Metro Voice News Celebrating Faith, Family & Community
Thousands of churches and missions agencies in 48 countries will join together in a united effort to draw attention to Christian persecution and the need for evangelism.
On Feb. 21, thousands of voices will join together in singing a hymn called “Facing a Task Unfinished.”
In 1929, Frank Houghton originally wrote the hymn, Facing a Task Unfinished, as a call for missionaries to go into the heart of China at the height of persecution.
Despite great peril, by 1931 over 200 set sail for China to plant the seeds of the Gospel, resulting in what mission experts believe to be the greatest growth of Christianity in the history of the world — an estimated growth of over 80 – 130 million people.
OMF International, an interdenominational Protestant missionary society, organized the event and asked Keith and Kristyn Getty to introduce this anthem to a new generation.
“Songs have the ability to unite and move us as groups,” said Keith Getty. “Frank Houghton understood this and in response to great turmoil in China, turned to writing hymns to encourage those who were witnessing martyrdom around them. “
Musicians Keith and Kristyn Getty have revived the hymn with a new chorus. They hope that the song will inspire a new generation of Christians even as we also live amid persecution and martyrdom around the world.
“Into these situations the call of Christ and His Kingdom is our only hope. His gospel is the window of light pouring into the darkened corners of this world,” continued Getty. “He is the good news we must sing and bring.”
The song will be the title track of the Getty’s upcoming album that is set to release in June. All composing and publishing royalties from the song will be donated to OMF International in support of their continued work in perpetuity.
Churches around the world are encouraged to register their involvement in the movement at Getty Music.
Registered churches are asked to commit to singing the hymn and are encouraged to share videos of their congregations singing it on social media.
Participating churches will receive free fully orchestrated sheet music, choir parts, hymn charts, and other audio resources to help their congregations join in song for the persecuted Christians of the world.
OMF serves the people of East Asia through building relationships, evangelism, and discipleship. For 150 years OMF has seen God raise up men and women through whom he has touched millions of lives for eternity Read more at: http://omf.org/
