On February 21, 2016, churches around the world will be singing a song encouraging our generation to spread the Gospel. The lyrics were originally written in 1929 by a missionary to China, and the music has recently been updated for this event by the Gettys. This is a great way to follow up on World Mission Sunday, and keep the Great Commission at the forefront of our priorities.
More information from Keith and Kristyn is below.
In Christ,
The Rev. Canon Andrew Gross
Canon for Communications and Media Relations
From the Gettys:
First penned by China Inland Mission worker, Frank Houghton, at a time when persecution in China was at its height, “Facing a Task Unfinished” has been a rally cry for missions in the Pacific Rim for many years. In 1929, the Lord laid a vision on the heart of CIM leaders to see 200 new workers plunge into the darkness and share the light of Christ, knowing that it could well cost them their lives.
Click image to hear the story behind the song.
As he reflected on Jesus’ words in Matthew 24:14 to bear the torch of the Gospel to all the nations, his heart was broken for the people of China, and he wrote:
Facing a task unfinished, that drives us to our knees.
A need that, undiminished, rebukes our slothful ease.
We, who rejoice to know Thee, renew before Thy throne,
the solemn pledge we owe Thee to go and make Thee known.
By 1932, the last of the 200 missionaries had set sail for China to spread the good news of the Gospel. Since that time, the church of China has grown from an estimated 100,000 who claim Christ as their Lord to millions, and the Lord continues to work in great ways because of the faithfulness of those that gave their lives proclaiming that Jesus died and rose.
We are delighted to introduce this missions hymn to a new generation with the prayer it will be an anthem for rising up to face the unfinished task and going to all the world to proclaim salvation in Jesus’ name.
You can find more musical settings, translations of the song, and other resources at: www.gettymusic.com/facingtask
Resources
That drives us to our knees
A need that, undiminished
Rebukes our slothful ease
We, who rejoice to know Thee
Renew before Thy throne
The solemn pledge we owe Thee
To go and make Thee known
Where other lords beside Thee
Hold their unhindered sway
Where forces that defied Thee
Defy Thee still today
With none to heed their crying
For life, and love, and light
Unnumbered souls are dying
And pass into the night
We go to all the world
With kingdom hope unfurled
No other name has power to save
But Jesus Christ The Lord
We bear the torch that flaming
Fell from the hands of those
Who gave their lives proclaiming
That Jesus died and rose
Ours is the same commission
The same glad message ours
Fired by the same ambition
To Thee we yield our powers
O Father who sustained them
O Spirit who inspired
Saviour, whose love constrained them
To toil with zeal untired
From cowardice defend us
From lethargy awake!
Forth on Thine errands send us
To labour for Thy sake
