Sing a New (Old) Song to the Lord

In the closing days of August, Rev. Dr. Terry Schultz from Multi-Language Productions (MLP) and Rev. Ben Foxen of the One Africa Team traveled to Uganda.

The goal? Fulfill a request made by our brothers and sisters in the Obadiah Lutheran Synod (OLS) to help them create new songs with Christ-centered lyrics.

Thanks to funding provided by MLP, we were able to gather about 20 musicians from the various districts of the OLS in one place for 5 days of training, encouragement, and hands-on work composing and performing songs. MLP also provided funds for the purchase of some equipment that will be used by the OLS to train future musicians in their church body.

In the time spent in this workshop, we were continually amazed at the musical talent and creativity that had been assembled. In a short time, these men and women composed and recorded 68 new songs that showed incredible diversity. Since the composers came from different parts of the country, they composed in no less than seven different languages. The musical styles differed as well, ranging from traditional Ugandan beats, to more of a hip-hop style, to chants and chorales. It was eye-opening to witness how the people of OLS sought to incorporate all these different styles, showing that all of them are now a part of their cultural heritage.

The content of these songs also differed, some focusing on themes of praise and thanksgiving (among them my personally favorite melody, “Nebaza Musumba Wange,” or “I thank you, my Shepherd”); others focusing on the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus; others on sin and repentance; and others a recasting of the timeless songs of the liturgy.

One of the goals of this workshop was to preserve any music that was produced. So, a handheld recording device was used to capture the compositions as they were performed for the group, and handwritten lyrics were transcribed into a Microsoft Word document. Both were then transferred to SD cards that can be shared with all the congregations of the OLS, so that the entire church will be able to benefit from what was produced at the workshop.

OLS leaders have plans to take this project further. They want these composers to continue their work in producing new melodies and lyrics, focusing their talents on the various seasons of the church year, so that in time an entire OLS hymnbook might be produced and digitally recorded. It’s an ambitious project, but one they certainly have the talent to accomplish.

Through it all, we rejoice in the amazing gifts that God has given to his people. Throughout the ages, new songs have always been created to praise and glorify our God and teach people about his amazing deeds and love. The OLS may be singing some new songs to the Lord now, but they’re also singing the same song that God’s people have always sung—Christ for us, and Christ in us. All glory and praise be to his name, in whatever melody you sing it!

Written by Rev. Benjamin Foxen, world missionary on the One Africa Team.

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