I remember singing Where He Leads Me when I was in the Baptist church, a long, long time ago. First, I went to the worship leader to thank her for the song selection and to say I hadn’t sung Where He Leads Me since my days in the Baptist church. She said the Pastor had chosen the music for the day, so I went to him and said, “Where He Leads Me is a great song! I haven’t sung that since I was in the Baptist church.” Another brother heard me and remarked, “Yeah we sang another old Baptist song, I Surrender All.”
Here’s the funny thing. These songs may be sung in Baptist churches, but neither one have ‘Baptist’ origins. What?? Nope, they were both birthed in ‘holiness’ circles! Why, see for yourself.
Where He Leads Me was written by E. W. Blandy (the tune by J.S. Norris). Mr. Blandy was a Salvation Army officer. He wrote this after choosing between a comfortable post at an established church, and an alternate assignment to the New York City waterfront, a slum called Hell's Kitchen. He chose the latter.
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| First publication of "I Surrender All", in Gospel Songs of Grace and Glory (1896) |
I Surrender All was written by Judson W. Van DeVenter, the music by Winfield S. Weeden.
Judson Van DeVenter was an art teacher and supervisor of art in public schools, as well as an accomplished musician, singer, and composer. He was also an active layman in his Methodist Episcopal Church, involved in the church's evangelistic meetings. Friends urged him to give up teaching and become an evangelist and Van DeVenter wrestled with this for five years. Finally, he fully surrendered his life to Christ and full time ministry, and wrote the text of the hymn while conducting a meeting in Ohio. Following his decision to surrender his life to the Lord, Van DeVenter traveled throughout the United States, England, and Scotland, doing evangelistic work. Winfield S. Weeden was his associate and singer, and assisted him for many years.
Van DeVenter said of the inspiration for this song:
“For some time, I had struggled between developing my talents in the field of art and going into full-time evangelistic work. At last the pivotal hour of my life came, and I surrendered all. A new day was ushered into my life. I became an evangelist and discovered down deep in my soul a talent hitherto unknown to me. God had hidden a song in my heart, and touching a tender chord, He caused me to sing.”
Great stories behind great hymns. Hymns, which were not birthed in Baptist circles. And here I was singing them both in an Anglican church! Ah but here's the beauty of it all: When the Holy Spirit gives a song to the Church, the whole Church can sing it. Amen!
