Our 2016 Mission Conference is almost here.  The theme of this year’s conference is “Unashamed” and comes from Romans 1:16 “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes.”   In preparing for the conference I began to look for songs that made reference to being ‘unashamed.’  Sadly, I could not find many that I felt were appropriate to our setting.  But, I did find a text written by Isaac Watts that seemed very appropriate.

Isaac Watts(1674-1748) is called the ‘Father of English Hymnody.’ He authored hundreds and hundreds of hymn texts.  Some of his most well known include When I Survey the Wondrous Cross, Joy to the World, Alas and Did My Savior Bleed, and Jesus Shall Reign.

I made some alterations to his original text and also added an original chorus.  Then, I wrote a new melody for the song.  Here is a link where you can download a copy of the music.  It is a lead sheet and so it just contains the melody with the chords written above.  You can also read Isaac Watts’ original unaltered text here.

The text as we will sing it at our conference is below.  I encourage you to take some to read and think through it.  I hope and pray that it will help us to focus our hearts and our minds on the theme of our conference.

I’m not ashamed to own my Lord,
Or to defend His cause,
Maintain the honor of His Word,
The glory of His cross.

My Jesus Christ, I know His name,
His name is all my trust;
Nor will He put my soul to shame,
Nor let my hope be lost.

His throne is firm; His promise stands,
And He can well secure
What I’ve committed to His hands,
Until that final hour.

Then He will own my worthless name
Before His Father’s face.
And in His glorious home above,
Appoint my soul a place.

Chorus:
I’m not ashamed, I’m not ashamed, I’m not ashamed,
I’m not ashamed of the Gospel.
I’ll not run away.
On Christ I will stand.
For I am not ashamed!