Scripture Verse

Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Fa­ther and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. Matthew 28:19

Introduction

Words & Mu­sic: Hal­dor Lil­le­nas, in The Crown, ed­it­ed by Em­mett S. Dean (Wa­co, Tex­as: Trio Mu­sic, 1923) (🔊 pdf nwc).

portrait
Haldor Lillenas (1885–1959)

Lyrics

Have you heard the sob­bing
Of a thou­sand mil­lion souls,
Submerged in dark­est hea­then night?
Vainly grop­ing for the way that leads
To hope and peace,
They plead and wait the Gos­pel light.

Refrain

A thou­sand mill­ion souls are dy­ing,
A thou­sand mill­ion souls
For whom the Sav­ior died.
Can you still de­ny their plea?
Can you long­er idle be,
While a thou­sand mill­ion souls are dy­ing?

Have you heard the sob­bing
Of a thou­sand mill­ion souls,
By su­per­sti­tious chains en­slaved?
Can you long­er be in­dif­fer­ent
To their sad es­tate?
Thro’ Je­sus they can all be saved.

Refrain

Can you hear the sob­bing
Of a thou­sand mill­ion souls,
Who seek re­lief of heart in vain?
Let them have the bless­èd Gos­pel
That can free­dom give,
And rend the chains of sin in twain.

Refrain