Purpose isn't found in degrees or titles. It begins where striving ends and obedience begins, revealed through a life surrendered to God.
Finding Purpose Beyond Productivity
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Influential Woman · Nonprofit/Reentry
Jessie Leann Harris MPH
MPH
Founder, Keeper’s of the Kingdom
Trinity, TX 75862
3Years experience
1Article published
1Award received
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Despite having no funds to move forward, I keep my faith and trust in God's timing and provision, taking one step of faith at a time.
Jessie Leann Harris MPH · In Her Own Words
From How She Did It
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Her Story
About Jessie
Jessie Leann Harris, MPH, is a public health professional, author, nonprofit founder, and faith-driven leader whose life is a testimony to the transforming power of God's grace. After overcoming decades of addiction, trauma, and incarceration, Jessie answered God's call to dedicate her life to serving those whom society often overlooks, believing that every person is created in the image of God and worthy of dignity, compassion, and hope.
She is the Founder and Executive Director of Keepers of the Kingdom, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization committed to serving justice-impacted women with disabilities, chronic health conditions, and other significant barriers to successful reentry. Through a Christ-centered approach that integrates public health, discipleship, healthcare navigation to resources, and practical support, Jessie is leading the vision to establish the organization's first Women's Stabilization Home in Trinity, Texas. A place where women can rebuild their lives, restore their health, and discover their God-given purpose.
Jessie is also the author of To Hell and Back: From Victim to Victory, a deeply personal account of redemption that shares how God transformed her darkest seasons into a life of purpose and service. Through her writing, speaking, and prison ministry, she encourages others to believe that no life is beyond God's redemption and that hope is never out of reach.
She earned a Master of Public Health in Health Education and Promotion from Sam Houston State University and a Bachelor of Science in Biblical Studies, graduating summa cum laude, from the College of Biblical Studies–Houston. Her work bridges evidence-based public health with a biblical worldview, advocating for compassionate solutions that address the physical, emotional, spiritual, and social needs of vulnerable populations.
Whether serving behind prison walls, building community partnerships, or advocating for justice-impacted individuals, Jessie leads with the conviction that faith without action is incomplete. Her mission is not simply to change systems but to point people to the hope found in Jesus Christ while helping them build lives marked by healing, purpose, and lasting transformation.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Jessie
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to my deep faith and love for the Lord, which has guided me through a challenging yet transformative journey. After overcoming decades of addiction and leaving school in the eighth grade, I returned to education later in life and earned my GED at age 53. Surviving significant childhood trauma, including an abduction at age 13, shaped both my resilience and my sense of purpose.
These experiences have fueled my calling to serve others and use my story to create meaningful impact. In December 2025, I proudly earned my Master’s Degree in Public Health. I am the Founder and CEO of Keepers of the Kingdom, where I serve the elderly community, and I am currently pursuing licensure as a Nursing Home Administrator.
My journey stands as a testament to the fact that faith, perseverance, and a commitment to serving others can transform even the most difficult circumstances into opportunities for growth, healing, leadership, and hope.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I have ever received is to follow the calling God has placed on my life and to allow Jesus to lead every step of my journey. I have learned to use my experiences, both painful and redemptive, to serve others, especially those who come from backgrounds similar to my own. Through faith, I’ve discovered that our past does not define our future; rather, when surrendered to Christ, it becomes a powerful testimony. Serving others is not only my purpose, but it is the calling that shapes my career.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My advice to young women entering this industry is never to believe it’s too late to pursue your education or walk boldly into your calling. Your starting point does not limit your potential. With determination, perseverance, and a willingness to keep learning, you can achieve your goals and create meaningful, lasting impact both in this field and in the lives of others. Walk humbly
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest opportunities in my field right now is raising awareness about my work and the mission of Keepers of the Kingdom. I am deeply passionate about serving the elderly justice-impacted population and creating meaningful impact in their lives. Additionally, I am exploring the possibility of sharing my journey through a book, which I hope will inspire others and highlight the importance of perseverance, faith, and service in this field.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values most central to my work and personal life are my faith, integrity, compassion, and service. I strive to live in alignment with God’s calling on my life, allowing my faith to guide both my leadership and daily actions. My long-standing experience as a caregiver has deepened my commitment to compassion, dedication, and creating meaningful, positive impact in the lives of others.
Her Content Hub
Articles by Jessie
A powerful testimony of transformation from trauma and incarceration to purpose-driven leadership. This inspiring narrative reveals how faith, education, and resilience can rebuild lives and empower others facing similar struggles.
To Hell and Back
How a life marked by trauma became a testimony of transformation and purpose through faith.
From Victim to Victory: A Journey of Redemption and Purpose
People often see titles such as Founder, Executive Director, Public Health Professional, and Author and assume the journey was carefully planned.
But it wasn’t.
My story didn’t begin in a boardroom or a college classroom. It began in kidnapping, sexual trauma, addiction, incarceration, and years of believing my life had little value.
For decades, I carried labels that told me who I had been, while God was quietly preparing me for who He was calling me to become. The turning point came when I stopped trying to save myself and surrendered my life to Jesus Christ.
That surrender changed everything.
I earned my GED at 53 years old, proving to myself that it is never too late to begin again. From there, I completed a Bachelor of Science in Biblical Studies, graduating summa cum laude, followed by a Master of Public Health with a concentration in Health Education and Promotion.
Education wasn’t simply about earning degrees; it became part of God’s restoration process, equipping me to serve others with both compassion and practical knowledge.
Today, I am the Founder and Executive Director of Keepers of the Kingdom, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to serving justice-impacted women, particularly those returning from incarceration with disabilities, chronic health conditions, or significant barriers to independent living.
Our vision is to establish a Christ-centered Women’s Stabilization Home where women can find safety, dignity, healthcare access, discipleship, and hope as they rebuild their lives.
I also became an author, sharing my testimony in To Hell and Back: From Victim to Victory. Writing the book was never about telling my story for recognition; it was about reaching the woman who believes she has gone too far for God to redeem.
If my life can point someone toward hope, then every painful chapter has purpose.
Looking back, I realize success was never about climbing a ladder. It was about allowing God to transform every setback into preparation for serving others.
What I’ve Learned
If there is one lesson I would share with every woman pursuing her purpose, it is this:
“Your past is not your qualification or your disqualification; your willingness to keep moving forward is.”
There will always be people who only remember who you were. Don’t let their memories become your identity.
Growth requires courage, perseverance, humility, and faith. Sometimes the greatest leap you’ll ever take is believing that God can write a new ending for your story.
Today, I advocate for those society often overlooks. I volunteer inside Texas prisons, work toward improving healthcare access for justice-impacted populations, and continue building partnerships that will help open doors for women who simply need someone willing to believe in them.
Influence isn’t measured by titles or followers. It’s measured by the lives you help change.
If my journey proves anything, it’s that no dream is too late, no life is too broken, and no person is beyond redemption.
Sometimes the most influential women are the ones who first had to learn how to stand again after falling.
And when they do, they reach back to help someone else rise.
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