Keith & Kristyn Getty Inspired by 1931 Missionary to China Song for New Album

By Jeannie Ortega Law, Christian Post Reporter Thursday, May 26, 2016

Keith and Kristyn Getty are the preeminent married musicians and songwriters from North Ireland. | (Photo: The Gettys)

Irish couple Keith and Kristyn Getty have impacted the world with their powerful hymns and worships songs. And now for their first album since 2012, the couple has teamed up with internationally renowned music artists Chris Tomlin, Fernando Ortega, John Patitucci, and popular South African male choral group Ladysmith Black Mambazo, for their powerful new album Facing a Task Unfinished.

The upcoming album by The Gettys was inspired by the hymn, "Facing a Task Unfinished." The original song was written by China Inland Mission worker (now OMF International) Frank Houghton in 1931 as he reflected on the the Great Commission and the scripture Matthew 24:14, which encouraged him to dedicate his life to sharing the Gospel with people in China.

"Facing a task unfinished, that drives us to our knees.

A need that, undiminished, rebukes our slothful ease.

We, who rejoice to know Thee, renew before Thy throne,

the solemn pledge we owe Thee to go and make

Thee known," the song states.

The song went on to inspire 200 missionaries to set sail for China and spread the Good News of the Gospel. Their efforts contributed to what mission experts believe to be the greatest growth of Christianity in the history of the world — an estimated growth of over 80 to 130 million people.

Hoping to do the same in this day and age, popular husband- and-wife duo, Keith and Kristyn Getty, have teamed up with OMF International to introduce the missions hymn along with their complete album to a new generation.

"Frank Houghton believed that God's people singing together fuels mission," says Keith Getty in a statement shared with The Christian Post. "It is in that same spirit that Kristyn and I have created this new recording – to encourage congregational singing, urgent conversation and expanded global evangelism today."

The album's title track was modernized by the Gettys and introduced in time for OMF's 150th anniversary in 2015 in Singapore. More recently, the song was the inspiration behind the largest known one-day global hymn singing event in history as the Gettys rallied an estimated 1.1 million people in 100 countries together to sing the hymn on Sunday, February 21.

In keeping with the spirit behind the heart of the album, which is creating congregational songs, the "In Christ Alone" singers asked some of the biggest congregational singers in this day-and-age to feature on their record.

"We are so grateful to the esteemed artists who have joined us to make this a truly international collaboration," Keith said.

Grammy-Award-winning worship leader Chris Tomlin is featured on the song, "Oh Church Arise." The song is meant to commemorate the hymns of Martin Luther.

Also heard on Facing a Task Unfinished is Latin American Christian crooner, Fernando Ortega, who displayed his talents on the song, "My Worth Is Not in What I Own." The song reportedly calls believers to refocus their lives to gain a greater joy.

The Gettys in staying true to their worldwide mission, invited popular South African choir, Ladysmith Black Mambazo. The male choral group lent their vocals on the track, "O Children Come," written by the Gettys as a call for believers to "go with the good news of Christ in words and in deeds of mercy to a needy world."

Another featured musical guest is legendary bassist, John Patitucci. The anticipated album ranges from soulful gospel choirs to the ancient Chinese guzheng (Chinese zither) played by virtuoso, We Fei. These eclectic sounds are showcased in the Gettys' "Beyond These Shores," an extraordinary instrumental tune that unites traditional musical themes from the American South, Eastern Europe, Africa, China and Ireland.

Facing a Task Unfinished was recorded in Nashville's historic Ocean Way Recording studio. All of the recording sessions were also filmed by noted filmmaker Andy Hutch (Van Morrison, Chris Tomlin) who also directed the Gettys' 2015 Joy – An Irish Christmas.

The music of Keith and Kristyn Getty is sung by an estimated 100 million people each year in churches and concert halls on every major continent and across all lines of Christian denominations.

The upcoming release will be available on June 17th and a two-year international tour of the album will begin in September 2016, with a run of concerts at Belfast Waterfront in Northern Ireland and in the U.S. For more information visit www.gettymusic.com