On Friday, July 23, Every Nation Ministries made an official attempt to set the Guinness World Record for “The Most Languages Performed in a Song (Multiple Singers)” by performing “Amazing Grace” in 50 different languages.

Background on the attempt:

The Guinness World Record attempt was performed during EN2010, the world conference of Every Nation Ministries. Every Nation has churches and ministries in 61 nations and has a vision to plant a church in “every nation” of the world. Thus, singing “Amazing Grace” in 50 different languages was chosen for the Guinness World Record. In the Philippines, Every Nation is represented by Victory Church which has 14 congregations in Metro Manila and 42 provincial churches outside Metro Manila.

This world conference is only held once every three years – the previous conference, EN07, was held in Araneta Coliseum with more than 14,000 participants from 41 different nations. This time, EN2010 was held at the SMX Convention Center and featured 19,173 participants from 45 different nations.

The Story of Amazing Grace

Amazing Grace was written by John Newton, a former slave ship captain who came to Christ. Many people believe the melody of Amazing Grace is actually an old African folk song that Newton would have heard as the singing of the slaves wafted up from the hold of his slave ship. One of the most beloved Christian songs, Amazing Grace has been translated into almost every language in every nation. It is also referred to as the “National Anthem” of the Cherokee Indians, who sang Amazing Grace to encourage one another on the “Trail of Tears” as they were led on a forced relocation of almost 2,000 km on which 4,000 men, women and children perished.

On Friday night, July 23, participants of EN2010 celebrated “every nation” by singing “Amazing Grace” in 50 languages, including: Arabic, Mandarin, Zulu, Persian, Hindi, Spanish, Tagalog, Japanese, Cebuano and Cherokee Indian.

Full list of languages performed by Every Nation at EN2010:

1. English
2. Yoruba
3. Japanese
4. Zulu
5. Spanish
6. Mandarin
7. Hindi
8. Korean
9. Persian
10. Samoan
11. Afrikaans
12. Arabic
13. Thai
14. Ibo
15. Cherokee
16. Tagalog
17. Greek
18. Italian
19. French
20. Russian
21. Burmese
22. Swedish
23. Norwegian
24. Irish
25. Hawaiian
26. Dutch
27. German
28. Cantonese
29. Bengali
30. Setswana
31. Portuguese
32. Turkish
33. Maori
34. Tongan
35. Malaysian
36. Vietnamese
37. Lao
38. Cebuano
39. Nepali
40. Mongolian
41. Indonesian
42. Hokkien
43. Xhosa
44. Konkani
45. Marathi
46. Gujarati
47. Lotha-Naga
48. Tankhul
49. Manipuri
50. Sign language

The energy on the last day of EN2010 is the same as when the conference began 3 days ago. With over 19,000 delegates, the SMX Convention Center was filled with people refreshed with the presence of God. For most of us, if not all, it’s true what our first EN2010 speaker Grace Aiyedogbon said, “None of you will come out the same way you came in!”

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Steve Murrell: Honor

Honor.  Steve Murrell’s message boils down to this one word. We need to give God praise and honor due his name.

Honor is a sign that reminds us where our place is. – Steve Murrell

There are different ways to show honor. The Japanese bow to show honor. Filipinos do the mano po where they hold the hand of an elder and put it on their forehead to show honor. No matter what expression, honoring is knowing where our place is. No matter what situation we are in.

Steve Murrell remembers way back 26 years ago at his “office” in Dunkin Donuts when he wrote down on a piece of napkin the purpose of our church: we exist to honor God. Systems of doing church may change, methodologies may change – but one thing remains the same – we exist to honor God.

What does it look like to honor God?

Steve Murrell shares, Generosity honors God. Kindness to the poor honors God. The sincerity of our hearts honors God. It is our place to praise God no matter what’s going on in our lives. We need to give him praise and honor due his name.

A Discipled Nation

“Without God in us, we don’t have enough love to love ourselves; we cannot love others.” Dr. Jun Vencer, first speaker on day 3, talked about a topic he is most passionate about: Discipling the nations.

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Steve Murrell, president and co-founder of Every Nation, started his walk with God at an early age of sixteen—all because of a relentless youth pastor who ran after him until he finally gave his life to Christ. Steve came to understand the importance of discipleship from this youth pastor. In 1984, Steve and his wife Deborah went to Manila for a mission trip that never ended. They planted a church which has grown from 165 students to 39,000 members. For 26 years now, discipleship remains the main ingredient of their ministry.  Steve is a natural born follower whose passion remains the same: to honor God and make disciples. He authors the blogs Accidental Missionary and Reluctant Leader.

While we wait for Steve Murrell to send us off with his message, don’t worry we HAVEN’T FORGOTTEN your kids!

Kids Church at EN2010 was on high energy as kids marched in their own Parade of Nations. They also had lots of fun in a variety of lively presentations. They partied with an in-house  DJ but were all ears when their teachers teach about Jesus’ heart for the nations!

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Dr. Jun Vencer — From being a nineteen-year-old whose life was filled with bitterness and misery, Dr. Jun Vencer experienced transformation beyond his expectation when he met Christ. Now, he is driven by a vision to plant a church in every town, believing that everyone who follows Jesus is called to disciple. Discipleship, for him, is the key to transform the nations of the world.

SATURDAY!!! No office or school for many so EN2010 Day 3 sets with an early morning start! Gates opened as early as 8 AM! This is the view from morning worship at Level 3 of the SMX Convention Center.

What brought this diverse people together-–-every kind of nose shape and hair style—but one in common is they’re all standing before the throne of Christ. It has been a great coming together.

- Steve Murrell

By the end of the night, 18,000 delegates from forty-seven nations became part of a new Guinness World Record attempt for “The Most Languages Performed in a Song by Multiple Singers.”

At En2010 – Amazing Grace was sung in fifty languages including: Arabic, Mandarin, Zulu, Persian, Indonesian, Hindi, Spanish, Tagalog and even Cherokee Indian by thousands of Every Nation delegates and led by Hillsong worship leader and pastor, Darlene Zschech.

What better way to celebrate every tribe, nation, people, and language by singing Amazing Grace in as many languages as possible.

Amazing Grace was written by John Newton, a former slave ship captain who came to Christ. Many people believe the melody of this song is actually an old African folk song that Newton would have heard as the singing of the slaves wafted up from the hold of his slave ship. One of the most beloved Christian songs, Amazing Grace has been translated into almost every language and every nation.

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Darlene Zschech: Worship

Before the Guinness attempt, Darlene Zschech, passionately shared a message on a subject very close to heart—worship.

Stay hungry to honor God. Don’t be a professional worshipper, going through the motions.

- Darlene Zschech

Yesupadam Paidipamula: An Untouchable Touched by God

Second speaker Yesupadam Paidipamula, founder of Love-n-Care Ministries in India gave a powerful message in reaching the lost. Yesupadam means feet of Christ. He shares, “We have the responsibility to tell this gospel to every nation, every language, every color—Jesus is alive! If you are alive today, it is only for this one reason: to share the good news. A message that transforms a sinner to a saint.”

Efren Peñaflorida: Unleash the Hero Within

First speaker,  2009 CNN Hero of the Year Efren Peñaflorida, shares his life testimony and  a message for the children: “Embrace learning and love it for it will embrace you back.” and his passion, “Be the hero to the next one in need. The hero in you is waiting to be unleashed. Serve, serve well and be happy to serve.”

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Darlene Zschech is an acclaimed singer, songwriter, and worship pastor of Hillsong Music, Australia. Among the popular worship songs she has written is “Shout to the Lord.” Her encounter with Jesus at an early age of fifteen has translated into music that has blessed many churches and nations.

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Yesupadam Paidipamula was born in India into a family of the untouchable caste and was highly persecuted.  His life turned into a new direction when he met Christ, propelling him to begin a work called “Love-N-Care Ministries International”, devoted to helping the poorest of the poor, evangelism, church planting, and revival.