Judson Van de Venter was born in 1855 on a farm in Michigan. Although he accepted Jesus into his heart as a teenager, he continued to struggle with surrendering his life completely to God. After graduating from Hillsdale College, he married Melissa Miller in 1880. Judson worked as a painter, and then became an art teacher and supervisor of art in the public schools of Sharon, Pennsylvanian. He also learned to play 13 different musical instruments. Along with singing and composing music, he became involved in the music ministry at the church he attended. At the same time, Judson struggled with the direction his life should take. He was torn between pursuing a teaching career and an evangelistic ministry. His friends encouraged him to become an evangelist because of his love and faith for God. Van de Venter described what happened: “This song was written, while I was conducting a meeting at East Palestine, Ohio, and in the home of George Sebring. For some time, I had struggled between developing my talent in the field of art or going into full-time evangelistic work. At last the pivotal hour of my life came, and I surrendered all. A new day was ushered into my life. I became an evangelist and discovered down deep in my soul, a talent hitherto unknown to me. God had hidden a song in my heart, and touching a tender chord, he caused me to sing. ” Perhaps the most important influence that Van de Venter had was on the young Billy Graham. Graham pointed to this hymn as an influence in his early ministry. His account appears in Crusade Hymn Stories: “One of the evangelists who influenced my early preaching, was also a hymnodist who wrote, ‘I Surrender All’—Reverend J. Van de Venter . He was a regular visitor at the Florida Bible Institute in the late 1930s. We students loved this kind, deeply spiritual gentleman and often gathered in his winter home at Tampa, Florida for an evening of fellowship and singing. “ More than 60 of Van de Venter’s hymns have appeared in various hymnal’s, but

“I Surrender All“ is his most famous.

Lewis Codington

Simply blessed

So inspiring and a blessing song

The Lord is wonderful

i Love the song

I surrender all to Lord...

This is such a great song. Love it

Jesus Christ is Lord

Great

Today Considering the Creator! His transcendence, bowed in worship this hymn came to mind. Thank you Hymnal. net