Several years ago, my team experienced a powerful moment leading the Congolese worship song Yezu Azali Awa at a live album recording in South Korea. Despite no one on the team or in the congregation being Congolese or speaking Lingala, the song resonated deeply.
Its simple, uplifting melody and repetitive refrain – “Jesus is here with us” – were easily grasped, first in Lingala and then in Korean. This experience highlighted for me the profound impact of worship that transcends linguistic boundaries, a practice I’ve cultivated for over two decades in diverse settings, from house churches to international conferences.
As a worship leader, I understand the initial hesitations and vulnerabilities that arise when considering songs in unfamiliar languages. Concerns about mispronunciation, cultural appropriation, or hindering authentic worship are common. Some might question the value of singing words the congregation doesn’t understand, perceiving it as unhelpful or even distracting. The discomfort of unfamiliar sounds and the temptation to disengage are real challenges.
However, I believe there are significant and often overlooked merits to worshiping God in languages we don’t comprehend. This practice opens us to unique cultural expressions of faith and strengthens our connection to the global body of Christ.
Discovering God’s Attributes Through Different Languages
Worshiping in a foreign language offers a glimpse into how diverse cultures and languages uniquely illuminate and express God’s attributes in ways we might never have imagined within our own linguistic and cultural confines.
My first encounter with the soulful Arabic worship song Anta ’Atheemun (“You Are So Awesome, O Lord”) initially brought discomfort due to the use of “Allah,” a word often associated with Islam. However, learning that Arab Christians use this term to refer to God revealed a rich history of praise for God’s greatness and grace in a language and musical scale unfamiliar to me. This broadened my understanding of worship itself.
Jo-Ann Richards, founding director of CREW 40:4, a Jamaican nonprofit promoting culturally relevant worship, echoes this sentiment. In a recent conversation, she emphasized that love within the Christian community necessitates creating space for diverse expressions of worship. “If we love each other, we will create space in the corporate worship service for our brothers and sisters to express their worship to God in ways that they can relate to on a heart level,” she wrote. This inclusivity strengthens the fabric of our shared faith.
Honoring the Global Church Through Language in Worship
Singing in languages beyond our own is also a powerful way to honor the vastness and depth of the global church. Increased global interconnectedness through student exchanges, immigration, and migration has enriched Western congregations with diverse voices and perspectives. This diversity presents an invaluable opportunity to worship alongside believers from around the world and learn from their unique cultural expressions of faith.
Over the years, the most touching responses I’ve received have been from individuals expressing gratitude for hearing their mother tongues sung in worship. I recall numerous instances of people, with tears in their eyes, thanking me: “Thank you for singing in my language. I never expected to hear it in worship here. It deeply moved me.” These moments underscore the profound sense of belonging and recognition that such acts of inclusion can create.
Even when no one in the immediate congregation speaks a particular language, incorporating it into worship can powerfully symbolize the unity of the global church. By venturing into unfamiliar linguistic territory, often providing translations, we emphasize our interconnectedness and shared faith across geographical boundaries.
This practice also fosters empathy and solidarity with believers in less privileged parts of the world, some of whom are facing persecution and hardship. It’s a tangible expression of the biblical call to “rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep” (Romans 12:15).
For example, including songs in Karen, the language of a stateless people group from Myanmar and Thailand, brings awareness to their often-overlooked plight. When I led the Karen song See-P’truh-Nah (“God Is Good”) in Seoul, Karen refugees present were astonished and moved that a song from their culture was being sung. Similarly, introducing songs in Arabic and Farsi, like Abaan alla- dhi fi (“Our Father in Heaven”) and Roohol Ghodos (“Spirit of God”), in North American churches connects congregations with Christians in the Middle East, whose voices are often marginalized in evangelical spaces.
Navigating the Practicalities of Multilingual Worship
While the benefits are clear, incorporating unfamiliar languages into worship, especially in large gatherings, presents logistical challenges. The Fourth Lausanne Congress in Incheon, South Korea, a massive international Christian gathering, faced this directly. While striving for diversity, practical constraints led them to primarily use English, with some verses in Spanish, Korean, and Chinese. Evi Rodemann, the Congress’s event coordinator, acknowledged the limitations in achieving full musical diversity due to organizational complexities, prioritizing a “high-quality and cohesive musical experience.”
The effort required to learn and teach unfamiliar songs, ensure accurate pronunciation, and create resources like charts and translations can be demanding. However, with intentionality and a spirit of humility, these challenges can be overcome.
Cultivating Humility and Curiosity in Worship
To effectively lead multilingual worship, adopting an attitude of humility and curiosity is crucial. Before introducing a song in a new language, consulting native speakers for pronunciation guidance is essential. Openly acknowledging potential imperfections and asking for grace and correction from the congregation fosters a learning environment and builds trust. “My pronunciation won’t be perfect, and if I mispronounce anything, please forgive me and teach me so I can do better next time,” is a sentiment that can bridge cultural gaps and invite participation.
Broadening our sources of worship music is another key step. Every song emerges from a specific cultural context, carrying within it a unique story and theological perspective. Singing songs from different parts of the world is not just about linguistic diversity; it’s about welcoming diverse expressions of faith and lived theology into our worship spaces.
This practice embodies mutuality, shifting from “singing our songs” to “singing each other’s songs,” as Ian Collinge, a UK-based intercultural worship trainer, aptly argues. Resources like Proskuneo Ministries, Songs2Serve, the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship, the Global Ethnodoxology Network, and CCLI are invaluable in accessing diverse worship music and lyrics.
Congolese worship team leading Yezu Azali Awa in South Korea
Congolese worship team leading Yezu Azali Awa in South Korea, demonstrating the global reach of worship music.
My own multiethnic, multicultural worshiping community in Clarkston, Georgia, exemplifies this inclusive approach. With immigrants and refugees from Myanmar, Syria, and South Sudan, our services incorporate songs and Scripture readings in Arabic, Burmese, Korean, and Spanish. Simultaneous prayers in various languages and shared meals featuring diverse cuisines are also integral to our worship experience. While this approach may seem unconventional or even “messy,” it is a deliberate effort to create truly inclusive liturgies.
A Foretaste of God’s Kingdom
Worshiping in languages we don’t understand, even with its challenges, is a powerful spiritual practice. It deepens our understanding of Christ’s boundless love for the church and offers a glimpse into the coming Kingdom.
When we embrace the diversity of the church in our worship, we actively participate in the fulfillment of Christ’s prayer: “Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10). We experience a foretaste of the New Jerusalem, where nations bring their glory and honor (Revelation 21:24, 26). We contribute to a living, breathing expression of the biblical truth that “every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:11).
Even with fumbles and discomforts, offering our voices in unfamiliar languages is an act of surrender and love to God. Together, in a symphony of voices, however varied, we join with our brothers and sisters in Christ worldwide to declare, Yezu azali awa. Yesu woo-ri-wa-ham gge. “Jesus is here with us.”
Jaewoo Kim, serving at Proskuneo Ministries and author of Willingly Uncomfortable Worship, advocates for embracing the rich tapestry of global worship. Just as songs like “Shout To The Lord Song” have resonated across nations, so too can we expand our worship to include a multitude of languages, enriching our understanding of God and strengthening the global church. By intentionally incorporating diverse languages into our worship, we move closer to reflecting the glorious, multilingual reality of God’s Kingdom.
