Voices Only: ‘When I Go Home’ and more songs about heaven

When the pandemic began and worship services went online, the elders of the Brown Street Church of Christ in Waxahachie, Texas, looked for ways to encourage their members — from a distance — on a daily basis.

Paul O’Rear and his wife, Susan

One way of doing that, the elders decided, was to provide weekday online video devotionals. They tasked involvement and education minister Paul O’Rear with making it happen.

“Since March 23, 2020, we have posted 403 daily devotionals, with two a cappella song videos accompanying each devotional,” O’Rear told The Christian Chronicle. “That’s 806 a cappella song videos and counting! I’m pretty sure I’ve never re-used a video, and I have at least twice that many in my pick list of song videos I haven’t even used yet! There’s a lot of really good a cappella praise and worship songs out there on YouTube! And I’m constantly running across new stuff.”

When he saw the Chronicle’s request for readers to share their favorite song, “it should have been difficult for me to pick one song out of the thousands I have listened to over the past year and a half, many of which have touched me deeply,” O’Rear said. “Yet one song immediately came to mind.”

Here it is —”When I Go Home” by G.M. Eldridge (Acapeldridge):

“I love songs about heaven!” O’Rear said. “This original song has a beautiful feel to it. It opens with, ‘In the moment He appears, and the light from heaven shines, I’ll forget every fear, every pain I’ll leave behind.’ It goes on to paint a beautiful picture of heaven, stirring up a deep longing to meet Jesus and be reunited with loved ones who have passed on to their reward, some way too soon (my Dad, my daughter Ashley, grandparents, and so many others). The music is beautiful and compelling, with tight harmonies performed flawlessly by Eldridge. It is a very meaningful song that grabs hold of my heart every time I hear it.”

Eldridge provides sheet music and a PowerPoint for this song here.

Here are three of O’Rear’s runners up, in no particular order.

“Looking for a City” (Acappella Praise and Harmony)

“Sweet Beulah Land” (Acappella Praise and Harmony)

“I Will Meet You There” (Acappella Praise and Harmony)

“Did I mention I love songs about heaven?” O’Rear said.

What’s your favorite a cappella song? Send us a video link and a short description of what the song means to you. We might use your selection in a future Voices Only.

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