GOSPEL >> Consecration
SDAH 309
All to Jesus I surrender;
all to him I freely give;
I will ever love and trust him,
in his presence daily live.
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For Worship Leaders
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Hymn Spotlight: I Surrender All
Born from a personal turning point, I Surrender All expresses the deep spiritual wrestling of Judson VanDeVenter, an art teacher and part-time preacher who finally surrendered to full-time gospel ministry. Written in 1896 while visiting a friend in Florida, the hymn captures the moment of yielding everything to Christ—a surrender that led VanDeVenter to a life of evangelism and even influence on a young Billy Graham. The tune by his ministry partner, W. S. Weeden, beautifully mirrors this spiritual descent into humility and trust. Anchored in Romans 6:13, this beloved hymn remains a heartfelt call to lay down our all at Jesus’ feet and receive His power and peace in return.
📖 Reference: Feel free to share but please cite hymnsforworship.org when reproducing.
Introductions for Sabbath School Song Service (based on specific lesson quarterlies):
Judson VanDeVenter, born December 5, 1855, at Dundee, Michigan, wrote these words in 1896 while at the home of a friend in Florida. VanDeVenter was an art teacher who had visited European art galleries for further study of his specialty. He was also a licensed local preacher of the Methodist Episcopal Church. While singing in the choir one day in Sharon, Pennsylvania, he felt an urge to become an evangelist. It took him five years of struggle with himself to come to a final decision to dedicate himself to Christian service. The words, then, are a reminder of the intense personal struggle and victory. There is one other stanza, the original fourth:
4. All to Jesus I surrender,
Lord I give myself to Thee,
Fill me with Thy love and power,
Let Thy blessing fall on me.
In Christ in song, 1908, a suitable text heads the hymn: “Yield yourselves unto God” (Rom. 6:13). The author conducted evangelistic campaigns in the United States and in Great Britain, and later in life in life greatly influenced the young Billy Graham. He died July 17, 1939, at Tampa, Florida.
The tune was composed by VanDeVenter’s associate in evangelism, Winfield Scott Weeden, of Ohio, and appeared in Gospel Songs of Grace and Glory, 1896. The tenor part in the stanza is a third above the melody, and in the refrain the alto is either a third or a sixth separated from the soprano. The descending passages, the second one note successively lower, and a climax of a complete descending octave. The hymn became very popular because of its frequent use in the Torrey-Alexander missions.
Weeden, born March 29, 1847, at Middleport, Ohio, taught singing school, entered evangelistic work, and solo singer and song leader with VanDeVenter. He also compiled several collections of gospel songs. In later life he owned a small hotel in lower Manhattan, New York, and died July 31, 1908. Appropriately, the words I Surrender All are engraved on his tombstone.
📖 Reference: Companion to the Seventh-day Adventist Hymnal by Wayne Hooper and Edward E. White. Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1988.
Stanza:
R – 1 Thessalonians 5:23
Text
1
All to Jesus I surrender;
All toHim I freely give;
I will ever love and trust Him,
In his presence daily live.
Refrain
I surrender all, I surrender all,
All to Thee, my blessed Savior,
I surrender all.
2
All to Jesus I surrender;
Humbly at His feet I bow,
Worldly pleasures all forsaken;
Take me, Jesus, take me now.
3
All to Jesus I surrender;
Make me, Savior, wholly Thine;
Let me feel the Holy Spirit
Truly know that Thou art mine.
4
All to Jesus I surrender;
Now I feel the sacred flame.
O the joy of full salvation!
Glory, glory, to His name!
Hymn Info
Biblical Information
(r) 1 Thess 5:23
Author
J. W. VanDeVenter (1855-1939)
Year Published
1896
Metrical Number
8.7.8.7.Ref.
Composer
W.S. Weeden (1847-1908)
