A poignant, sacred vocal solo about Pioneers. Music composed by Kevin G. Pace and text by Arturo Mendoza.

YouTube video: The Lord Would Not Depart, vocal solo

Text:
They started late, it’s true to say,
Yet faith burned brighter than their fear;
They pushed their carts with heaven’s hope,
Following God as winter neared.

They had few goods, no wealth or gold,
But hearts made rich by sacred trust;
Each step became a living prayer,
Each mile pressed on by faith alone.

They walked for miles with naked feet,
With wounded hands and steps that bled;
Tears fell softly on the frozen ground,
Yet still they marched where God had led.

The snow fell hard, the cold cut deep,
The wind sought hard their strength to still;
Yet in the dark, through pain and loss,
Their souls stood firm by God’s own will.

Fathers gave up their final coat,
Mothers sang softly through their tears;
And though some lives were called back home,
Their faith lived on beyond the years.

When bodies failed and night grew long,
When hope grew thin, the path unclear;
The faith they carried deep within
Assured their hearts that God was near.

When flesh grew weak and fear drew near,
The Lord Himself would not depart;
For faith refined by sacrifice
Still burned with light within the heart.