Finding songs about missions isn’t as easy as you would think. It’s actually downright difficult. If you’ve ever tried to find a song to accompany your missions slide show or to play during your missions church service, you know that there isn’t the biggest selection. At least that what it seems like when you keep coming across the same ones over and over that seem to have been written eons ago. But actually, there are a few new songs out there that are pretty cool.
So to save you some search time, we’ve decided to make a list that lets you view some of what is out there. Some of these you have heard of before, but we hope that many of these are completely new to you. Also, we only picked songs released since the year 2000 to keep it fresh. We also only included songs that are specifically about missions or missionaries. We are including links to a place you can listen to a sample or view the lyrics if they are availalble. These are listed from newest to oldest. Hopefully, you will find some cool new mission songs that you will really love.
Matt Papa – Here Am I, Send Me
Album: Your Kingdom Come-2009
Listen to MP3
Style:Modern Rock
This album has just been released. The song has a great groove and sounds awesome. It kind of reminds me of a mix between the Fray and Tim Hughes.
Downhere – Here I Am
Album: Ending is Beginning-2008
Listen to MP3
Lyrics
Style: Modern Rock
This song has a rock anthem type feel. It kind reminds me of Casting Crowns, 3rd Day, and a little DC Talk.
Starfield – I Will Go
Album: I Will Go-2008
Listen to MP3
Lyrics
Style: Modern Rock/Hard Rock
This song starts out with a heavy electric riff reminiscent of Switchfoot. It then calms down really nicely to being a very touching song. I actually played it at my own missions slide show. I love this song. Catchy, edgy and touching.
Avalon - For the Sake of the Call
Album: Another Time Another Place-2008
Listen to MP3
Lyrics
Style: Pop
This song is a remake of the classic by Steven Curtis Chapman. I was glad to see a remake because the lyrics are outstanding although the tune might be a bit dated.
Drew Cline – To the Ends of the Earth
Album: Way of Life-2007
Listen to MP3
Style: Rock
This song is fast paced with great riffs and a catchy tune. Drew himself has a great rock/country voice with a deep gravely sound that is fun to listen to.
Tim Hughes – God of Justice
Album: Holding Nothing Back-2007
Listen to MP3
Lyrics
Style: Worship
One of the more quiet and moving songs on the list, this song really feels like a form of worship as Tim sings “Jesus, You have called us…we must go.”
Scott Krippayne - Willing
Album: Better than Life-2007
Listen to MP3
Style: Rock/Pop
This song comes from an album created to represent real people who suffered for their faith. Although not necessarily about missionaries specifically, the lyrics, “Are you willing to die for the things you believe in?” are very inspirational and relevant. The song is catchy and has great vocals.
Shannon Wexelberg - Send Me
Album: Better Than Life-2007
Listen to MP3
Style: Inpirational/Gospel
This song is a group effort featuring Shannon Wexelberg, along with Scott Krippayne and Charles Billingsley. It has a has a definite gospelish feel with some amazing vocals. This song is also included on the Better Than Life album.
Building 429 – Fearless
Album: Rise-2006
Listen to MP3
Lyrics
Style: Modern Rock/Hard Rock
This song was actually written to honor the Travel the Road missionaries. If you haven’t heard of Travel the Road, it is this very cool reality series about 2 missionaries who travel the world for years at a time, filming their activities. For a while, Building 429 toured with Travel the Road as they preached and Building 429 played. The song’s lyrics are more subtle than other songs, but it definitely rocks.
Lecrae - Send Me
Album: After the Music Stops-2006
Listen to MP3
Lyrics
Style: Rap/Hip Hop
This song is totally unique and refreshing in that it is the only rap missions song on our list. It has a very intense almost marching rythm to it as the Lecrae raps, “Send me, I’ll go. Let me go Let me go”
Delirious - Here I Am, Send Me
Album: The Mission Bell-2005
Listen to MP3
Lyrics
Style: Pop Rock/Punk
This song has a jingling lilt to it which makes it sounds more popish than Delirious’s earlier songs. This song is unusual in that it actually references Isaiah, Ezeikel, Jacob and Paul, and mixes the ideas of seeing a vision to wanting to be sent.
Steven Curtis Chapman - Coming Attractions
Album: All Things New-2004
Listen to MP3
Lyrics
Style: Pop/Rock
Steven Curtis Chapman has been around for a long time, but he is always making things fresh and new. This song has a very cool sound that mixes amazing acoustic guitar rythms with a modern ethereal sound. The song is very inspirational with a big chorus. I have used this one myself in the past.
Matt Redman - Mission’s Flame
Album: Facedown-2003
Listen to MP3
Lyrics
Style: Worship
This song is another worship song singing “Let worship be the fuel of missions’ flame.” It is classic sounding Matt Redman.
Jonah33 – Working Man Hands
Album: Jonah33-2004
Listen to MP3
Lyrics
Style: Rock
The lead singer sounds a bit to me like Third Day. The song has a rock beat but a slow tempo. The words say, “Give me what it takes. Let me go.”
Michael Bleecker - Here I Am
Album: Village Worship-2002
Listen to MP3
Lyrics
Style: Acoustic Guitar
It doesn’t seem as though this singer has an album of his own that I can find. However, when searching for missions songs I came across a video of his song, and it really made me want to worship and to GO. This song is amazing and worth a look. I think you can purchase his music on a worship album from his church.
Mercy Me - Go
Album: Spoken For-2002
Listen to MP3
Lyrics
Style: Rock
This song has a really great message, with classic Mercy Me rock beats. “There’s so many left to tell that You came for one and all. Use me.”
Hillsong - To the Ends of the Earth
Album: United:To the Ends of the Earth-2002
Listen to MP3
Lyrics
Style: Worship
Hillsong always puts out some very inspirational songs that make you want to worship. This song is typical Hillsong, along with the lyrics “I would give the world to tell Your story.”
Mercy Me- Here Am I
Album: Almost There-2001
Listen to MP3
Lyrics
Style: Rock
This is Mercy Me’s number 2 song on the missions list, so kudos to them for focusing on missions. I like the take on this song which highlights those who have never heard. “Never been told the name of Jesus. What a shame.”
Audio Adrenaline - Hands and Feet
Album: Underdog-1999
Listen to MP3
Lyrics
Style: Pop Rock
This is our oldest song on the list, but it doesn’t sound that way. We figured we had to fit it in even though it just misses the year 2000 cut off. It has a very catchy pop rock feel.
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Have anything to add? Just put it in the comment section to add to the collection.
Photo by duluoz cats
September 17th, 2009 at 4:40 am
I know of a couple of other songs…
Third Day – Revelation
Third Day – Ready
Starfield – I Will Go
Jimmy Needham – Speak
September 17th, 2009 at 8:52 am
He Reigns by the Newsboys is one of the best IMHO, musically and lyrically.
And if you want to dig up some old school [punk], find One Bad Pig’s Isaiah 6.
September 17th, 2009 at 2:07 pm
I was going to say the Newsboys’ He Reigns, too.
September 17th, 2009 at 3:04 pm
The Mission – Newsboys
“When the runners came from Bethlehem
All breathless with good news,
They were passing a baton forward through time.
The commission, from God’s lips to our ears,
Carried by His saints two thousand years
Connects us all to the same lifeline.
As I fix my eyes ahead,
I can feel the Spirit’s breath.
I can hear the mission bell ringing out loud and clear.
It’s the revolution Jesus started, and it’s here.
Echoing across the world from the shores of Galilee,
I can hear the mission bell call for you and me.
I wanna run with fire,
It’s my heart’s desire.
Lifting your love higher.
In the history of our faith’s arrivals,
Great awakenings, Welsh revivals
Saints and martyrs, summoned by a new birth.
Patrick’s save of the Irish nation,
William Carey’s expectation,
Lambs and Lions,
Called to the ends of the earth.
Gotta put my hand to the plow
Not looking back, not now.”
September 18th, 2009 at 2:47 pm
I am also fond of “Beautiful Feet” by Lecrae, especially if your mission in in an American or urban context (our is) so it works well.
September 20th, 2009 at 2:18 am
Waterdeep – Go
Incredible; addresses the reason for missions as well a common excuse for not going.
September 24th, 2009 at 6:10 am
I like Treasure of Jesus by Steven Curtis Chapman.
What can I do
How can I live
To show my world
The treasure of Jesus
What will it take
What could I give
So they can know
The treasure He is
If I can sing
Let my songs be full of His Glory
If I can speak
Let my words be full of His Grace
If I should live or die
Let me be found pursuing this prize
The One that alone satisfies
The Treasure of Jesus
September 30th, 2009 at 4:38 pm
Also check-out:
“High Above All Things” from No Greater Love (http://www.sovereigngracemusic.org/albums/category/sovereign_grace_music/no_greater_love)
“Let Your Kingdom Come” from Valley of Vision (http://www.sovereigngracemusic.org/albums/category/sovereign_grace_music/valley_of_vision)
“Your Great Renown” from King of Grace (http://www.sovereigngracemusic.org/albums/category/sovereign_grace_music/king_of_grace)
From Sovereign Grace Music.
December 7th, 2009 at 4:11 pm
I really like the suggested list. I work for FollowOne International, a missions organization. We believe there is a great need for songs that move the church to glorify God in worship (vertical Jesus and me) as well as move out in mission (horizontal -extending Christ love with the Good News). Below is the Cruciform Song List we’ve started. We will select songs from this list for the worship sets at our annual Connection Conference(www.connection2010.info).
Song Artist
People Need the Lord Avalon
What in the World Babbie Mason
We Want the World to Hear Big Daddy Weave
Give Me Your Eyes Brandon Heath
Share the Well Caedmon’s Call
If we are the body Casting Crowns
Until the Whole World Hears Casting Crowns
Shout to the North Charlie Hall
God of this city Chris Tomlin
Love Will Find a Way Delirious
Here I am, Lord send me Downhere
Decided to Follow Jesus G. Davis
Shine Generation Unleashed
By Your Side Hillsong
You Said Hillsong
Mighty to Save Hillsong
Glorify Thy Name Hosanna Music,Kent Henry
Cover the Earth Israel Houghton
The Power of One Israel Houghton
You are Good Israel Houghton
We Speak To Nations Israel Houghton
My desire Jeremy Camp
Speaking louder than before Jeremy Camp
Something Big John Waller
Jesus Commands Us to Go! Keith Green
O, Church Arise Keith and Kristyn Getty
Across the Land Keith and Kristyn Getty
Compassion Hymn Keith and Kristyn Getty
All Around the World Keith and Kristyn Getty
Tears of the Saints Leeland
Follow You Leeland, Brandon Heath
Change the World Martha Munnizzi
The King Martha Munnizzi
The Motions Mathew West
All Over the World Matt Redman
It’s Rising Up Matt Redman
Mission’s Flame Matt Redman
Now To Live the Life Matt Redman
Take It To The Streets Matt Redman
Here I am Mercy Me
Shine Newsboyz
Thank You Ray Boltz
Shine Salvador
They’ve Never Heard of Jesus Scott Wesley Brown
I Will Go Starfield
Go Forth Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir
Light up this town The Red Airplanes
God of Justice Tim Hughes
Jesus Saves Tim Hughes
City on our knees Toby Mac
Days of Elijah Twila Paris
Carry the Light Twila Parris
Go, Make of All Disciples UM Hymnal 571
Lord, Whose Love Through Humble Service UM Hymnal 581
O Church of God United UM Hymnal 547
O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing Charles Wesley
O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing David Crowder Band
This is My Song UM Hymnal 437
December 7th, 2009 at 5:05 pm
I love “You Said” by Hillsong
I’m sure it’s done by others as well. It has such a great message.
You said, Ask and you will receive
Whatever you need
You said, Pray and I’ll hear from heaven
And I’ll heal your land
You said Your glory will fill the earth
Oh, Like water the seas
You said, Lift up your eyes
The harvest is here, the kingdom is near
You said, Ask and I’ll give the nations to you
O Lord, that’s the cry of my heart
Distant shores and the islands will see
Your light, as it rises on us
O Lord, we ask for the nations
O Lord, we ask for the nations
O Lord, we are asking for the nations
April 19th, 2010 at 2:31 pm
I always thought “Mission trip to Mexico” by Bunch of Believers (B.O.B.) was a perfect missions song.
May 13th, 2010 at 7:41 am
Another good option is Tim Hughes – Give us your courage….
to the ends of the earth we will go
June 8th, 2010 at 11:07 am
Lecrae is amazing when it comes to talking about missions. Two of my other favorites are:
Don’t Waste your life
Go Hard
Some others I love:
Desire–Jeremy Camp “This is my desire, to be used by You.”
Madly–Passion “Let what we do in here fill the streets out there!”
July 1st, 2010 at 4:53 pm
Tear Down the Walls – hillsong united, amazing song
for those who are to come – hillsong united. That one’s the outro for hosanna and is stinking sweet.