One million Christians around the world joined the third annual “Global Hymn Sing” on February 25, 2018.

Organized by Christian songwriters Keith and Kristen Getty, the event aimed to support the church’s mission and the evangelization of the unchurched.

About 4,900 churches from different denominations and 72 countries supported the initiative.

With the help of OMF International, an organization that shares the gospel in many countries in East Asia, the Gettys called on churches to sing the hymn “Jesus Shall Reign” in their worship service.

About 4,900 churches from different denominations and 72 countries supported the initiative.

In an interview with Premier, Keith Getty said, “Mission – whether it’s ‘me’ evangelizing to people ‘I’ work with, or whether it’s ‘my’ commitment to giving to mission, or actually going out as mission – is something that has decreased a lot in the West in the last generation.”

“Jesus Shall Reign” is an 18th century song written by Isaac Watts. Through the words of the classic hymn, organizers hoped to encourage churches to focus on its mission of Jesus Christ.

The song is linked to the Scottish athlete Eric Liddell. In 1925, less than a year after winning the gold medal at the Paris Olympics, the sprinter ended his sports career to become a missionary in China.

When asked about his unconventional decision, Liddell answered the media by singing the verse, “Jesus shall reign where’er the sun does his successive journeys run, His kingdom stretch from shore to shore till moons shall wax and wane no more.”

Keith Getty said “Jesus Shall Reign” is one of his most loved songs. “In that moment when the world was against him, Liddell stood firm and continued on the mission he knew God had called him too.”

He added that, “We want this campaign not only to be about congregational singing, but churches partnering in missions to see more lives impacted by the transformational message of the gospel.”

Sources:
Premier
Cross Rhythms