September 24, 2001
Beaumont church revives
song to address tragedy
___By Marv Knox
___Editor
___BEAUMONT--A song written the year the World Trade Center went up brought comfort to Baptists the day the walls came crashing down.
___The terrorist tragedy Sept. 11 caused Raymond McHenry, pastor of Westgate Memorial Baptist Church in Beaumont, to recall "These Things I Have Spoken to You," a song he learned almost three decades ago.
See the text and music of the Hymn "John 16:33." It is readable with the free Adobe Acrobat Reader.
___Unable to find a copy of the song, McHenry sang it to Sean Paul, Westgate's minister of music, as they planned a special prayer service, held at the church that night. Paul transcribed the chorus, based on John 16:33, and wrote an arrangement for the music.
___"We sang it at the close of our Tuesday service, and it was extremely powerful," McHenry reported.
___The song reminds Christians of Jesus' words of comfort: "These things I have spoken to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world, you will have tribulation. But be of good cheer, be of good cheer, for I have overcome the world."
___The song was written in 1973 by Deborah Y. Chew and copyrighted by Maranatha! Music in 1983.
___The publisher has granted permission for churches to use Paul's new arrangement of the song in worship, as long as they credit Chew and Maranatha! Music and include the lines, "All rights reserved. Used by permission" on all printed copies.
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