The much-loved worship song Shine, Jesus Shine—first written by Christian singer-songwriter Graham Kendrick in 1987—has been newly arranged to include children’s prayers and new musical bridges as part of the UK-wide Shine Your Light Christmas campaign.
The new version aims to “unify voices and ignite revival across the nation,” says Nicole Hobday, a Christian school teacher and musician from Romford, whose vision inspired the project. She has been collaborating for around a year with Kendrick’s long-standing musical director, Steve Thompson, on the new arrangement and national recording.
“Last year, God gave me a vision of a nationwide worship movement where thousands of voices—across cities, churches, schools, and denominations—unite in song,” she explained. “This project isn’t just about reimagining a classic; it’s about proclaiming God’s light, love, and hope over our nation in a powerful moment of unified worship,” Nicole added.
Thompson and Hobday have been working with musicians, singers, and choirs from diverse backgrounds across the UK to produce an official new recording, set for release in December.
Alongside the song, a new video, MP3 recordings, and creative prayer and worship resources will be made available free of charge in partnership with Shine Your Light.
Shine Your Light, a ministry of the National Day of Prayer and Worship (NDOPW), will run from December 12 to 14. The campaign will see an estimated 2,000 UK churches take Christmas worship out of their buildings and into public squares, shopping centres, and high streets—bringing the Christmas message of hope to where people gather.
Building on the success of 2024, this year’s goal is to mobilise 200,000 Christians to share the Gospel with 2 million members of the public. Dr Jonathan Oloyede, Convenor of NDOPW, welcomed this new song, saying:
“For decades, ‘Shine, Jesus Shine’ has been an anthem of hope and revival, stirring hearts with its timeless message of God’s transforming power.
In a world facing division and uncertainty, this new version offers a fresh expression of faith and unity.”
The new arrangement honours the song’s original message while giving it a fresh sound for a new generation of worshippers—a call to spiritual awakening across the nation. Shine Your Light also includes new initiatives this year to reach young people, engage through social media, and equip Christians to share their faith in workplaces. Free downloadable and printable resources will help churches take part, including:
- Professionally designed Carol sheets (print only; P+P applies)
- Programme ideas and service outlines
- Backing tracks and music scores for carols
- Follow-up resources for community outreach
For more information, and, in due course, to download Shine, Jesus Shine resources and backing tracks, visit: www.shineyourlight.org.uk/song
For further information/interview:
Adam May | 07736 949869 | adam@ndopw.com
Director of Communications and Engagement for NDOPW
Revd Paul Eddy | 07923 653781 | paul@pauleddy.uk
PR Consultant to Shine Your Light/NDOPW
Editor’s Notes
Shine, Jesus Shine (also known as “Lord, the light of your love is shining”) was composed by Graham Kendrick (b. 1950), a native of Blisworth, Northamptonshire, England, who now lives in Kent. The son of a Baptist pastor, today, Kendrick is one of the most prolific British Christian singer-songwriters and worship leaders.
Initially trained as a teacher, Kendrick began his career as a singer/songwriter in 1972. He now has over 30 albums and 400 songs to his credit, and his songs are sung throughout the world in many languages.
Shine, Jesus, Shine has been a song of hope at noteworthy events such as the 1996 Dunblane memorial service for 16 students and a teacher who were tragically killed, and the Tasmania massacre memorial service for the 40 people killed by a lone gunman, also in 1996. Other large gatherings that used the song include the Billy Graham crusades and the largest ever open-air mass in 1995 in Manila, where Pope John Paul II is said to have
“swung his cane in time to the music.”
Stanza one focuses on the light “shining in the midst of the darkness” and Christ as the “Light of the World” (John 8:12). This Light “set[s] us free by the truth…” (John 8:32).
Kendrick’s efforts have been recognized in many ways, including a Dove Award (1995) and an honorary doctorate of divinity from Brunel University (2000) in West London. Shine, Jesus, Shine was voted tenth in a 2005 survey of the United Kingdom’s favourite hymns by the BBC’s Songs of Praise program. For further information, visit
www.grahamkendrick.co.uk