Learn the surprising history shared by some of today’s most popular hymns. How did “How Great Thou Art,” an obscure Swedish hymn, get covered by Elvis? How did “Just as I
“The genius—and that is the right word—of Edith Blumhofer’s volume is that it weaves three narrative threads into a seamless tapestry. The first is the story of Graham’s beloved soloist, George Beverly Shea. The second follows the ministry of Graham’s choir director and crusade organizer, Cliff Barrows. And the third features not Graham (as Shea quipped, Billy suffered from the ‘malady of no melody’) but rather the songs that the audiences did in fact love to sing, decade after decade. Larry Eskridge, a prize-winning historian of contemporary Christian music, has brought his own considerable skills to the completion of an already superior study. In these pages, students of Graham, Shea, Barrows, and gospel music will find their academic and spiritual interests greatly enriched.”
—Grant Wacker, author of One Soul at a Time: The Story of Billy Graham
“Christianity represents a faith to be proclaimed—both by preaching and through song. In this intriguing and informative book, Edith Blumhofer shows us how preaching and singing came together through the enormous influence of the Billy Graham crusades. Now readers can see for themselves the details behind the crusades and especially the music that shaped generations. Edith has left us a gift in Songs I Love to Sing.”
—Ed Stetzer, executive director of the Billy Graham Center at Wheaton College
“An instructive guide to a profoundly influential chapter in American religious history, demonstrating again the pastoral significance of Holy Spirit–led songwriters and singers in evoking and sustaining faith. Some readers will hum along as they read, recalling heart songs that shaped generations of believers. Others will be introduced to entirely new musical worlds and may well be astonished by the breadth and influence of the songs and practices described here.”
—John D. Witvliet, director of the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship
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Edith L. Blumhofer (1950–2020) was professor of history and former director of the Institute for the Study of American Evangelicals at Wheaton College, Wheaton, Illinois.
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Table of Contents
Foreword by Fernando Ortega
Acknowledgments
Editor’s Preface by Larry Eskridge
Prelude
Introduction
1. A Shared Purpose
2. Called Together
3. Ministry
4. Sources and Influences
5. Theme
6. Guest Voices
7. Translation
Coda
Select Bibliography
Indexes
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