Far, far away, in heathen darkness dwelling

1
Far, far away, in heathen darkness dwelling,
  Millions of souls forever may be lost;
Who, who will go, salvation’s story telling,
  Looking to Jesus, counting not the cost?
  “All pow’r is given unto me,
All pow’r is given unto me,
Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel,
  And lo, I am with you alway.”
2
See o’er the world, wide open doors inviting:
  Soldiers of Christ, arise and enter in!
Christians, awake! your forces all uniting,
  Send forth the Gospel, break the chains of sin.
3
“Why will ye die?” the voice of God is calling,
  “Why will ye die?” re-echo in His name:
Jesus hath died to save from death appalling,
  Life and salvation therefore go proclaim.
15
Sam Olaleye

Akure, Ondo, Nigeria

Great Commission Hymn.

I remembered when we went for combined evangelim from local government to another in the years back. @ Deeper Life Bible Church

This is one of the songs that the choir sings.

Full of divine inspiration to go and Preach the word.


Heng CC

Singapore

good hymn


Joseph

Port Harcourt, Rivers, Nigeria

Thank you Jesus for this wonderful assurance of been with us always, for us to continue the work you started, Lord let they be aboundace of grace to preach the gospel. Thanks for the writer of the song. Help us to make heaven.


Z. Malic

Belize

Woke up with this song All power is giving into me.. Go into all the world and preach the gospel and lo, I am with you all ways


Epa E. Gadzeti

Ho, Volta, Ghana

All Christian must be awake and preach the Gospel.

Preaching the gospel is not from man's opinion but God assigning man.

Therefore GO and PREACH the GOSPEL with all BOLDNESS UNHINDERED.


E.W.Nyagah

Nairobi, Kenya

Thank You Lord. Very inspiring indeed. We are practicing it for next week presentation next Sunday as we continue with our mission month, that is September.


Nicholas Mutua

Nairobi, Kenya

Why shall ye die and the voice of the Lord is calling?


Dorcas T.Adesanya

London, England, United Kingdom

May God help us to go out and preach the gospel to the sinners in Jesus Name. Oh God let all the chains of sins in their lives be broken in Jesus Name. They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. Thanks for uploading this song and God bless you all. Shalom!!!


Steve Miller

Detroit, MI, United States

This article by Gladys Doonan, "To Reap for the Master" in "Challenge", December 28, 1986 tells the amazing story of how McGranahan gave his life for the Lord's service:

Even the festivities of the Christmas season that December of 1876 couldn’t drive them from his mind — those notes his friend Philip had written to him just a few days before the holiday. He read them over and over again and almost decided to yield to the urging of their message—almost, but not quite. His dreams of personal ambition were still too precious. How could he give them up?

James McGranahan was a talented and cultured American musician who lived from 1840 to 1907. He was gifted with a rare tenor voice and studied for years with eminent teachers who urged him to train for a career in opera. Of course, this advice opened up to his imagination dazzling prospects of fame and fortune. And he was assured time and time again it was all within his grasp.

James McGranahan was a Christian, and he had a Christian friend Philip P. Bliss who was concerned about him. His friend was also a capable musician who had gone through many of the same experiences in his younger days as a singer. However, he had been sensitive to the claims of the Lord on his life and had yielded his talents to God for full-time Christian service.

Though only two years older than McGranahan, Philip Bliss, at 38, had a good dozen years of Christian work behind him. He was then serving as a gospel soloist with the great evangelist Major D. W. Whittle. How he thrilled to the response of the great crowds who gathered for their campaigns and to the working of the Holy Spirit through his music! He longed for his friend James to know that thrill as well!

Philip Bliss and his wife were preparing for a trip home to Pennsylvania for Christmas. There was much to be done, but in the midst of all the bustle and hurry Bliss felt strangely compelled to take time out to write McGranahan a letter. He kept thinking of his 36-year-old friend, who was still studying music, still preparing for—what? Would it be opera or would it be the Lord’s work?

Philip Bliss prayed as he wrote that he would know the right words to put down. He knew the Lord was dealing with James and was eager for his friend to make the right decision.

Finally the letter was done. Bliss, needing encouragement and approval for what he had said, read it to Major Whittle. In the letter he compared McGranahan’s long course of musical training to a man whetting his scythe for the harvest. The climax came as he strongly urged, Stop whetting the scythe and strike into the grain to reap for the Master!

The letter was sent on its way and quickly reached its destination. Those words touched James McGranahan as no others had before. He could think of nothing else. Strike into the grain to reap for the Master…to reap for the Master…to reap for the Master! Day and night those words were before him.

One week later, December 29, 1876, the man who had penned the words was dead. The train returning the Blisses from Pennsylvania to Chicago where Philip was scheduled to sing at Moody Tabernacle broke through a railroad bridge at Ashtabula, Ohio. It plunged into a 60-foot chasm and caught fire. Among the 100 who perished in the disaster were the 38-year-old gospel singer and his wife.

When James McGranahan received news of the tragedy he rushed immediately to the scene of the accident. And it was there, for the first time, that he met Major Whittle.

The evangelist later recorded his thoughts on the occasion: Here before me stands the man that Mr. Bliss has chosen to be his successor.

The two men made the return trip to Chicago together, and as they rode they talked. Before they reached the city James McGranahan decided to yield his life, his talents, his all to the service of his Savior. He would strike into the grain to reap for the Master.

The operatic world lost a star that day, but the Christian world gained one of its sweetest gospel singers. James McGranahan was greatly used in evangelistic campaigns throughout America, in Great Britain and in Ireland.

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There is an additional 4th stanza:

God speed the day, when those of every nation

"Glory to God" triumphantly shall sing.

Ransomed, redeemed, rejoicing in salvation,

Shout "Hallelujah, for the Lord is king."


Mary Karoki

Nairobi, Kenya

Very inspiring.