mgpcpastor's blog

It’s a shame that ‘Shine, Jesus, Shine’ was published so close to the start of Graham Kendrick’s work as a Christian song writer. The infectious nature of the song meant that it got sung to death, and the lyrics don’t really stand up to any sort of repeated examination. The shame is that Kendrick has written a number of much better songs that have not really been considered by segments of the church that write him off as the guy who wrote ‘Shine, Jesus, Shine’.
‘Go Forth In His Name’ (We Are His Children) is a much better example of Kendrick’s developing skill as a song writer in the early phase of his career. By its very nature it is a song to close a worship service, and its strong expression of Christian witness and work, which is both enabled by, and points to, the saving work of the Lord Jesus Christ, stands up to repeated use.
The 6/8 time signature rolls the song along, drawing the singers into a bright affirmation of purpose and thanksgiving.

Here are the lyrics from Kendrick’s website:
1.
We are His children, the fruit of his suffering
Saved and redeemed by his blood
Called to be holy, a light to the nations
Clothed with his power
Filled with his love
Chorus.
Go forth in his name, proclaiming “Jesus reigns!”
Now is the time for the church to arise
And proclaim him “Jesus, Saviour, Redeemer and Lord” (repeat)
2.
Countless the souls that are stumbling in darkness
Why do we sleep in the light?
Jesus commands us to go make disciples
This is our cause
This is the fight
Chorus.
3.
Listen the wind of the Spirit is blowing
The end of the age is so near
Pow’rs in the earth and the heavens are shaking
Jesus our Lord
Soon shall appear!
Chorus.

Graham Kendrick
Copyright © 1990 Make Way Music,
http://www.grahamkendrick.co.uk

The YouTube contains a few Kendrick songs. Go Forth In His Name is first. It gets a little overwrought with a ‘Mr. Shouty’ helping out at different stages, but still demonstrates how the song could be simply presented. It also includes the ‘Jesus Is Lord’ refrain which can be used as a conclusion for the song. Also included is ‘Amazing Love’ which will feature in a future ‘Sunday Songs’.