HoMY 66: His Name is Wonderful

My series Then Sings My Soul: The Hymns of My Youth is wearing on so long that I’m starting to feel like Scot McKnight, king of the long series. On the other hand, I’m also starting to think about what I might replace it with for my Sunday posts. This week’s entry is relatively recent, only written in 1959 by Audrey Meyer. Despite it hymnic youth, it will be instantly familiar to almost everyone.

At just the age of ten, Audrey was influenced by Aimee Semple McPherson and music performed in her services. She began composing songs and conducting choirs, and in the early 1950’s she formed the renown Harmony Chorus. In the 60’s, she began concerts throughout the United States similar to the present-day Bill Gaither HomeComing Concerts. She was the music director during the early years of Rex Humbard’s Cathedral of Tomorrow and was a significant figure in the early careers of many gospel artists notably including Andrae Crouch. Besides her music, she was the catalyst for the founding of two orphanages in Korea, bringing orphans into the USA for adoption. She died in 1996.

In 1959, she was sitting in the annual Christmas program at Bethel Union Church in Duarte California. After the procession of angels, shepherds, Mary, and Joseph,”Sleep in Heavenly Peace” was sung. At the conclusion of the song, the pastor exclaimed, “His name is Wonderful!” Audrey quickly grabbed her Bible and began searching her concordance for the names of Jesus given in the Bible, and had soon composed this song.

Of course, “His Name is Wonderful” has been sung by almost everyone, and I remember it from many different eras of my own faith background… right back to my youth, of course — not to mention summer camp.

His Name is Wonderful

His name is Wonderful, His name is Wonderful,
His name is Wonderful, Jesus my Lord;
He is the mighty King, master of everything,
His name is Wonderful, Jesus, my Lord.

He’s the great Shepherd, the Rock of all ages,
Almighty God is He;
Bow down before Him, love and adore Him,
His name is Wonderful, Jesus, my Lord.