indian missionary sadhu sundar singh was the author of song i have decided to follow jesus.
indian missionary sadhu sundar singh was the author of song i have decided to follow jesus.
author of song i have decided to follow jesus?
indian missionary sadhu sundar singh
the fierce opposition is possible, as various tribes in that area were formerly renowned for head-hunting.









































the formation of these words into a hymn is attributed to the indian missionary sadhu sundar singh. the melody is also indian, and entitled "assam" after the region where the text originated.









































an alternative tradition attributes the hymn to simon marak, from jorhat, assam.









































an american hymn editor, william jensen reynolds, composed an arrangement which was included in the 1959 "assembly songbook". his version became a regular feature of billy graham's evangelistic meetings in america and elsewhere, spreading its popularity.
i have decided to follow jesus
according to dr p. job, the lyrics are based on the last words of nokseng, a garo man, a tribe from meghalaya which then was in assam, who along with his family decided to follow jesus christ in the middle of the 19th century through the efforts of an american baptist missionary. called to renounce his faith by the village chief, the convert declared, "i have decided to follow jesus." his two children were killed and in response to threats to his wife, he continued, "though no one join me, still i will follow." his wife was killed, and he was executed while singing, "the world behind me, the cross before me." this display of faith is reported to have led to the conversion of the chief and others in the village.
i have decided to follow jesus