I have decided to follow Jesus

The martyr’s song that went around the world

The much-loved hymn ‘I Have Decided to Follow Jesus’ was born not in a writer’s study, but in the blood-soaked soil of a remote Indian village – spoken as the final testimony of a man who refused to renounce Christ.

The hymn, ‘I have decided to follow Jesus’ has touched the hearts of believers all over the world, wherever it is sung. But few know the powerful story of martyrdom behind the hymn, the lyrics of which began in a small village in the north east of India, and are based on the last words of a man from the Garo tribe.

About 150 years ago there was a great revival in the West, the effects of which were felt all over the world, including in world missions. As a result, many missionaries came to north-east India to spread the gospel. The region known as Assam comprised hundreds of tribes, many of whom were very warlike and were known to take the heads of their enemies and hang them on their walls.

Into these hostile and aggressive communities came a group of American Baptist missionaries, spreading the message of love, peace and hope in Jesus Christ.

Perhaps unsurprisingly they were not welcomed with open arms by many of the tribesmen. However, one missionary succeeded in witnessing to the family of a man named Nokseng, with the result that Nokseng, together with his wife and two sons found Jesus.

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