“Facing a Task Unfinished” Global Movement on 2.21.16 – by Getty Music

World-wide hymn sing Sunday, February 21st to feature “Facing a Task Unfinished”, a hymn re-written by Keith and Kristyn Getty in a call to missions and partnership with the persecuted church.

NASHVILLE, TN (January, 2016) – On Sunday, February 21, 2016, churches around the world will join together in their respective services to sing the hymn, “Facing a Task Unfinished,” in a united effort to re-draw attention to the ongoing urgent need and huge opportunity for Christian evangelism world-wide. Free charts and recordings are being provided by Getty Music to aid congregations in learning and singing the song.

“Facing a Task Unfinished” was originally written by China Inland Mission (“CIM”) worker, Frank Houghton, in the 1920s, at a time when the climate of persecution, indeed martyrdom, of Christians in China was extremely severe. In the midst of this darkness, the CIM issued a call for 200 new missionaries over two years, and Houghton’s hymn galvanized the challenge in song. By 1931 there were 203 new missionaries on the field, and the number of Christians now in China is estimated to be well in excess of the millions.

OMF International (formerly China Inland Mission) recently celebrated its 150th anniversary and invited Keith and Kristyn Getty to re-visit and re-write Houghton’s much-loved and still timely hymn. The Gettys are privileged to be part of introducing this missions anthem to a new generation. The song will be the title track and name of Keith & Kristyn’s newest album (June 2016) and upcoming international tours. Royalties earned by the song from all sources and uses will be donated to OMF International in support of their continued work.

“Songs have the ability to unite and move us as groups,” says Keith Getty. “Frank Houghton understood this and in response to great turmoil in China, turned to writing hymns to encourage those who were witnessing martyrdom around them. ‘Facing a Task Unfinished’ provided inspiration to a generation of missionaries when it was first written, and it urges us on still, even as we also live amid persecution and martyrdom, both at home and around the world. Into these situations the call of Christ and His Kingdom is our only hope. His gospel is the window of light pouring into the darkened corners of this world. He is the good news we must sing and bring”

This revived hymn, traditionally based on the melody of “The Church’s One Foundation,” has been given a new chorus of response by Keith and Kristyn to help serve a new generation of congregational singing. Married to the traditional lyric by Houghton are the added lines:

“We go to all the world

With kingdom hope unfurled

No other name has power to save

But Jesus Christ The Lord”

To help facilitate greater action toward the mission front through the use of this song, Sunday, February 21, has been set aside for a global hymn-sing of the song. Participating churches are asked to register their involvement and may access free music resources to aid in their singing such as instrumental charts, orchestrations and a demo recording.

To Register and for more information visit www.gettymusic.com/FacingaTask.

#TheTaskUnfinished