the personal joy of salvation but also places responsibility on believers to share that joy with the world. For more than a century, congregations have sung this hymn as both a proclamation of faith and a call to mission, lifting high the saving name of Jesus.