When he wrote the song, “In My Life, Lord, Be Glorified,” in 1976, Bob Kilpatrick didn’t intend for it to be sung publicly. On a recent episode of the Strang Report podcast, Kilpatrick told me he only had wanted it to be a prayer to be shared between three people—himself, his wife, Cindy, and Jesus.
But because she was so deeply touched by the song, Cindy convinced him that it was a song for the masses. She said to him, “You don’t understand. That song is a gift from God to His people. And if you don’t sing it, you’re going to have to answer for that.”
Not wanting to be held eternally accountable for withholding his talents and something so precious and powerful from God’s people, Kilpatrick recorded the song. The song has impacted millions, and, more than four and a half decades later, the song continues to touch the hearts and lives of people around the world.
“That [1976] was quite a year, and the song just took off,” says Kilpatrick, now an author and a speaker at churches and conferences around the world. “I mean, we had nothing then, and I didn’t know anything about the music business. I didn’t really know anything about what I was doing. I was making it up as I went along.
“When I sang the song, a friend of mine heard it and said he wanted to sing it at Calvary Chapel in Costa Mesa, California. He took it down there and, as their worship leader, sang it every Saturday night for two years. Karen Lafferty, a Christian musician, heard it and she said she wanted to take the song with her over to Europe, and she did.
“All of a sudden, we were getting letters from all over the world asking to this song. I was completely taken aback by it,” Kilpatrick continued. “Tommy Coombs from Maranatha Music contacted me and said, ‘We love your song, and we’d like to use it on our next praise album.’ We put together some contracts, and so, Tommy did a great favor for us.
“I was ready to give the thing away,” Kilpatrick recalls.
“And he said, ‘No, you’re going to be the publisher on this.’ That’s what made it possible for us to stay in the ministry and to continue singing and blessing these little churches in Northern California. And, I’m tremendously thankful God has been faithful to guide us all along the way, in this song and in the publishing business. Everything about it has been remarkable.”
Bob went on to write another classic gospel tune called “Here I Am (Send Me to the Nations).” He is also known for songs like “God is Good,” “Won by One,” “Sold Out and Radical” and “I Will Not Be Ashamed.”
His song “Bring Them Home” was sung at Mother Teresa’s funeral service in Calcultta, India, in 1997.
Bob began full-time ministry at age 17, and he has co-labored with a veritable “Who’s Who” roster, including people like Jack Hayford, Corrie ten Boom, Michael W. Smith, Lincoln Brewster, Anne Graham Lotz, Keith Green, Phil Keaggy and Andre Crouch. He is an ordained minister, and was the third inductee into the Assemblies of God Hall of Honor.
Bob and Cindy have remained in California, and he’s convinced that revival is coming soon to that state and to the rest of the nation.
“Because of everything that has happened in California, we ought to get out, but we’re staying because of the new revival that is going to hit the West Coast,” Kilpatrick said. “God answers prayer and He listens to us when we pray. He is willing, more and more, to bless His people and to bless His world.”
For more of this revealing interview with Bob Kilpatrick, listen to the entire episode of the Strang Report at this link. Be sure to subscribe to the Strang Report on Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcast platform for more words that will inspire and challenge you in the power of the Holy Spirit. {eoa}
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