Glen Campbell’s Moving Rendition of “What A Friend We Have in Jesus”

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American country singer Glen Campbell gave an emotional performance for his rendition of the hit gospel song “What A Friend We Have in Jesus” at the North Phoenix Baptist Church in 1989. The song was released as part of Campbell’s forty-fifth studio album, Favorite Hymns. 

Campbell fell in love with traditional gospel hymns at a very young age while growing up in Arkansas. As soon as he gained some stability in the country music scene, Campbell decided to use his fame as a platform to spread the word of God by releasing an album packed with country church songs he learned as a child. Included in his album are hit gospel songs like “Standing on the Promises,” “Softly and Tenderly,” and many more. 

“What A Friend We Have In Jesus,” considered one of Glen Campbell’s greatest hits, instantly captured listeners’ hearts thanks to his raspy, deep voice and amazing stage presence. 

Glen Campbell’s Cover of What A Friend We Have in Jesus

The song was originally written by preacher Joseph Scriven as a poem in 1855. His words opened the eyes of many Christian listeners, so it didn’t take long for Charles Crozat Converse to compose a tune for the song in 1868. Over the coming years, the song became a staple hit in many churches around the globe. 

Aside from that, many singers have already released their versions of the song. Among them are Alan Jackson, Bill Monroe, Brad Paisley, and, of course, Glen Campbell. In an interview, Glen stated that the song has quite a soft spot in his heart. He loves that the song wanted to spread the message that “No one has to suffer since Jesus will lift the burdens out of our shoulders.”

Campbell’s performance was extra special because he performed it in one of the biggest Baptist churches in the world, the North Phoenix Baptist Church. Accompanied by a whole orchestra, Campbell went on to give one of the most powerful performances of his life. His low tempo deep voice gives the song extra flavor, making it one of listeners’ favorites in his album. 

So, if you haven’t checked it out yet, you can listen to Glen Campbell’s amazing performance of “What A Friend We Have in Jesus” below. 

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