IN TIMES LIKE THESE I NEED A SAVIOUR

IN TIMES LIKE THESE will encourage your heart! 

Ruth Caye Jones, born in Pennsylvania in 1902, composed both the words and music.  Early in her life, she had taught herself to play the piano and the organ.  Later, Ruth married a pastor and raised five children.  In 1948, she established a unique radio ministry; a program that was broadcast each week from the Jone’s home in Erie, Pennsylvania.  By that time, she was well-known as the writer of this wonderful hymn.

Her son, Bert, remembers the circumstances and inspiration of this composition.  He says, “Mother wrote this song during the dark days of World War II, with the words of 2 Timothy 3:11 in mind.  The passage states, ‘You can be certain that in the last days there will be some very hard times.' "

Her son Bert continues, “Inspiration for the words and music came very spontaneously as she was in the middle of her housework.  She took a pad of paper from her apron pocket, jotted down the words and melody and harmony.  When I came home from high school that day, Mother said, ‘Bert, you must try a new song that the Lord gave me today.’  As I played the song for the first time, and our family sang it several times, we never dreamed how far the song would go to bless so many people!”

Her hymn was used frequently in the Billy Graham Crusades.  A very special time was at a Crusade in Columbus, Ohio when she was invited to sit on the platform and George Beverly Shea introduced her to the audience before he sang her Hymn. 

Ruth passed away in August, 1972.  Although our times may be different today, now more than ever we need to "be very sure our anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock!"