Hymn Story: I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say
Horatius Bonar was a Scottish minister and writer who lived throughout the majority of the 19th Century. He is described as a “most gifted and influential” minister. Bonar wrote the lyrics to I Heard the…
Hymn Story: Let Jesus Come Into Your Heart
In 1898, Mrs. Lelia Morris was at a camp meeting in Mountain Lake Park, Maryland. When the invitation was called, a woman “of culture and refinement” responded to the invitation. Leila Morris joined the lady,…
Hymn Story: The Wonder of it All
George Beverly Shea’s deep baritone voice, set the mood during the Billy Graham crusades. George Beverly Shea was born on February 1, 1909 in Winchester, Ontario, Canada. He later said he gave his life to…
Song Story: Church in the Wildwood
This is one instance in which the cart came before the horse. The area of Bradford, Iowa was first settled as the California Gold Rush was getting underway in the late 1840s. William Pitts, was…
Hymn Story: What Wondrous Love is This
What Wondrous Love Is This began as an American folk hymn, which was passed down from one generation to another through the course of time. The origins and text of the song are not known…
Hymn Story: More Love to Thee
Elizabeth Prentiss, wife of a Presbyterian minister, spent much of her life as an invalid, “scarcely knowing a moment free of pain”. She was described as friend as “a very bright-eyed little woman with a…
Hymn Story: Jesus Loves Even Me
Philip Bliss attended a service where the hymn O How I Love Jesus was sung repeatedly. After the service, he remarked, “Have I not been singing enough about my poor love for Jesus and shall…
Hymn Story: I’d Rather Have Jesus
George Beverly Shea is known for his strong, booming baritone voice. He ministered alongside Billy Graham and Cliff Barrows, often singing right before Rev. Graham stepped to the podium. One of his best known songs,…
Hymn Story: Take the Name of Jesus with You
Lydia Baxter lived her life in bed as an invalid for the majority of her adult life. However, she is said to have had a “cheerful and patient” manner. She was born on September 2,…
Hymn Stories: Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus
Helen Lemmel was a gift singer and musician, a gift her parents recognized while she was still young. She was born on November 14, 1864, in Wardle, England to a Methodist minister and his wife.…
Hymn Stories: He Leadeth Me
Joseph Henry Gilmore was a seminary professor, Baptist minister, and author of several textbooks in Hebrew and English. However, he is best remembered today for his hymn He Leadeth Me. The year was 1862, and…
Eternal Father, Strong to Save
Last month, at the funeral of President George H. W. Bush, the hymn Eternal Father, Strong to Save was sung. This was a song I recognized from the last line of the first verse. The title…
Behind the Christmas Carol: Carol of the Bells
Carol of the Bells is another popular Christmas Carol, but actually began as a New Year’s song. The song was composed by Ukrainian composer Mykola Leontovych in 1914. He was approached by the Conductor of…
Behind the Christmas Carol: Infant Holy, Infant Lowly
Infant Holy, Infant Lowly is a traditional Polish Christmas Carol. Edith Margaret Gellibrand Reed, a British musician and playwright, translated the song into English and published it in December 1920. She found the carol in…
Behind the Christmas Carol: I Wonder As I Wander
I Wonder as I Wander was written by American folklorist and singer John Jacob Niles. Niles was attending a fundraising meeting in Murphy, North Carolina when they were ordered out of town by the police.…
Behind the Christmas Carol: I Saw Three Ships
I Saw Three Ships is a traditional English folk song. The song was written by wandering minstrels as they traveled throughout the country during the middle ages. “In the original version of the carol, the…
Behind the Christmas Carol: The Coventry Carol
The Coventry Carol is an English Christmas Carol that dates back to the 16th century. The carol was traditionally performed in Coventry as part of the mystery play The Pageant of the Shearmen and Tailors…
Behind the Christmas Carol: Come Thou Long Expected Jesus
“Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus” was written by Charles Wesley. He wrote the song to commemorate the Nativity of Jesus and prepare for the Second Coming. He intended the song to be sung during Advent…
Behind the Christmas Carol: God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
The hymn God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen is over 500 years. The song we sing today has a completely different meaning then at the time it originated. The hymn is one of the oldest known…
Behind the Hymn: Now Thank We All Our God
Now Thank We All Our God is translated from the German hymn “Nun danket alle Gott”. The German hymn was written by Martin Rinkart in 1636. Rinkart was a Lutheran Minister and accomplished musician. At…