"Preach the Word"
                              by Stephen P. Starke
                                      Text From:
          _The Dedication of the 150th Anniversary Hymn
                        and Tune and Chapel Banner_
        (Ft. Wayne: Concordia Theological Seminary, 1996)



        1. God gave a vision of the need
        That Paul might go where God would lead;
        So by the Holy Spirit gently spurred,
        He went at once to preach the Word.
        Far distanced from that time and place
        The need remained to know God's grace;
        Within a pastor's heart there stirred
        A prayer for men to preach the Word.

        REFRAIN:
        Preach the Word, at all times preach the Word;
        With great care and patience, preach the Word!
        Correct, rebuke, encourage and assure --
        Preach the Word! Preach the Word!

        2. God blessed that prayer and students came,
        Here learned to speak His saving Word;
        Their sure resolve was undeterred:
        "O Lord, send me to preach the Word!"
        The need persists, the hour is late;
        The workers few, the harvest great.
        Lord, bless our prayer for men not lured
        From their desire to preach the Word.

        REFRAIN

        3. How can the world God's mercy share
        Or call upon His name in prayer?
        Can they believe who have not heard?
        Some must be sent to preach the Word.
        Unveil, O Lord, our blinded view;
        Annoint our eyes with salve from You
        That we might see with sight unblurred
        One vision clear: Preach the Word!

        REFRAIN

        ___________________________________________________
        Notes:
        Text: 1 Timothy 4:2
        Author: Stephen P. Starke
        Tune: "Ft. Wayne"
        Composer: Carl Schalk
        1st Published in: _The Dedication of the 150th Anniversary..._
        Town: Ft. Wayne, 1996
        ______________________________________________________________
        This text was converted to ascii format for Project Wittenberg
        by Robert E. Smith, copyright 1995 by Stephen P. Starke. You
        may freely distribute, copy or print this text for
        non-commercial purposes. All other rights are reserved. Please
        direct any comments or suggestions to: Rev. Robert E. Smith of
        the Walther Library at Concordia Theological Seminary.

                E-mail: cosmithb@ash.palni.edu
        Surface Mail: 6600 N. Clinton St., Ft.  Wayne, IN 46825 USA
        Phone: (219) 452-2123                      Fax: (219) 452-2126
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