I Have Decided to Follow Jesus

Representative Text

1 I have decided to follow Jesus;
I have decided to follow Jesus;
I have decided to follow Jesus;
no turning back, no turning back.

2 Though none go with me, I still will follow;
though none go with me, I still will follow;
though none go with me, I still will follow;
no turning back, no turning back.

3 The world behind me, the cross before me;
the world behind me, the cross before me,
the world behind me, the cross before me;
no turning back, no turning back.


Source: Hymns of Promise: a large print songbook #85

Author (attributed to): Simon Marak

Simon Kara Marak A pastor, schoolteacher, and missionary in Jorhat, Assam, India. For more details, see the entry on "I have decided to follow Jesus" in the Canterbury Dictionary of Hymnology (http://www.hymnology.co.uk/i/i-have-decided-to-follow-jesus), UMC Discipleship Ministries (https://www.umcdiscipleship.org/articles/history-of-hymns-i-have-decided-to-follow-jesus), or Hymnology Archive (https://www.hymnologyarchive.com/i-have-decided-to-follow-jesus), all of which are based to some degree on an article by Sengbat G. Momin, “I have decided to follow Jesus, no turning back, no turning back,” Garo Baptist Convention Sesquicentenary Souvenir, translated by Amanda Aski Macdonald Momin (A·chik Baptist Dal’gipa Krima (ABDK) Sabha, 20… Go to person page >

Text Information

First Line: I have decided to follow Jesus
Title: I Have Decided to Follow Jesus
Author (attributed to): Simon Marak
Meter: 10.10.10.8
Place of Origin: India
Language: English
Notes: French translation: "Moi, j'ai décidé de suivre Jésus"; Spanish translation: "He decidido seguir a Cristo" by Community of Christ
Copyright: Public Domain
Liturgical Use: Songs of Response

Notes

About 150 years ago, there was a great revival in Wales, United Kingdom. As a result of this, many missionaries came from England and Germany to North-East India to spread the Gospel. At the time, north-east India was not divided into many states as it is today. The region was known as Assam and comprised hundreds of tribes...Naturally, they were not welcomed. One Welsh missionary succeeded in converting a man, his wife, and two children. This man’s faith proved contagious and many villagers began to accept Christianity. Angry, the village chief summoned all the villagers. He then called the family who had first converted to renounce their faith in public or face execution. Moved by the Holy Spirit, the man instantly composed a song which became famous down the years. He sang:

"I have decided to follow Jesus. (3 times)No turning back, no turning back."

-Dr. P.P. Job and Indian preacher in His book “Why God Why”

C. Michael Hawn and other modern scholars have traced the song confidently to Simon K. Marak, a pastor, schoolteacher, and missionary from Jorhat, Assam, India. For more details, see the entry on this hymn in the Canterbury Dictionary of Hymnology (http://www.hymnology.co.uk/i/i-have-decided-to-follow-jesus), UMC Discipleship Ministries (https://www.umcdiscipleship.org/articles/history-of-hymns-i-have-decided-to-follow-jesus), or Hymnology Archive (https://www.hymnologyarchive.com/i-have-decided-to-follow-jesus).

Tune

ASSAM

A Traditional Indian tune, ASSAM comes from the city of Assam, India where the text was originated.

Go to tune page >


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