Does the name IRA D. SANKEY ring a bell to you?
If your a worship leader it should.
Ira isn't leading thousands in worship at some large church or released any great cooperate worship track that every church is singing. No, but one thing IRA did do was sing the gospel-- and he sang it in such a way that God moved through him to change and begin to shape alot of what we do today in our worship services.
You see, back before they had the shaved headed, ear pieced, flannel shirt wearing, with a Taylor hung over his neck worship leader there was Ira.
Ira, who lived from 1840-1908 was the worship leader for the famous preacher, D.L. Moody. I only know what I just read about the man
HERE. Here are some highlights, but when you get a chance read this amazing story!
"Ira SANKEY WAS THE PIONEER MUSIC DIRECTOR of the masses in American evangelism. The Sweet Singer of Methodism brought to the Moody revivals zest and inspiration that prepared hearts for the messages of the famed evangelist. He set the pattern for those who later followed in his footsteps"
"At Sunderland, Sankey sang several favorite songs, unaware of the opposition by the pastor to solos, organ music, and choirs. However, the Reverend Rees was impressed and posted notices announcing that Mr. Sankey, from Chicago, would "sing the gospel." This phrase came to be widely used thereafter. One night as Sankey sang Come Home, O Prodigal, Come Home, a cry pierced the silence and a young man rushed forward and fell in the arms of his father, begging forgiveness. The entire congregation was impressed and hundreds pressed to an adjoining room seeking prayer and pardon."
"Sankey's choir numbered 250 voices, aided by a large organ. However, when he sang, he accompanied his solos on a small organ, a practice which he always preferred, not wanting the music to detract from the message."
"As Sankey was singing, in the middle of a song, his voice was drowned by the clanging of fire engines. Confusion arose from the streets and Moody dismissed the congregation. The two men parted, not to meet again for Sankey had spent many hectic hours in the confusion that followed the fire."
"Prior to boarding the train, Sankey bought a weekly newspaper for a penny. He found nothing of interest but a sermon by Henry W. Beecher and some advertisements. Then, he found a little piece of poetry in a corner of one column that he liked, and he read it to Moody, but only received a polite reply. Sankey clipped the poem and tucked it in his pocket. At the noonday service of the second day of the special series, Moody preached on The Good Shepherd. Horatious Bonar added a few thrilling words and then Moody asked Mr. Sankey if he had a final song. An inner voice prompted him to sing the hymn that he found on the train. With conflict of spirit, he thought, this is impossible! The inner voice continued to prod him, even though there was no music to the poem, so he acquiesced. As calmly as if he had sung it a thousand times, he placed the little piece of newspaper on the organ in front of him. Lifting up his heart in a brief prayer to Almighty God, he then laid his hands on the keyboard, striking a chord in A flat. Half speaking and half singing, he completed the first stanza, which was followed by four more. Moody walked over with tears in his eyes and said, "Where did you get that hymn?" The Ninety and Nine became his most famous tune and his most famous sale from that time on."
I want to sing the gospel. I hear often of preachers who were used by God in great ways or sermons that were preached and revival broke out but my heart really loves it when I can hear of someone who does what I do; lead worship through music.
I found this old red book in my book collection on my shelf, someone must have put it there as a gift because I don't remember buying it but it is an original
"Sacred Songs and Solos" red hymnal that Ira D. Skankey used to carry around and sing from. Its beaten and battered, and the pages are yellowed from age but the words are dripping in beauty of our awesome maker. I just read number
97 in this book and it filled my eyes with tears.
