美國福音音樂領軍人物 - Bill & Gloria Gaither

 

Bill Gaither（生於1936年）和 Gloria Gaither（生於1942年），是上帝大用的仆人。

Bill曾被生活擊碎過。在反越戰和種族衝突的不安時代背景中，一連串個人的不幸發生在他的身上：他有個近親離婚，自己身患單核細胞增多症（Mononucleosis）。令事情雪上加霜的是，他的一個密友，指控他利用福音音樂，謀取個人私利。

在這一連串的打擊麵前，Bill罹患抑鬱症，失去了寫歌的能力。他們的焦慮的心，懼怕明天。正值此時，他的妻子Gloria意外懷孕。他們很擔憂：這個小生命將要麵對什麽樣的明天？

經過患難中的掙紮，在孩子出生之前，Bill終於在上帝的引領之下，得以複興，恢複了寫歌的能力，創作了不朽名曲《因他活著》（Because He Lives)。

此詩歌在教會廣為傳唱，激勵了一代代基督徒。

歌詞：

God sent His son, they called Him Jesus
He came to love, heal and forgive
He lived and died to buy my pardon
An empty grave is there to prove my savior lives

Because He lives, I can face tomorrow
Because He lives, all fear is gone
Because I know He holds the future
And life is worth the living, just because He lives

How sweet to hold a newborn baby
And feel the pride and joy He gives
But greater still the calm assurance
This child can face uncertain day, because He lives

Because He lives, I can face tomorrow
Because He lives, all fear is gone
Because I know He holds the future
And life is worth the living, just because He lives

And then one day, I'll cross the river
I'll fight life's final war with pain
And then, as death gives way to victory
I'll see the lights of glory and I'll know He reigns

Because He lives, I can face tomorrow
Because He lives, all fear is gone
Because I know He holds the future
And life is worth the living, just because He lives

I can face tomorrow
Because He lives, all fear is gone
Because I know He holds the future
And life is worth the living, just because He lives