I Have Decided to Follow Jesus

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I have decided to follow Jesus

Author (attributed to): Simon Marak
Tune: ASSAM
Songs of Response
Published in 74 hymnals

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	I Have Decided to Follow Jesus

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	A New Song

Choral
	NO TURNING BACK with I HAVE DECIDED TO F…

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

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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 >

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Related Texts

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

Cantonese

Voices Together #443

English

10 shown out of 56

French

Community of Christ Sings #499

Navajo

Voices Together #443

Spanish

Thai

Voices Together #443

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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).

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Tune

ASSAM

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

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All tunes published with 'I Have Decided to Follow Jesus'^ top

For Leaders

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As this hymn of commitment is sung, think about what it really means to follow Jesus. When someone volunteered to follow Him, Jesus' response was “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head” (Luke 9:58 ESV). This seems almost brutal, but it is true. The author of this hymn was most likely a convert in India facing persecution and possibly death for this commitment. As expressed through the song, this Christian had taken to heart Jesus' warning: “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God” (Luke 9:62 ESV).

Text:

There are a variety of different stories about the origin of this hymn. All of them agree that it was written in northeastern India by someone facing persecution for his or her faith who wanted to affirm loyalty to Christ. In some accounts, an Indian convert is the author. One of the more dramatic and widespread stories comes from the book Why God, Why? by Dr. P. P. Job, in which a Christian missionary first sang this song as he and his family were being murdered for their faith.

Whatever its origin, this song has been passed down as a folk song, and the number of stanzas and their content varies. Three stanzas appear in virtually every version. The opening stanza is always “I have decided.” “The world behind me” and “Though none go with me” are always included, in some order. Another common stanza is “Will you decide now to follow Jesus?” which is usually fourth. Some hymnals do not include this hymn because it implies, especially in the opening line, that salvation is purely a human decision.

Tune:

This text is always sung to the melody that was passed down with it – ASSAM, which is named after a region in northeastern India. It is an Indian folk song, probably from the Garo tribe. This tune is quite flexible in terms of accompaniment style and tempo. Choose a tempo that will accentuate the desired mood, whether it is slow for quiet meditation on the seriousness of commitment to Christ, or a more upbeat, march-like style. It is simple enough to be easily learned, and therefore could work very well unaccompanied.

When/Why/How:

This song is appropriate whenever a song of commitment is desired. For use as service or special music, a variety of choral settings exist, often combining this text with another. “No Turning Back with 'I Have Decided to Follow Jesus'” combines this folk hymn with an original song by Joel Raney for SATB choir, unison choir (either children or adult voices), and rhythm section. “I Have Decided to Follow Jesus” is a slow, contemplative choral arrangement of this simple song. Another setting of “I Have Decided to Follow Jesus” includes a stanza of “He Leadeth Me” in a three-part choral setting. This combination of texts reminds us that, though we may claim to have “made a decision” to follow Christ, nevertheless God is the One who leads us.

Tiffany Shomsky,
Hymnary.org

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The Cyber Hymnal #2805

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Noteworthy Composer score (NWC)
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New Hymns of Hope #116

PDF (PDF)

Timeless Truths #168

Full Score (PDF, XML)

Worship and Rejoice #344

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Full Score (PDF, XML)
Bulletin Score (melody only) (PDF, XML)

MIDI file from Baptist Hymnal 1991 #305
MIDI file from The Cyber Hymnal #2805
Audio recording from Revival Hymns and Choruses #428
MIDI file from Timeless Truths #168
Audio recording from The Worshiping Church #576
Audio recording from Worship and Rejoice #344
MIDI file from Worship and Rejoice #344

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Page Scans

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Hymns of Promise: a large print songbook (2015), p.105

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Instances

Instances (1 - 46 of 46)

Piano/Organ A New Song I Have Decided to Follow Jesus I Have Decided to Follow Jesus More Piano/Organ...
Choral NO TURNING BACK with I HAVE DECIDED TO FOLLOW JESUS I HAVE DECIDED NO TURNING BACK with I HAVE DECIDED TO FOLLOW JESUS More Choral...
Handbells HYMNS OF JOY AND PRAISE, VOL. I More Handbells...
PowerPoint I HAVE DECIDED TO FOLLOW JESUS - Lead Line (Worship & Rejoice 2003 344) I HAVE DECIDED TO FOLLOW JESUS (Timeless Truths-168) I HAVE DECIDED TO FOLLOW JESUS (Timeless Truths 168) More PowerPoint...

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I Have Decided to Follow Jesus

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