God moved in the heart of William Kirkpatrick to write a hymn to lead the soloist in a great meeting to Christ. Hear the story of Lord I'm Coming Home in today's episode of Heritage Hymns. Welcome to the Hair to Tim's broadcast with our speaker, Daniel Cox. Join us as we travel back in time to learn of the great songwriters and the stories that they told us through music. Stay tuned at the end of this broadcast for more information. But for now, here's Pastor Cox. William J. Kirkpatrick was born on February 27, 1838 in Duncanon, Pennsylvania. His father, Thomas Kirkpatrick, was a music teacher, and young William was never very far behind in his love for the sacred sound. At an early age, William learned to play upon the fife, the flute, the violin, and later upon the cello. William studied vocal music under Professor Bishop, a foremost talent in the classical oratorios and ballads. Kirkpatrick later went on to serve as a member of the Handel and Haydn Sacred Music Societies, where he heard the greatest singers of the day and became familiar with the principal choral works of the great composers. Still yet, his eyes were not upon the glitz and glamour of the classical stage, but rather in the inconspicuous choir lofts and musical schools of America's churches. To his credit is the writing of music for the classic hymns such as Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus, Blessed Be the Name, The Comforter is Come, Stepping in the Light, Singing I Go, Meet Me There, and Jesus Saves. Kirkpatrick was equal parts spiritual and discerning. His hymns run the gamut of human emotions and touch every spiritual chord, producing a harmony of hymns that place him in a very elite circle of friends in the development of our hymnody. In the year 1902, Kirkpatrick was serving in the Methodist camp meeting near Philadelphia, and as was the case in the camp meeting tent revival days, music played a key role in the meetings. Throughout time, Moody had a Sankey, Torrey had an Alexander, and Sunday had a Rodeheaver. And with few exceptions, the heavenly touch resided upon these great men. except for the Methodist camp meeting of Philadelphia in the year 1902. It was here that Kirkpatrick became extremely concerned with the salvation of the key soloist of the conference. it gravely alarmed him that the soloist would not stay for Bible preaching, and that he did not partake in any of the Christian fellowship that so defined the meetings. And, as only sincere, selfless, Savior-minded musicians can often detect, the soloist was not spiritual at best, or lost at worst. This impulse drove him to his knees for the soloist. Yet the soloist did not change. Days had passed, and Kirkpatrick's prayers had not been answered. What was he to do? Kirkpatrick later said, I became very burdened for him, and the Lord led me to use an unusual plan. He told me to write a special song of invitation, just with the singer in mind, and then I was to have him sing it. This I did, and the very evening that he sang it, God so spoke to his heart that he either did not go out after singing, but stayed to hear the message. Praise God! He was the first to the altar, letting Christ come into his heart. My new song had been the Lord's means of answering my prayer. It was, Lord, I'm Coming Home. God had moved the musician to write a piece of music that led to the conversion of a soloist. But his music was not only the means of a sinner coming home, but was also significant in his home going to meet the Savior. Interestingly enough, on the night of September 20th, 1921, Sarah Kirkpatrick awakened and noticed that the light in her husband's study was still on. She called to him the first time, to which he replied there was a project he was working on that he did not want to leave before he finished. She came the second time hours later, calling her husband's name, except this time he did not answer. Going over, she found 83-year-old William J. Kirkpatrick slumped over his desk, dead. And as usual, he had been working on a piece of music. The last words he had penned on earthly pages were these, Just as thou wilt. Which shall it be? Life everlasting, waiting for me? Or shall I tarry here at thy feet? Just as thou wilt, Lord, whatever is meet. God had called his servant home, never more to roam. Oh, what a meeting, when the songwriter met the subject of his blessed hymns, opening wide his arms of love. Such a story makes us all also exclaim, Lord, I'm coming home. What a Savior, what a story, and what a heritage of hymns. The paths of sin, too long I have trod. Lord, I'm coming home. Coming home. Coming home, never more to roam. Open wide thine eyes, home. If you enjoyed the broadcast and would like to access more information regarding the music ministry, please visit heritagehymns.info or pastordanielcox.com. God bless you and thanks for listening.