Judson van deventer biography

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Sung by Christians locally and around the world for generations, the words of “I Surrender All” have inspired many, from Rev. Billy Graham to talk-show host Oprah Winfrey, since a former Hillsdale College student first wrote them down.

Judson Wheeler van DeVenter, a student in Hillsdale’s commercial and telegraph department from 1874-1876, according to college archivist Linda Moore, wrote the hymn “I Surrender All” as he struggled between continuing a career in art or moving into full-time ministry.

In 1891, van DeVenter found himself arguing with God. He wanted to continue as a public high school art teacher and supervisor in Pennsylvania. Despite being an active member in his Methodist Episcopalian church and participating in evangelistic meetings, van DeVenter felt God was calling him to do more. His friends encouraged him to pursue a career in ministry. But he resisted.

“All to Jesus I surrender,/ All to him I freely give;/ I will ever love and trust him,/ In his presence daily live.”

Van DeVenter grew up on a small farm in Dundee, Michigan. Although born in a Christian household on Dec. 5, 1855, he did not become a follower of Jesus Christ until he was 17.

He attended Hillsdale with his older brother, Virgil, who graduated in 1879 with a degree in literature, but Judson van DeVenter did not obtain a diploma. He did take art and music classes, however, and could play 13 instruments by the end of his life.

In 1880, he married and had two sons and a daughter who died at the age of 20. After his wife died in 1924, he married a pianist and music teacher in 1925.

Van DeVenter’s own musical talents would end his struggle with God after five years, as he began full-time ministry, sources said. While leading a meeting at the Ohio home of national evangelist George Sebring, he wrote the words of “I Surrender All.”

“For some time, I had struggled between developing my talents in the field of art and going

Christian hymn written by Judson W. Van DeVenter

"I Surrender All" is a Christianhymn, with words written by American art teacher and musician Judson W. Van DeVenter [sv] (1855–1939), who subsequently became a music minister and evangelist. It was put to music by Winfield S. Weeden (1847–1908), and published in 1896.

Van DeVenter said of the inspiration for the text:

For some time, I had struggled between developing my talents in the field of art and going into full-time evangelistic work. At last the pivotal hour of my life came, and I surrendered all. A new day was ushered into my life. I became an evangelist and discovered down deep in my soul a talent hitherto unknown to me. God had hidden a song in my heart, and touching a tender chord, He caused me to sing.

Van DeVenter and inception of the hymn

Judson Van DeVenter was born on a farm in Michigan in 1855. Following graduation from Hillsdale College, he became an art teacher and supervisor of art in the public schools of Sharon, Pennsylvania. He was, in addition, an accomplished musician, singer, and composer. Van DeVenter was also an active layman in his Methodist Episcopal Church, involved in the church's evangelistic meetings. Recognizing his talent for the ministry, friends urged him to give up teaching and become an evangelist. Van DeVenter wavered for five years between becoming a recognized artist or devoting himself to ministry. Finally, he surrendered his life to Christian service, and wrote the text of the hymn while conducting a meeting at the Ohio home of noted evangelist George Sebring.

Mid-life career switch…that’s what was on the mind of Judson Wheeler Van DeVenter, and had been for some time as he thought through the possibilities. He eventually decided to say “I Surrender All” (alternately known as “All to Jesus I Surrender”) in 1896. Did he in effect raise the white flag, as the British did at Yorktown in 1781 (see picture), feeling the ignominy of defeat? Judson was in fact recognizing a greater power that he could not overcome, but he didn’t sound like a guy with a crushed spirit. Instead, he embraced this change without regret. He’d become aware through hints in his life, through experiential suggestions, that this transformation would tap into something that he did not even know was there before. Surrendering had turned out to be the deal of a lifetime!

Judson Van DeVenter had prepared during the first half of his life to be an artist, but then decided to let the Creator steer him into another talent for the second half of his life. He realized as a child that the Lord had blessed him artistically and musically, so upon his graduation from a Michigan college he accepted the path as an art teacher and later art supervisor in a Pennsylvania high school. As a 30-year old he went throughout Europe studying and honing his art skills. He kept his singing voice in tune also, through some formal study and participation in the church choir where he worshipped. Consequently, his involvement in that church’s evangelistic campaigns stirred his spirit, and many friends coaxed him to consider full-time ministry – to leave his first love, art. It wasn’t an easy or quick decision, but one that he mulled over for five years. He probably wondered, ‘Can’t I do both?’, but eventually discovered that his conscience was posing the issue as one of submission to a higher will. He had to listen, and decided to let Providence take control. Looking back some five years later,