Resources – Encounter with Christ

by Charles Wesley, written in 1738 to celebrate his conversion on May 21st of that same year. Hearing a church full of Caribbean Methodists singing this beautiful hymn with gusto captures your soul!

Que No Caiga La Fe, Que No Caiga La Esperanza

by Eseario Rodriguez. “Let Faith Not Fail, Let Hope Not Fail” written in 1980 is a Latin American Christian hymn of resilience and encouragement. The song emerged as a message of strength to sustain the struggle and trust in God amid difficult times, oppression, or crisis, urging people not to lose the desire to work and strive for the good of the community.

El Cielo Canta Alegria

by Pablo Sosa, Methodist from Argentina. Written in 1958 by Argentine pastor and musician Pablo Sosa, “El cielo canta alegría” (Heaven is Singing for Joy) was composed for a student picnic at the ISEDET seminary in Buenos Aires. The song focuses on praising God for God’s active work in everyday life, focusing on joy and liberation. It is a pioneering worship song that introduced indigenous Argentine folk music, specifically the joyous carnavalito dance style, into Christian congregational worship.

Tenemos Esperanza

Words by Federico Pagura and music by Homero Perera. Pagura was the Bishop of the Evangelical Methodist Church in Argentina (IEMA) and also the President of the Latin American Council of Churches. This version has Pagura leading the singing and Perera playing the piano during the Annual Assembly of the IEMA in the early 1990s.

Cantad al Señor

Based on a Brazilian folk song with the title, “Cantai ao Senhor,” this Spanish version is sung all over Latin America. This version sung by Pacific Lutheran Theological School Students

Other Latin American Methodist Hymns

“Cristo vive” (Christ is Risen): A vibrant Easter hymn written by Argentine Nicolás Martínez, with music by renowned Argentine Methodist composer Pablo Sosa.
“Canto de esperanza” (Song of Hope): Another popular hymn from Argentina, often used as a benediction.
“Mantos y palmos” (Filled with Excitement): A well-known Mexican Palm Sunday hymn.
“Santo, Santo, Santo” (Holy, Holy, Holy): A popular, lyrical Argentine prayer chorus that often appears in bilingual worship.
“De tierra lejana venimos” (From a Distant Home): A popular Puerto Rican Epiphany carol.
“Tú has venido a la orilla” (Lord, You Have Come to the Lakeshore): While written by Spanish composer Cesáreo Gabaráin, it is a quintessential hymn in Latin American Methodist worship and has become more popular since it was included in the United Methodist Hymnal.