WARREN SHIVER
GOD LEADS HIS DEAR CHILDREN ALONG
Author: G. A. Young
(Unknown)
Composer: G. A. Young
(Unknown)

Haldor Lillenas, founder of a great music publishing company, was born on the small island of Bergen, Norway on Nov 19, 1885. At the age of two, he immigrated with his mother and two brothers to America. They settled in Colton, South Dakota. As with any immigrant, his first years in this country were hard. He could not speak the language, and he had no friends. He started a new life in a strange land hoping to make a success of his new beginning. He met a fine lady who befriended him, and taught him the English language. Perhaps more importantly, she told him the story of Christ, and led him to know the Lord as his savior at the age of twenty-one. Many times she sang him a comforting song entitled, "God Leads His Dear Children Along".

For many years his mind would go back to this sweet old lady and the song she sang to him in his time of loneliness and need, and how it changed his life and gave him hope. He decided to find out something about its writer, Mr. George A.Young. He discovered that Mr. Young had passed away, but his widow was living in a nearby town.

Mr. Lillenas drove out to the little town, and found her living in a little run-down house. She sat down and told him the story of how her husband had written the song. His excitement mounted as she told this story:

My husband and I were married while we were very young. God gave us a wonderful life together. He led us from day to day. We prayed together, we worshiped together, and God moved through the Holy Spirit, and put a song in my husband's heart that has helped people all over the world to deal with tragedy in their lives. The text was probably taken from Isaiah 43:2. "When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee, and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee, when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned, neither shall the flame kindle upon thee". Psalm 24:4 tells us that David had experienced these tidal waves of grief, and had God not been on his side, the waters would have overwhelmed his soul.

George Young was an obscure 19th Century preacher and carpenter who spent a lifetime humbly serving the Lord in small rural communities. Often his financial support was small, and it was hard on his family. But through all the ups and downs his faithful wife never wavered in her loyalty to God and to her husband. After a long struggle, the family was able to move into their own small home (which George built himself). But then, on an occasion when George was away preaching, some local thugs-who didn't like his Gospel preaching- -set fire to the house, and it was totally destroyed. It was out of that experience that Young reaffirmed his faith in God by writing God Leads His Dear Children Along.

His wife then related to Mr. Lillenas how God took her husband home to be with Him, but

she was not bitter. She said, " God has led me here to this small town, and I am so glad about it. God has used me in this place. Isn't it wonderful that God leads His children day-by-day, and step-by-step? Many people come to this country, and they are so sad and in such great need. They need help and comfort. I have been able to cheer many of them, and lead scores to the Lord Jesus Christ. How thankful I am that God brought me to this place to minister to so many in need."

Mr. Haldor Lillenas was deeply moved by Mrs. Young's words, and excited that he had found more than just a story behind a hymn, but had found a Christian woman completely surrendered to God's will in her life.

While we don't know much about Mr. George A.Young, we are sure that he left us one of the most beautiful hymns ever written.

Stories Behind The Hymns is written by Warren Shiver of Biscoe,NC. Shiver has been fascinated with the true stories behind the hymns since he was a 12-year old attending East Gaffney Baptist Church in Gaffney, S.C. He began studying the stories behind the hymns in 1957. If you have questions or comments, he can be reached by email at wshiver99@embarqmail.com or by mail at PO BOX 775,Biscoe,NC 27209.

The 300-page softback book, 104 Of My Favorite Hymn Stories, costs $14.95. The book will be shipped to Gaffney Ledger and Weekly Ledger readers postage free or books may be picked up at The Gaffney Ledger office on Floyd Baker Boulevard. Books may also be ordered on the website, www.myfavoritehymnstories.com., or by sending a check or money order to Warren Shiver, P.O. Box 775, Biscoe, N.C. 27209.

GOD LEADS HIS DEAR CHILDREN ALONG

Verse 1
In shady green pastures, so rich and so sweet
God leads His dear children along;
Where the water's cool flow bathes the weary one's feet,
God leads His dear children along.
Chorus
Some thro' the water, some thro' the flood
Some thro' the fire, but all thro' the blood;
Some thro' great sorrow, but God gives a song,
In the night season and all the day long.
Verse 2
Sometimes on the mount where the sun shines so bright,
God leads His dear children along;
Sometimes in the valley, in darkness of night,
God leads His dear children along.
Chorus
Verse 3
Tho' sorrows befall us, and Satan oppose,
God leads His dear children along;
Through grace we can conquer, defeat all our foes,
God leads His dear children along.
Chorus
Verse 4
Away from the mire, and away from the clay,
God leads His dear children along.
Away up in glory, eternity's day,
God leads His dear children along.
Chorus
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