"I Have Decided to Follow Jesus"
(Folk Melody from India)

Instrumental arrangement for acoustic guitar, keyboard and percussion.
(Arrangement by Lewis G. Scharpf, Jr.)
Historical backround of this hymn by William J. Reynolds.

This folk song originated among the Garo Indians, one of the hill tribes in India. The Garo tribe lives in an area that is now the state of Meghalaya, but was until 1970 the state of Assam. The northern part of Meghalaya borders on the Himalayan Mountain range. The earliest appearance of the hymn in the United States seems to have been in Choice Light and Life, a 1950 publication of the Free Methodist Church (Winona Lake, Ind.), compiled by LeRoy M. Lowell. Other publications have followed. The tune was named ASSAM in Christian Praise (Nashville, 1964), for the province of India where the Garos lived. We include this hymn to help individuals in making their decision "to follow Jesus" with "no turning back."

"If any one serves me, he must follow me;...... Hebrews 11:1-2


Verse 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.

VERSE 2

Though I may wonder, I still will follow,
Though I may wonder, I still will follow,
Though I may wonder, I still will follow,
No turning back, no turning back.

VERSE 3

Though none go with me, still I will follow,
Though none go with me, still I will follow,
Though none go with me, still I will follow,
No turning back, no turning back!

VERSE 4

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!

VERSE 5

Will you decide now, to follow Jesus,
Will you decide now, to follow Jesus,,
Will you decide now, to follow Jesus,,
No turning back, no turning back!



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© Copyright 2/2/02 by Lewis G. Scharpf, Jr.