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The Canaan Hymns
(Prayers) Chorus: (Canaan Hymns #268: When light dawns on China) When light dawns on China The sound of prayer rises Prayer brings revival and
peace Prayer brings unity and
triumph Narration: When
dawn arrives in China you can hear people praying. They are rejoicing in the
Great Love that unites all the peoples of the world. These
prayers soar over the highest mountains and melt the ice off the coldest
hearts. There is no more bondage. There
are no more wars. Hearts receive blessings
from above, and destinies are changed.
It is going to be an excellent year for the harvest. Chorus: (Canaan Hymns #268: When light dawns on China) Prayer soars over the highest mountains Prayer melts the ice off the coldest hearts Narration: Chinese
people use poetry and songs to express what is in their minds and hearts. The Canaan Hymns show an open-mindedness,
which is rarely encountered in China.
The human voice is able to convey the unique beauty of the
universe. （Title
Sequence: The Canaan Hymns） Chorus: (Canaan Hymns #26
Walk into a new day) Walk into a new day My heart is full of joy The first words coming from within Thank you, Lord Given your anointing Bathed in your love I hear you calling my name Bringing me into your kingdom Narration: Anyone who wants to understand the Chinese Home-church
assemblies will want to reflect on the hymns sung by its members. These hymns express the faith, testimonies,
and experiences of the faithful and show the world the pure innocence of all
those who tread a rocky path. Chorus: (Canaan Hymns #26 Walk into a new day) Step by step we keep on Step by step we carry on to
the end A new day is coming A new age is here Lord, I praise your glorious
name Narration: In
remote villages and prosperous cities, wherever there are Christians you will
hear joyful voices of the faithful expressing their devotion through their
hymns. Chorus: (Canaan Hymns #284 Light
up the fire of revival) May you receive the
beautiful fruit ripened by the Sun And the precious gift
nurtured by the Moon May your whole life witness
the prosperity of Jerusalem The Holy Spirit has awakened
our wish to rise Our wish to rise Light up the fire of revival
Bless China Chorus: (Canaan Hymns #82 Thanksgiving) His greatness makes kingdoms
tremble His grace is
known throughout the whole world Chorus: (Canaan Hymns #39 This is the day the LORD has made) How
wonderful it is that God lives among us Narration: Without
instruments or the ability to read words or musical scores, these peasants who
are Christians are able to sing dozens of hymns without ever taking a rest. Chorus: (Canaan Hymns #129 God Is With Us) Light is here Life is here The blessings from God are
all here Narration: These
songs have been assembled in what is called The Canaan Hymns. Most of the songs in this film are taken
from these 930 hymns.
They are sung not only in the Home-church assemblies, but are also sung in the
Chinese Three-self Churches. Some are sung
in Chinese congregations all around the world.
Chorus: (Canaan Hymns #550 We are well-prepared) We are
ready to welcome the great revival Look!
Wheels are rolling Thunder
is rumbling Chorus: (Canaan Hymns #42 Our
God is great) Our God is great He is the master of the
universe Chorus: (Canaan Hymns #574
A river of life) The stream of life The stream of joy Flow
tenderly into my heart Chorus: (Canaan Hymns #268 When light dawns on China) When light dawns on China The sound of prayer rises Chorus: (Canaan Hymns #34 My closest friend) At each step I take in my
life At every place I stop on my way (Testimonies) Brother from Henan: I think these hymns are God’s grace to the Chinese church. Zhang Rongliang: The Canaan Hymns are God’s guidance to the Chinese church. They are a great inspiration to us all. Brother: I have sung the Canaan Hymns since I was a child. Brother: The hymns we sing at our
house-church are mostly from the Canaan Hymns. Sister: I think the Canaan Hymns are God’s gifts to the Chinese people. When I sing hymns translated from other languages, I feel that I’m walking into the kingdom of God. Now it’s like God walks into our hearts and takes care of all our needs through the Canaan Hymns. He encourages us when we are weak; He strengthens us when we lose hope; He gives us power when we need it; He guides us with these hymns. So I think the Canaan Hymns are absolutely right for the Chinese church. They touch me very deeply. Chorus: (Canaan Hymns #520 With tears and
laughter, songs and silence) With tears and laughter,
songs and silence We’ve gone through ups and
downs We’ve walked through the
darkest valleys And
climbed the highest mountains Sister: One day, when I was feeling weak and tired, a hymn flew into my heart. It was amazing: I suddenly had strength again and continued to walk through the hills. I was able to continue preaching the gospel. Chorus: (Canaan Hymns #520 With
tears and laughter, songs and silence) Time
passes like the tides Brother from Henan: When I heard the hymns for the first time, I was surprised. I felt that they could be created only through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Chorus: (Canaan Hymns #520 With
tears and laughter, songs and silence) Look! Finally a river of life from heaven Run to the land of China Heal the land of China Save
the land of China Su Wenxing: I
think it would be difficult even for a doctorate student from Beijing
University to write such lyrics. I know
no student from my school, the Central Music Academy, who can write music like
this. Narration: It’s hard to believe that all the melodies and lyrics of
the Canaan Hymns were written by a peasant girl named Xiao Min. A girl who can’t even read music. Narration: Xiao Min grew up in a little village in Henan. Xiao Min: I was born into a family of farmers; my parents are simple farming folks. My mother never went to school and my Dad studied for only a year or two. He barely reads. They were very poor. Xiao Min’s mother: We were going to give Xiao Min away when she was about ten days old, but a big flood came the day she was due to be taken away. It was God’s blessing to our family. Xiao Min: While
I was in Junior High, I suffered sinus infection. Every day, about noon, I felt
dizzy and nauseous. I couldn’t finish
the day. Soon, I just quit school all
together. Su Wenxing: Last year, I participated in the recording of the Canaan Hymns. I was working with the choir and musicians of the Chinese Ballet Orchestra. When they finished recording, everybody was clapping and guessing which master wrote these hymns. They couldn’t believe when I told them that all these hymns were written by someone who didn’t even finish junior high school. They thought I must be lying or joking. Xiao Min’s Aunt: I said to Xiao Min, “God is the creator of everything on earth.” I said, “You must put your trust in God. You will be healed. Come to church with me this evening.” Xiao Min: When she shared the gospel, I felt sure there was a Creator of Heaven and Earth. Often I sat down and looked at the sky, the birds, the flowers, the trees, the grass, and the fields. In my heart, I knew all these were the work of a Creator, but I didn’t know who he was and what his name was. So when my aunt told me the good news of the gospel, I knew very clearly: Oh, it’s Him! Xiao Min’s aunt: She came to my house so early that I hadn’t even finished my dinner. “Auntie,” she said. “Hurry up! Let’s go to church!” So I said, “All right!” That evening, she became a Christian. Xiao Min: After the first couple of
meetings, I felt a difference in my body.
I said, “Oh, Lord, I’ve longed for a true God. I do believe you will heal me. You will change my life.” Chorus: (Canaan Hymns #34 My closest friend) I have vowed to follow the
Lord I will never change I have vowed to follow the
Lord I will
never change Xiao Min’s mother: When she first became a Christian, we didn’t understand what was going on. We were worried and we didn’t want her to go out. Xiao Min: At first, I went to church without telling my family where I was going, because they were against it, especially my brother. He was strongly against it and gave me a hard time. So I had to sneak out every time. The brothers and sisters in Church were so precious, and they deeply loved each other. They were so sincere and honest. So I decided to follow Him. The Holy Spirit touched me the moment I consecrated myself to God. That’s when I sang my first hymn. It was at the end of 1990. Chorus: (Canaan Hymns #1 Bring your happiness) Bring your happiness Bring your songs Bring your honesty Bring your heart Enter the wonderful
sanctuary To seek a true life Christ is our only light Hurry up and spread the gospel
Hurry up and listen to the
gospel You are welcome to join Our big family Xiao Min: At first I taught my hymns to a young sister in my village. Then she taught someone else. When people asked her where she’d learned the hymns she sang, she answered, “from Xiao Min.” At first they wondered, “How can Xiao Min write these beautiful hymns? She never goes anywhere and she doesn’t talk much. She always hides in the corner during church meetings. ” They thought it was a strange thing. But then, when they started singing: Chorus: (Xiao Min singing Canaan
Hymns #5 O Lord, I praise You)
O Lord, I praise you Because you have chosen me In the midst of the crowd It was you who found me Xiao Min: They were deeply moved. They said to the Lord, “ Lord, how great you are! You didn’t abandon us. We are dust. We are no better than worms and moth, but you took pity on us. You cared for us, and chose us.” They were so deeply touched, that they started looking for the hymn writer. That’s how they discovered that it was me. Xiao Min’s mother: One
day, past midnight, I heard somebody singing.
I sat up and listened, but I didn’t know who it was. She never told me. I heard about it from
others. Xiao Min’s sister: One day when I went to church, someone asked me, “Do you know who wrote these hymns? Your sister, Xiao Min.” I didn’t believe it. Later on, many people told me the same thing, but I still didn’t believe them. One year she came back to visit from Beijing and went to our church with me. She told me, “Believe in God faithfully! These hymns are God’s inspiration to me.” Then I knew what they told me was true. See, if it weren’t for this true God, how could she have come up with those inspirational hymns? Xiao Min’s father: It had to be that God inspired her. I don’t care how talented she is; maybe she could have come up with nine or ten hymns on her own. Never so many! It is our wonderful God. It’s the guidance of God. Xiao Min: So
often, during prayer time, quiet time or time of meditating on God’s Word, the
Holy Spirit would come and bring me a verse or two. Usually within five or ten
minutes, I’ll be singing the hymn with melody and lyrics. (Xiao Min teaching Canaan Hymns #851 Sing the grace of God) My peace is from God You
cannot find it in the world Xiao Min: When I teach a new song to the congregation, some brothers and sisters quickly write down the music. (Xiao Min teaching Canaan Hymns #851 Sing the grace of God) I will sing His praises
everyday What a
wonderful life He has given me Narration: Later,
Xiao Min was given a little recorder.
She records what comes into her mind, whether it ‘s day or night. Later, she writes down the words, and
someone else writes down the scores. During walks in the field or during prayer meetings, Xiao Min finds inspiration from the world around her. Her heart is always open to be touched by the Lord. Chorus: (Canaan Hymns #5 Lord,
I praise You.) Our God Almighty Our God Almighty It is you who raises us from the dust You raise us from the dust It’s never enough to speak of your love It’s never enough to sing of your righteousness On this vast land Who
would not thank and praise you Narration: The Canaan Hymns came down to this golden land from the deep blue sky. They are an eternal gift from the timeless beauty of the heavens, a gift of love to those who inhabit our precious earth. These hymns, written by a peasant girl, have spread over the immense land of China in the blink of an eye. Chorus: (Canaan Hymns #304) He is the source of love and life His work and miracles have prevailed Chorus: (Canaan Hymns #676) Climb thousands of mountains Cross thousands of rivers Chorus: (Canaan Hymns #82) We praise God who created the universe Who built the world with His wisdom Chorus: (Canaan
Hymns #345) Beyond the mountain is the plain Beyond the plain is the mountain Chorus: (Canaan Hymns #76) From everywhere are people of God They stay close in His love Chorus: (Canaan
Hymns #5) O Lord, I praise you Because you love me Chorus: (Canaan Hymns #129) Love is here Peace is here Chorus: (Canaan Hymns #27) Nothing can stop it from burning It is glowing It is glowing Sister: We once were on a mission to the tribal villages in the
province of Yunnan. There we needed
inspiration from the hymns more than ever. When we were feeling hopeless and
weak, it was Xiao Min’s hymns that gave us strength. Sister: When
I first became part of this team, bothers and sisters were singing the
hymn: “You are the only one who treats
me like a human being….” Where did this hymn come from? It was amazing! It came
from God. Every time I sing it, tears
fill my eyes. Sister: One evening, I was singing by myself: “Lord, You have chosen me….” Tears were pouring from my eyes. Chorus: (Canaan Hymns #303 Tears of gratitude) Can’t
stop the tears of gratitude Can’t
stop the words from deep within Xiao Min: One morning, there were many of us praying together. Some brothers and sisters hadn’t seen each other for a long time. So they missed each other very much. They were all crying. I didn’t know why I was crying, too. Chorus: (Canaan Hymns #303 Tears
of gratitude) Hands marked with imprint of
the nails Open the doors long shut Xiao Min: I started praying to God. I said, “Lord, if it weren’t for you and your love at Calvary, without your precious blood, we never would have come together as brothers and sisters.” I felt an intense gratitude toward God. I said, “ Oh Lord, thank you so very much.” The word “Thank you,” brought about this hymn. Chorus: (Canaan Hymns #303 Tears
of gratitude) We know this is a path to the cross A painful path with violent storms But the loving hands of the Lord Hold our hands all the time There is no reason Not to follow our Lord Jesus Sister: Before we met Xiao Min, we thought she must be a very unusual girl. We all wanted to meet her. After we met, we found out that she’s as ordinary as the rest of us. Xiao Min: I know that God is working through me. Think about it. I’m a girl who didn’t even finish junior high school. I often come before the Lord and say, “Lord, if you didn’t use me and inspired me, I wouldn’t be able to write a single word. Xiao Min: One stormy autumn evening, I was
on my way to a meeting when a thought came into my mind: “Oh, Lord, please hold
our hands to ride into the storm.”
“Ah,” I said: “Lord, what a
wonderful picture! ” Then I started
singing: Xiao Min singing: (Canaan Hymns
# 8 Lord! Hold our hands!) O Lord! Hold our hands To ride the storms Chorus: (Canaan Hymns #8 Lord! Hold our hands) O Lord! Hold our hands To ride the storms O Lord! Lead our spirits To fly around the world Here your followers will set
off Here your people will rise Your Word will be spread to
the whole world To the ends of the earth March on! We follow you Hurry up! We follow you One day China will rise One day China will rise Knock down the gate that’s
tightly shut Conquer the invincible
fortress The flag of the Gospel will
fly over China Churches will be united in
Jesus (Title sequence the second time: The Canaan Hymns) Narration: People who are deeply moved by the songs in the Canaan Hymns may be curious about the peasant songwriter. There is a deep spiritual connection between her and God. Since she became a Christian, Xiao Min’s life was no longer hers alone. She is the messenger that God chose for China. Xiao Min singing: (Canaan Hymns #28 Lord, you give me a heart) Lord, you give me a heart To live only for you To give up everything in the
world Without any hesitation Lord, you give me strength
not to fall To go on the rest of my
journey Wherever I go Lord, you are with me Narration: Xiao Min has been a quiet person who spends much time quietly before the Lord. For her, Jesus is not only the Savior but also the love in her heart. The song, “The Loved One and I”, expresses the endless love between her and Jesus. Solo: (Canaan Hymns #85 The Loved One and I) My Lord leads me into His
gates Our loving words flow
endlessly Our love is as strong as
death Many waters cannot quench it My Lord is radiant Outstanding among all others I am His and He is mine We will never part He takes me to the fields He takes me to the vineyards He feeds His flock among the
lilies I am with Him forever Sister: Most of Xiao Min’s hymns were written from her personal experiences. That’s why they’re so moving. Sister: When I feel spiritually weak and distant from the Lord, I sing “God leads me into His gates.” I feel that God lovingly takes me by the hand and leads me into his gates. He guides me away from weakness and darkness until I see Him again. Narration: Xiao
Min is the daughter of a Home-church assembly that has had more than its share
of trials and tribulations. Her hymns
were born with blood and tears through the storms of the times. They are the true echoes of China’s
House-church assemblies. Xiao Min: On September 7th, 1992, during a house-church meeting, someone shouted, “Oh! No! Here come the police!” We were taken to the county jail where female drug addicts, gamblers, and murderers were locked up. They were all surprised to see us. They said, “How come they got so many of you? Did you steal or kill?” I said, ”We didn’t do anything. We believe in God, we are followers of Christ. We were arrested during a meeting.” They said, “It’s a good thing to believe. Why did they arrest you?” That’s when I felt like singing: “In tough times, I grew strong. In tough times, I learned about life” Xiao Min singing: (Canaan Hymns #51 In tough times) In tough times I grew strong In tough times I learned about life The pine trees on high
mountains Face the wind from all sides Through every season and
every day They stand straight and
reach to the sky Never bending and never
yielding Their
lives are forever green Xiao Min: Someone came to see me and said, ”Your father is loosing weight over you, with so much work on the farm. Just tell them that you are not a believer anymore and get out of here.” I told him:” I’d rather stay in jail for the rest of my life. I will never give up my faith. Tell my parents that no matter how angry they are at me, I believe that the Lord will have mercy on me and will comfort them.” Xiao Min’s sister-in-law: Xiao Min’s brother said to her, “Just say that you don’t believe in God and they’ll let you go. Why are you so stubborn?” Xiao Min singing: (Canaan Hymns
#25) When did I learn the colors When did I grow tall Narration: Xiao Min sang the song that was in her heart to the other prisoners. She sang: “Dreaming in the wind, looking in the rain, I haven’t found the answer for a long, long time.” People said, “Go look for the true God. He will tell you. Because he created Heaven and Earth. He has all the wisdom and knowledge.” Ah! How joyful! I have found the true and magnificent God. He has answered all my questions and told me the value and meaning of life. My life has become bountiful and beautiful. My friends, do you also have questions in your heads? Please come to know God. He is not far away. He is right next to you. He lives in your faithful heart. Xiao Min singing: (Canaan Hymns #25 My song) He is right next to you He
lives in your faithful heart Xiao Min: This is the longest one in the Canaan Hymns. When I sang it to them, I totally forgot I was in jail. I felt like I was somewhere else sharing the gospel. Everyone was saying, ”Ah! God is wonderful! God really exists.” Then I heard someone’s voice. It was the warden. He poked his head in and said, “Let me tell you something. When you’re locked up, you should be thinking about how to get out of here. But you are preaching! Unbelievable!” When
I was evangelizing in the prison, I never thought that the prisoners might
think I was crazy. Right away, all they said was, “How great your God is! How beautiful your hymns are! Why did they arrest you?” Later I said, “It’s God’s marvelous
idea.” With joy, I praised the Lord
when I saw that they were raising their hands up high and saying that they
would follow God. I had no more
sorrow. I said to God, “Oh, Lord,
please bring these people to you, even if we had to spend the rest of our lives
in jail for it. I have no greater joy
than to see these people repent and come to know you.” I
was very grateful for the strength that God gave me in prison. Every evening, we’d take turns fasting and
praying for the other prisoners. None
of them said that Christians were bad people.
The day we left, they took us by the hand and asked us to come back and
visit them. Once we were allowed to rest, I heard screaming coming from the men’s jail. The long-term prisoners were beating up the new ones. I couldn’t sleep any more. Then as I sat up these words came to me: “Yearning for freedom, yearning for peace, yearning for the love of God on Earth, wherever there is darkness it needs light. Wherever there’s war it needs peace. I would like to be the messenger of love.” The Lord has chosen me to be His messenger for a needy generation. Xiao Min’s Uncle: When
she was back home from jail, I saw a bruise on her nose. I asked her what had
happened. She said she got beaten up. I was hot-tempered back then, and I
wanted to straighten this out with the warden.
But Xiao Min said: let it go, Uncle, don’t worry about it anymore. Xiao Min: Actually,
I didn’t suffer as much as the other brothers and sisters. Their experience in
jail, their testimonies and their service to God have given me so much
strength. They are truly the servants of Christ. They would give up their lives
for Him. Chorus: (Canaan Hymns #270 One
is not enough to fulfill the mission from God) Grass never complains about
the barren land It takes deep root wherever
it can Rivers never complain about
the high mountains They rush and wind around to
water the land Xiao Min: Many people don’t understand us. They say: “why do
you leave home and run around like this?” Especially now we have children, and
have to leave them behind sometimes. People misunderstand us, saying: “You are
disobeying the teaching of the Bible.” Then I would pray silently: “Oh, Lord,
if everyone stays home, how would those in need hear the Gospel?” Chorus: (Canaan Hymns #270 One
is not enough to fulfill the mission from God) Never miss
a touching moment in your life And the bumper harvest of
love The joys of our childhood have gone far away Today we are all middle-aged Xiao Min: There was a time I was quite lonely, and nobody seemed to
understand me. One time, I was walking on a narrow lane, it was very quiet and
no one was around. That’s when I sensed the Holy Spirit saying to me: You are
not alone. Jesus is with you. No matter how much you’ve been wronged and
suffered, no matter where you go Jesus will always be with you. He will always
walk beside you. So I started singing: Xiao Min singing: (Canaan
Hymns #34 My closest friend) Lord,
you are my closest friend Lord, you are my
dearest companion Chorus: (Canaan Hymns #34 My closest friend) Lord,
you are my closest friend Lord, you are my
dearest companion Xiao Min: To be honest, there have been moments
we were discouraged, but we would never say I would stop believing. Maybe I’d
say, “Lord I’d like to take a break from sharing the gospel. Let me just stay
home and still believe in you.”
Truthfully, we’ve all had similar thoughts. There are too many souls at
stake. I know God has put a love for my country in my heart. Psalm 33 says: Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD.
When I read this, I thought of my own country. For so many years and
generations, it has been caught up in the fire and smoke of wars. “Lord, please
watch over China. I believe when our nation turns to You, You will bless us.”
The Holy Spirit moved me to lift my hands in prayers to the Lord for China. Chorus: (Canaan Hymns #551
China belongs to God) If I had only one drop of
blood left I would shed it to China If I had only one breath
left I would give it to China Xiao Min: The
whole assembly was overtaken by this song. They raised their hands and prayed
out loud: “Lord, China belongs to you! From the highest to the lowest, let them
all turn to you!” Chorus: (Canaan
Hymns #551 China belongs to God) Listen to the call coming
across the ocean Chinese are the children of
God China, China, come and find
peace God has found you You will never have to
wander in the wilderness China belongs to God Narration: God
has come to China. In this vast, barren land of nine hundred sixty thousand
square kilometers, the Gospel is moistening every inch like the gentle rain of
spring. (Clips of 2003 CCTV Spring
Festival party) A Christian Family Singing: I
love my family My son, my
daughter, and my beloved Love is patient May love stay with
my family forever Narration: In
the Spring Festival party hosted by CCTV broadcast live to the whole country, a
song “I love my home” performed by a Christian family was very well received. (Clips of Messiah) Narration: Handel’s
Messiah had an impressive debut performance in Beijing. (Clips of Messiah) Narration: Jesus
is walking on the land of China. He walks with grace and supreme power but in
simple clothes. He walks into poor and desolate villages, through main streets
and narrow lanes. He
is followed by groups of Chinese people. Among them is the singer Xiao Min. (Clips of
Missionary Training) Chorus: In the cross, in the cross Be my glory ever Till my raptured soul shall find Rest beyond river Amen Narration: Many
years ago, Xiao Min became a mother, but her life still belongs to God and His
Church. She is a beloved daughter of China. Her songs continue to flow from her
heart. Chorus: (Canaan Hymns #547 A River of Life) I want to sing a song A song from heaven The dark clouds above The sorrow in my heart They all disappear The stream of life The stream of joy Flow tenderly into my heart The stream of life The stream of joy Flow tenderly into my heart Narration: Canaan
Hymns are becoming the holy songs of the Chinese nation. They are the pulse of
seventy million Chinese Christians. They reflect the path where so many
missionaries walked in the past century. They prophesy the inescapable destiny
of the Chinese nation. Chorus: (Canaan
Hymns #546 The Dove Returned) In the evening The dove returned There in her beak was a
fresh olive leaf It symbolizes hope It symbolizes peace It symbolizes a new era We have walked in blood We have walked in tears The wild geese fly around It is a love to sing with no
end Today’s China Is no longer desolate You see lives flourishing
everywhere Today’s China Is no longer desolate You see lives flourishing
everywhere |