We love Praise and Worship. We live and breathe Praise and Worship at Shiloh Ministries. It is the expression of our hearts unto Him who is our everything. We are thankful for new songs, and we utilize them. We love the Prophetic Songs and the battle cries of many warfare songs. We do love the clapping and the shouts of Victory songs too. But we earnestly and deeply appreciate the old hymns. The Blood of Jesus speaks a better word. Hebrews 12:24.

One of the older hymns that has quite a remarkable testimony is titled, “AT CALVARY”. It is indeed a classic that has been sung through the ages. The History of the hymn AT CALVARY pierces our heart. We identify in our own personal lives and with so many mother’s and Father’s calling Shiloh and pleading on behalf of their Sons. We also continue to plead for family members. If you are a Parent of a Prodigal, we pray this gives you renewed hope. Nothing is impossible with God. (Luke 1:37). It is not God’s Will that any should perish. (2 Peter3:9). The testimony behind the Hymn and the words of the hymn follow….
While Dr. R.A. Torrey was President at D.L. Moody Institute in Chicago, he received a letter from a distressed Father. The Father, who was a Pastor, had a Prodigal son whose name was Bill. This Father’s heart was broken for his Son. The question The Father was pleading was if R.A. Torrey would allow his son to enroll at Moody Bible Institute. Dr. Torrey replied that while he sympathized with the man, it was not possible to admit the boy. Moody was a Bible School not a reformatory. Moody Bible institute was to prepare Pastors and Missionaries. The Man wrote back again and was earnestly pleading for help. Finally, Dr. Torrey agreed as long as the boy would meet with him daily and abide by the rules. The arrangement did not go well at first and Dr. Torrey thought the experiment was hopeless. The Boy had serious problems and seemed torn apart by them. However, he did keep the rules. Day by day he vented his frustration to Dr. Torrey, and it turned out he was more attentive to Dr. Torry’s answers than appeared. Slowly week by week and month by month, Dr. Torry’s heart was melting the heart of the young man. Eventually William R. Newell gave his heart to Christ and went on to become a much-loved Professor at Moody Bible Institute. In 1895, William Newell desired to put his testimony into verse form. This idea rolled around in his mind for several weeks. Then one day on his way to a lecture, the lines came to him. He went into an empty classroom and jotted down the words on the back of an envelope. As he hurried afterward on to class, he happened to bump into Dr. Towner, Director of Music, at that particular time. William handed him the verses and suggested they could use a good melody. Dr. Towner was so taken by the verses he immediately composed a tune. He told The Professor that this would be the best hymn that either of them would ever write. The two men gathered around the piano and harmonized together. Within months it was published and became a hymn for the ages. William Newell said if he had not gone through those troubled years as a young man he may not have ever understood Calvary’s Grace.

“Years I spent in vanity, and pride, caring not my Lord was crucified, knowing not it was for me He died on Calvary.

Mercy there was great, and Grace was free. Pardon there was multiplied to me. There my burden soul found Liberty, at Calvary.  

By God’s Word at last my sin I learned, then I trembled at the law I’d spurned, till my guilty soul imploring turned to Calvary.

Now I've given to Jesus everything, now I gladly own Him as my King, now my raptured soul can only sing of Calvary. Oh the

Love that drew salvations plan! Oh, the Grace that brought it down to man! Oh, the mighty gulf that God did span At Calvary!” (Written in 1895 by William Newell & composed by Daniel Towner)