HYMN STORIES

“AND NOW YOU KNOW….”

We are encouraged, uplifted and sometimes even challenged by some of the songs and hymns we sing so often. You might wonder what inspired the writing and composition of these songs. There is a story behind each one. Most often these stories will give even more meaning to the already powerful blessing these songs are. In this library, you will find reasons and life experiences that God used to provide us with wonderful messages in music. These are historical accounts of hymns and songs used in the programs of Hope Today.

WONDERFUL WORDS OF LIFE

Philip Paul Bliss was born in July 1838. They were hard times. He had little formal education and was taught from the Bible of and by his Mother. At age 10, while selling vegetables to help support the family, Bliss first heard a piano. He had always loved music, and his parents had allowed him to develop his passion for singing. Eventually in life, he became a bass-baritone Gospel singer. Bliss left home at the age of 11 to make his own living…working in timber camps an

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WONDERFUL GRACE OF JESUS

WONDERFUL GRACE OF JESUS , is certainly one of the most inspiring hymns in our hymnals, and one that has been used effectively as a choir selection, or a song requested and enthusiastically sung by the whole congregation. It was written and composed by one of the significant, twentieth-century hymnwriters in North America. Haldor Lillenas was born in November, 1885 in the beautiful fjord country of Bergen, Norway. He immigrated to the US with his family who settled in Sou

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WILL YOUR ANCHOR HOLD (WE HAVE AN ANCHOR)

In the letter to the Hebrews chapter 6 and verse 19, we are confidently assured that, “ We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure .” It was with the inspiration of this truth that Priscilla Owens was moved to write our hymn for today… WILL YOUR ANCHOR HOLD or sometimes titled WE HAVE AN ANCHOR . Priscilla was born in 1829 and became established in her career as a public-school teacher lasting for 49 years. Yet for more years than that, she was a Sunda

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WHO IS ON THE LORD’S SIDE

Francis R. Havergal, is the author of some well-known and favourite hymns still today. She wrote such hymns as "Take my Life and Let it Be" and "Like a River Glorious." Francis was born just before Christmas in 1846. Her father, Rev. William Havergal was a humble but influential pastor who passionately worked to improve the hymnody of the Anglican Church. He is the composer of the tune ZOAN used for the hymn "I Sing the Mighty Power of God." As a child, Francis worried

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WHILE SHEPHERDS WATCHED THEIR FLOCKS

Watching a flock of sheep was probably not the most sought-after career. Shepherds were usually smelly and worked night and day in the countryside. However, shepherds had a very unique and God-given role at the birth of Jesus…one that we enjoy singing about every advent season. WHILE SHEPHERDS WATCH THEIR FLOCKS, is a Christmas carol enjoyed by children and adults alike. Based on Luke 2:8-14, it may be one of the most Biblically accurate hymns ever written. The story o

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WHEN I SURVEY THE WONDROUS CROSS

Isaac Watts was frequently referred to as the father of English hymnody. WHEN I SURVEY THE WONDROUS CROSS was written to be used at a communion service Watts was conducting. It was written in 1707. At the time of Isaac’s birth in July, 1674, his father was in prison for his non-conformist beliefs. Isaac showed an unusual aptitude for study early. Starting at age five, he learned Latin, Greek, French and Hebrew by age 13! He began to write verses of good quality when h

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WHAT CHILD IS THIS?

William Chatterton Dix was born in Bristol England in 1837. His father was a surgeon who wanted him to follow his footsteps into medicine. Having no interest in this career, William left training and moved to Glasgow to manage a maritime insurance company. His greatest love was in writing prose and poetry for Christ. He wrote two devotional books, a book for children and scores of hymns; several of these hymns remain popular. William’s hymns are masterpieces of poetry,

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WHAT A FRIEND WE HAVE IN JESUS

After a deeply moving experience in our lives, many can attest to the fact that the Holy Spirit has ministered to our need of help or comfort by using a particular hymn. Generally, that hymn becomes a favourite we hold on to. Such a hymn that has been used often for this purpose is, WHAT A FRIEND WE HAVE IN JESUS . Joseph Scriven, was born in Dublin, Ireland to prosperous parents. Joseph graduated from Trinity College in Dublin. He was engaged to be married, but the nig

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WE’VE A STORY TO TELL TO THE NATIONS

Jesus Christ’s last commandment was our greatest commission! If the Gospel is global and the mission universal, shouldn’t we be singing about it? There are so many ‘missionary hymns’…such as ‘Bring Them In’, ‘So Send I You’, ‘Rescue the Perishing’ and ‘Send the Light’…each providing a personal motivation. The hymn, WE’VE A STORY TO TELL TO THE NATIONS , continues to be a most popular mission hymn. It was written by an eclectic musician, poet, artist and writer named Henr

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WERE YOU THERE?

Tracing African-American spirituals back to their original authors is virtually impossible. It was most likely composed by enslaved Africans and not from the pen of any one individual. Many in fact were unable to write. The slaves used music with its unique beat to help keep the work they were doing at a good pace. It also provided a testimony of the hope and faith that transcended their current and sometimes inhumane treatment. The first published iteration of WERE YOU

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WE GATHER TOGETHER

If you visit the Netherlands or have seen the picturesque photos of the country’s amazing beauty with its flowers, dikes and windmills, you can imagine the beauty that was one of the inspirations for the hymn WE GATHER TOGTHER . It is a hymn of thanksgiving written sometime in 1597. Yet, many will be unaware of the terrific struggle for religious freedom that took place in the 16 th century and preceded the writing of this hymn. It was a devastating religious struggle in

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WE ARE GOD’S PEOPLE

WE ARE GOD’S PEOPLE , was first published in the hymnal entitled "Hymns for the Family of God, " in 1976. It was written by Bryan Jeffery Leech who was born in 1931 and died in 2015. The tune, called "Symphony," is an arrangement of the opening theme from the fourth movement of Johannes Brahms symphony no. 1 in C minor. Composer Fred Bock did the actual arrangement of the tune. Another of Mr. Leech’s well-known hymns still being sung today is ‘Come, Share the Lord.’ Her

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VICTORY IN JESUS

Eugene Bartlett was born on Christmas Eve in 1885. He gave his life to Jesus Christ at an early age. In childhood, he demonstrated a strong voice and a love for music. After attending schools in Tennessee and Missouri, Bartlett took to the road, teaching at Singing Schools and writing songs. As a businessman, he established his career working for the Central Music Company, an Arkansas company that published shaped-note songbooks. In 1918 he helped form the Hartford Musi

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UNTO THE HILLS

The text of our hymn today is basically a paraphrase of Psalm 121. It was written by John D. S. Campbell who was born in 1845. He was Marquis of Lorne and later became the ninth Duke of Argyll. He was educated at Eton, at St. Andrews and at Trinity College in Cambridge. He became a Member of Parliament for Argyll in 1868. In 1871, he married Princess Louisa Alberta, the fourth daughter of Queen Victoria. After serving for three years as a private secretary to his fathe

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TURN YOUR EYES UPON JESUS

In Hebrews chapter 12 and verse 2 we read an encouragement. It says, “ Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” The Bible is full of verses about keeping our eyes on the Lord. This is the inspiration of the hymn TURN YOUR EYES UPON JESUS . Helen Lemmel was born November 14, 1864 in Wardle, England. Her father was a mini

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TRUSTING JESUS

Edgar Page Stites was for many years an obscure but active lay-worker in the Methodist Church of Cape May, New Jersey. He had ancestors who came to America on the Mayflower, and a cousin, Eliza Hewitt, who also was a hymnwriter. Edgar served in the Civil War and spent some time as a riverboat pilot. He also worked for a period as a Methodist home missionary in the Dakotas. He often used the pseudonym "Edgar Page" on his hymns. Another of his hymns that has enjoyed popula

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TRUST & OBEY

The inspiration for the hymn, TRUST AND OBEY, came in 1886 during a series of meetings conducted by D.L. Moody in Brockton, Massachusetts. During a testimony meeting one night, a young man rose and testified that he was not sure how things would work out for him. Then he added, “but I am going to trust and I am going to obey.” In attendance at the meeting was Daniel Towner and he jotted that comment down. Later, he sent it with the story to Rev. John Sammis who subseque

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TO GOD BE THE GLORY

The way of a hymn reaching to be a favourite in the hearts of men and women sometimes take very different paths. It may be a surprise to learn that “ TO GOD BE THE GLORY, ” although well-known and requested today, was once a hymn that lay hidden for some eighty years! "Praise for Redemption," as the song was originally called, was written by Fanny Crosby and first appeared in an 1875 publication of hymns entitled "Brightest and Best," complied by William Doane and Robert L

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THY WORD HAVE I HID IN MY HEART

Psalm 119 is the longest psalm…with 176 verses. The hymn, THY WORD HAVE I HID IN MY HEART , is a paraphrase of portions of this selection from Scripture…the majority of which speak pointedly regarding the importance of knowing and obeying the written word of God. Ernest Sellers, the author and composer of this hymn, was born on October 29, 1869 in Hastings Michigan. Following his education, he was eventually appointed city engineer and superintendent of public works in La

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THROUGH IT ALL

“ I’ve had many tears and sorrows; I’ve had questions for tomorrow…there’s been times I felt so all alone…but in my lonely hours…Jesus let me know that I was His own. ” These words could be the testimony of many of us, as it was for the author, Andrae Crouch. Born in 1942, a twin with his sister and lifelong friend Sandra, he grew up in church. His father was a minister. At the age of 11, Andrae began playing the piano, largely by ear, and was subsequently encouraged to

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