Click on the white arrow in the red circle below and listen to the tune of our Hymn of Gratitude. If you wish, you can sing along with the music as it plays while you sing each stanza of the song. It is adopted from the tune of the hymn "Stand Up Stand Up for Jesus."
OUR HYMN OF GRATITUDE, CHALLENGE, AND A CALL TO CHRISTIAN SERVICE
1
We give our thanks to George Way and Winifred Harley,
For coming to Liberia to build Ganta Mission.
We also thank the people, who followed them to serve;
Liberians and Expatriates thanks for your servanthood.
2.
Our gratitude to donors whose gifts sustain our work.
May God support their efforts, and magnify their gifts.
Expect our faithful stewardship, as we avail their gifts;
And all provisions sent to, make Mission Possible.
3.
May God the Graccious Giver inspire us all to serve;
In multitude of labor help us to find our niche.
That we may also offer, our skills and talents too;
To people all around us, who stand in desprate needs.
4.
Are you, a nurse or doctor a teacher or preacher,
Whatever your vocation we welcome all your skills.
Proclaiming, healing, teaching, are Harleys' ways and will;
Whatever sacrifice will, enhance the Mission's goals.
5.
Send us, as God's anointed to do the tasks at hand
With Zeal and passion driven, lets contribute our share.
To efforts made before now, and those yet to unfold,
Let us make Ganta Mission, a New Haven of God.
_____________________________________________________________
Composed by Dr. Nya Kwiawon Taryor, Sr.Class of 1963
The tune used for this song is (Stand Up, Stand Up for Jesus),
but some people prefer to use the tune of (Lead on O, King Eternal).
Tune WEBB. George J. Webb, 1830.
76.76. (Stand Up Stand Up for Jesus)
Information on the Hymn,
“Gratitude, Challenge and A Call To Christian Service”
This is not the school ode and it is not intended to take the place of the present School Ode. As someone suggested to me a few yeas ago, “Any school can have any numbers of school songs. We are not limited to the Ode alone. Those who wish to compose or write songs about our school should be encouraged to do so.”
It is in that spirit that I embarked upon this challenge once again. The song is not just for school, but I hope the school will use it all the time. I have intended it to be used generally with the entire work at Ganta. I hope the song can be used for occasions when we gather together nationally or as regions or as individual chapters. It is also suggested that when some of you are campaigning for funds and other supports at home and abroad, for the work at the mission station—be they for the hospital, school, church or the workshops you will intentionally and repeatedly use this song to motivate and encourage your congregations, audiences and other people to support your cause.
Those who speak for the school, hospital and the entire mission station can take this song with them on their tours and have the congregations and audiences they speak to, sing it as they seek support for the work at Ganta. Again, Persons who have previously served in the Mission Field at Ganta under the auspices of the General Board of Global Ministries, in any capacity, may appreciate such gesture of gratitude from us. If possible, the song can be introduced to the students and faculty at Ganta. Maybe, very many of them may be encouraged and inspired to choose their vocations or professions with intention to return and contribute their quota like many of us who returned from our studies and went back to serve the United Methodist Church, in different capacities at Ganta, Gbarnga, CWA, J. J. Roberts Elementary School, the Coastal areas, in Churches, and all places where UMC works are performed in Liberia.
Why and for whom was this Song Written?
Some of the intents of the song are to let others
(Especially our foreign Partners in Mission)
Know that we are grateful and appreciative people.
We acknowledge both foreign and domestic contributions to the work at Ganta. We profoundly and exceedingly appreciate and acknowledge the contributions by the Harleys (George Way and Winifred Jewell Harley) as well as the contributions of so many people we cannot name all in one song, that at some point, Whoever contributed to the work at Ganta either through financial or material donations or through personal sacrifice and service by their presence amongst us we thank you. And surely, an exceedingly large number of men, women and young people, foreign and national, (a great crowd of witnesses) have impacted the work at Ganta at all levels since its establishment in 1926. It is impossible to name all these people, some dead and some living. We acknowledge them and praise them for their work for us, with us and amongst us.
Moreover, all people need words of encouragement and motivation occasionally when they give a helping hand or when taking on any given challenge or commitment. Words of assurance are also always necessary as persons try to identify new areas of responsibilities. Let us assure our donors and partners that responsible and faithful stewardship including accountability are the expectations of us all at all times and in every endeavor in this partnership in mission. We must be cognizant of that fact and ready and willing to face that challenge and do our part.
Lets continue the partnership with our friends as we Mold and Fashion Ganta Mission in becoming a place where all can feel at home, cultivating and experiencing the ever-growing presence of God at work. As a result, we can all journey together toward the omniscient and omnipresent God who is all knowing, all-pervasive, everywhere and even amongst us, in this koinonia or community, guiding and blessing the works of our hands. That is what this Song, Gratitude, Challenge and A Call to Christian Service is all about. The song goes with the tune of “Stand Up, Stand Up for Jesus.”
Nya Kwiawon Taryor, Sr. Class of 1963
Ganta United Methodist Mission School
August 10, 2011
Those who are requesting for the Music Sheet to this song, or a music sheet to the School Ode, or both, just call me, or email me or text me and let me know that you want a music sheet and I will send you a copy if you send me a self-address envelop with a stamp on it. FREE OF CHARGE, ALL YOU NEED IS TO PAY FOR THE POSTAGE.
You can find the School Ode here, Click on the information below: https://gummsaa-usa.org/ode
My telephone number is 401-545-9073
Email address is: yunvakwoi3@yahoo.com