Mark 16:15

The hymn encourages believers to respond to Christ’s call to bring the Gospel to the ends of the earth.

He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.” (Mark 16:15)

Lord, You Give the Great Commission is a well-loved and timeless missionary hymn often used in worship as a hymn of commissioning, dedication and response, and is commonly sung during church anniversaries, missions conventions, and pastoral ordinations. The hymn encourages believers to respond to Christ’s call to bring the Gospel to the ends of the earth.

For Missions Sunday last week, the Cantonese Worship Team specially recorded this hymn as an offering of thanksgiving and praise to the Lord on behalf of our congregation. Since the COVID-19 period, the team has explored different ways of worshipping and praising God, recording hymns to lead the congregation in worship. Even after the pandemic, we have continued this practice each year for Missions Sunday and Sacred Music Sunday, to record timeless and moving hymns for use in worship. These recordings are uploaded to YouTube to share beautiful and meaningful hymns with believers around the world, so that together we may praise and give thanks to God. We thank God that these songs have brought comfort and encouragement to many.

He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.” (Mk 16:15)

May is Missions Month at Kum Yan, a time for us to remember the Great Commission given by our Lord Jesus Christ and to renew our commitment to both local and overseas missions. Through sharing sessions, missionaries help us better understand the needs of different mission fields and the realities of serving across cultures and languages. They also share the joys and challenges of ministry on the ground, helping us pray more meaningfully for their work and the communities they serve.

Missions Month also reminds and encourages us to support and participate actively in God’s mission. Some respond to God’s call by stepping out of their comfort zones to become missionaries and commit themselves to long-term ministry. Others take part in short-or longer-term mission trips, supporting mission efforts and gaining firsthand experience of the needs in different mission fields.

Over the years, I have had the opportunity to participate in short-term mission trips with different churches. These experiences helped me better understand the needs of churches, mission fields, and communities in different places, and taken me beyond the comforts of familiar church life, broadened my cross-cultural perspective, and deepened my appreciation of the significance of the Great Commission.

Whether short-term or long-term, missions often require us to set aside time and temporarily step away from work, family, and familiar surroundings. But have you ever considered another way of taking part in missions, one that I have loved and often used over the years: using songs to share the Gospel? Through hymns and songs, we can share the Gospel, express love and care, and respond to Christ’s call. It is something we can do anytime and almost anywhere, without being limited by time, place, or circumstances.

God is the Creator of music and song. Melody, harmony, and rhythm all flow from His wisdom. In the Bible, music and songs are treasured expressions of worship, a language of the heart through which we offer thanksgiving, praise, and honest emotions to our Creator. God delights in worship that comes sincerely from the heart, offered in spirit and in truth.

One of the beautiful things about ministering through song is its ability to cross language and cultural barriers. Songs can become powerful tools for communicating God’s truth. God delights in His people using songs to hide His truth in their hearts. As Ephesians 5:19 encourages us: “Speak to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord.” (Ephesians 5:19).

Music is a universal language. Songs and melodies often cross cultural and linguistic boundaries more effectively than words alone. A moving melody can touch the heart deeply, sometimes reaching beyond reason and stirring the soul, prompting reflection on life itself.

Songs not only communicate rich biblical truths, but also carry messages of faith, hope, love, comfort, encouragement, and peace. They can become powerful bridges for sharing the Gospel.

Over the years, I have consistently used songs and hymns to share the Gospel, communicate biblical truth, and encourage both believers and non-believing family and friends. For me, songs have become a meaningful and effective way of sharing Christ with others.

I would like to encourage all our brothers and sisters: today, there are many beautiful and freely available hymns and worship songs online for different seasons and needs. If we take time to learn them, thoughtfully choose songs rich in biblical truth, and share them with those around us, especially family and friends who do not yet know the Lord, I believe we will see God work in unexpected ways. Just as I have experienced, He can use a simple song to touch hearts and bear spiritual fruit.