Songs

Bless the nations

25th Anniversary version

Introduction

In 1988 I was on the Operation Mobilisation training team. Towards the end of our six months of largely itenerant training and ministry that extended to the far corners of South Africa, our team was split up into five teams, to help with a series of Mission conferences: Bless the nations. I was based in Wellington, where the first of the five conferences would take place. As a songwriter, I was inspired to translate the training we'd received from David Bliss on the Abrahamic covenant into a song we could sing during this event. The song had an impact and travelled from Wellington to Port Elizabeth, where it found a home in the Bless the nations initiatives there.

To mark the occasion of the 25th anniversary of Bless the Nations in PE, I've updated the lyrics to make them more gender inclusive. It's "Bless the nations" for the 21st century.

You can find the notation (incl guitar chords) here. (latest version: 24 June 2012)

The lyrics are as follows: (latest version: 23 June 2012)

BLESS THE NATIONS 2012
by Irene Bom

1. People of the covenant
Children of promise
God spoke to Abraham
and now speaks to us

CHORUS:
Bless the nations, bless the nations
We have been blessed
that we may bless the nations
God wants us, God calls us
to bless all the earth.

2. People forgiven
Children of purpose
Christ has redeemed us
that all may be blessed

3. People commissioned
Children of power
God gave us His Spirit
to reach out in love

LAST CHORUS:
Bless the nations, bless the nations
We have been blessed
that we may bless the nations
God wants us, God calls us
to bless - I will
bless the nations, bless the nations
I have been blessed
that I may bless the nations
God wants me, God calls me
to bless all the earth.

(c) Irene Bom, 2012

full mix | guitar vocal
(Right mouse click on the link to save the mp3 to your computer.)

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