July Hymn "WHEREVER HE LEADS I’LL GO"

WHEREVER HE LEADS I’LL GO                                                  written in 1936                Baylus Benjamin McKinney was at the top of his career when he traveled to the Alabama Sunday School Convention in January 1936.  He was the author of such hymns as “The Nail Scarred Hand”, “Speak to My Heart”, “Let Others See Jesus In Me”, and “Satisfied with Jesus“. As a leading Southern Baptist hymn-writer, he was leading the singing at the convention.
    At the convention  he met with his good friend of many years,  R.S. Jones, a missionary, who was speaking at convention.  As the two men visited and caught up over dinner, Mr. Jones revealed that after many years of missionary service in Brazil, he had been forced to return home, his doctors said he could not return to the mission field.  After the meeting that night,  McKinney asked Jones about his plans for the future. Jones said he didn’t know what God had in store for him, but said, “Wherever He leads, I’ll go.” the missionary answered in earnest. McKinney  couldn’t get those words out of his mind. He went to his room, and wrote down the words and music for this hymn.
    Jones was speaking again at the closing session of that convention and, after his message, McKinney  told Jones’ story… and then sang this hymn for the convention.
    Mr. Jones served on the Southern Baptist convention Foreign Mission Board for thirty-seven years. He and his wife served as missionaries to Brazil from 1920 until 1930. He retired from a life of service in 1958, having served as treasurer to the Foreign Mission Board for the last decade of his service. That missionary named Jones was willing to go wherever God led.  Sadly, most of us who sing this song today aren’t willing to even go next door…                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             “Take up thy cross and follow Me,” I heard my Master say;
“I gave My life to ransom thee, surrender your all today.”

Refrain:
Wherever He leads I’ll go. Wherever He leads I’ll go.
I’ll follow my Christ who loves me so, wherever He leads I’ll go.

He drew me closer to His side, I sought His will to know,
and in that will I now abide, wherever He leads I’ll go. (Refrain)

It may be thro’ the shadows dim, or o’er the stormy sea;
I take my cross and follow Him, wherever He leadeth me. (Refrain)

My heart, my life, my all I bring to Christ who loves me so;
He is my Master, Lord, and King… wherever He leads I’ll go. (Refrain)