I Surrender All

"I Surrender All" was written by Judson W. Van DeVenter in 1896 after years of inner struggle between pursuing a career as an art teacher and answering God's call to full-time evangelistic ministry. Van DeVenter was a talented artist and musician from Michigan who had been teaching art and leading music in churches when he felt a growing conviction to devote himself entirely to preaching. For five years he wrestled with the decision before finally surrendering completely to God's will at a meeting in East Palestine, Ohio. He later recalled, "At last the new life won, and I surrendered all. A new day was ushered into my life." His friend Winfield Scott Weeden composed the melody that perfectly matched the hymn's spirit of yieldedness. Van DeVenter went on to conduct evangelistic meetings around the world, and Billy Graham later cited this hymn as the one that most influenced his early spiritual development.