We Have Caught the Vision Splendid

Heather Allington

Heather writes for Sunday Song Book on behalf of the The Salvation Army Oshawa. As a lifelong member of the Army, she has loved these familiar - and some less familiar - songs for many years, and enjoys researching and writing about their origins. She is a wife, mother, grandmother and retired elementary school teacher who likes trying her hand at watercolour painting and poetry writing.

We have caught the vision splendid
Of a world which is to be,
When the pardoning love of Jesus
Freely flows from sea to sea,
When all men from strife and anger,
Greed and selfishness are free,
When the nations live together
In sweet peace and harmony.

We would help to build the city
Of our God, so wondrous fair;
Give our time, bring all our talents,
And each gift of beauty rare,
Powers of mind,
And strength of purpose,
Days of labour, nights of strain,
That God’s will may be accomplished,
O’er the kingdoms He shall reign.

Founded on the Rock of Ages,
Built upon God’s promise sure,
Strengthened by the cords of service,
We shall stand firm and secure;
When the Father, Son and Spirit
Crown our labours with success,
Men and angels then uniting
Shall God’s mighty love confess.

At this time of year, the Salvation Army around the world focuses on being “Partners in Mission” with one another. Fundraising is done with the goal of Salvationists in wealthier nations helping their counterparts in countries less affluent, although Salvationists in those countries also make sacrificial contributions. There is an international bond of friendship among Salvationists, as evidenced recently at the 2015 “Boundless” Congress in England. Our overall desire is that the good news of Jesus Christ be spread around the world, with all its diverse cultures. The above song speaks of this vision.

Our overall desire is that the good news of Jesus Christ be spread around the world Share on X

The writer, Doris Rendell, was born in Yorkshire, England in 1896. She was the daughter of Staff-Captain Thomas Rendell, who assisted General William Booth in some of his campaign meetings. Doris accepted Christ as her Saviour at the age of eight after a junior meeting at Shepherd’s Bush. She was later active in young people’s work at Regent Hall Corps, London. As a lay person, she worked at the Ministry of Health before entering the training garrison for officers in 1921. Her years of officership were spent in the United Kingdom in various appointments, often in administration, and she retired as a Lieut.-Colonel in 1959. Her first song was published in 1930 and she later contributed more than 100 songs to The Musical Salvationist and other publications.