美国福音音乐领军人物 - Bill & Gloria Gaither

 

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

Bill曾被生活击碎过。在反越战和种族冲突的不安时代背景中，一连串个人的不幸发生在他的身上：他有个近亲离婚，自己身患单核细胞增多症（Mononucleosis）。令事情雪上加霜的是，他的一个密友，指控他利用福音音乐，谋取个人私利。

在这一连串的打击面前，Bill罹患抑郁症，失去了写歌的能力。他们的焦虑的心，惧怕明天。正值此时，他的妻子Gloria意外怀孕。他们很担忧：这个小生命将要面对什么样的明天？

经过患难中的挣扎，在孩子出生之前，Bill终于在上帝的引领之下，得以复兴，恢复了写歌的能力，创作了不朽名曲《因他活着》（Because He Lives)。

此诗歌在教会广为传唱，激励了一代代基督徒。

歌词：

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