Pam Thum was the only child of traveling evangelists Bruce and Ruth Thum, producers of the very popular and unique drama, Heaven's Gates and Hell's Flames. The experience, which never kept them in the same place for more than a month, had both positive and negative effects on Pam.
Thum's parents were very dedicated Christians and carried Jesus into every aspect of their lives. They taught her a great deal about prayer and helped give her the assurance that Jesus was always with her. Still, Thum grew up in a very adult world and often felt quite lonely. She learned to depend on Jesus at a very early age and often made up little songs to sing to Him to help her not feel so lonely and scared. Jesus was one of the only constants in her life and she knew she never wanted to leave Him.
Pam's music career began when she was three years old and started singing on stage. As the years went on, Pam began to realize the effect music had on people and the hope that the words she sang often gave them. "I wanted them to feel the peace I did when I sang to God. I wanted them to feel as though Jesus were hugging them through my music."
And so it began. Pam Thum started writing songs when she was 16 and decided to pursue songwriting and performing as her own full time ministry. In 1987, Pam was offered a songwriting contract after her song "We Are An Army" was recorded by Trace Balin. She was offered a recording contract in 1992 and released her self titled debut album in 1993. The record was a huge success, with six of the songs making the top ten. She also received a Dove Award nomination for New Artist of the Year.
Pam Thum's albums:
Pam Thum, 1993
Faithful, 1994
Feel the Healing, 1995
Believe, 1997
Thum's geatest influences have been her parents and her Aunt Myrtle. Aunt Myrtle was a bundle of energy and was always hugging someone, taking people to church, baking cookies, teaching Sunday School, or singing joyfully to the Lord. Thum's greatest desire in her music is to be like her Aunt Myrtle and to love others where they're at and point them to Jesus.
Perhaps one of the most surprising things that came out of Pam's immediate success was her popularity in South Africa. Shortly after the release of her first album, the readers of JOY Magazine, a Christian publication in South Africa, named her Best International Female Artist of 1993. On her first trip there, she was greeted by an enormous group of fans and a hotel room filled with flowers. Thum believes that God has given her a special platform in South Africa and she desires to use it for His glory.
Today, Pam is married to Stephen Marshall and together they have built Pam Thum Ministries, which is partnered with several other "world-changing" ministries. Her mission remains the same - to fearlessly share the Good News of Christ with the world and encourage others to do the same. "We have the greatest news for this world," says Pam, "and we've spent too many years acting as if we're in some kind of secret club. People are living and dying without Jesus -- hurt, hatred, sickness, and fear have ruled for too long. I just feel an urgency that we've got to shake off the apathy in our lives and get bold and direct about our faith."
I will stand
Pam Thum Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I believe in Jesus Christ His only Son
He was crucified, buried and rose again
So that I might have eternal life
And it is on the promise I will stand
In this world of temptation
I will stand for what is right
I will hold up the light
If I live or if I die
If I laugh or if I cry
In this world of temptation
I will stand
I have felt the world's attraction
Looked in the devil's eyes
I have lived what I do not believe
I've danced with compromise
But I'm not a child of darkness
Though I've walked through shadow lands
So I will rise to meet the mission
With conviction, I will stand
When I saw His eyes of mercy
And felt the warmth of peace
I made my God a promise
To live what I believe
In this world of temptation
I will stand for what is right
With a heart of salvation
I will hold up the light
If I live or if I die
If I laugh or if I cry
In this world of temptation
I will stand
I have heard the Spirit moving
Like a strong and gentle wind
As it called from in my solace
To walk in truth again
I won't waver for His purpose
If I'm mocked or if I'm praised
For the Cross of Jesus Christ
I will march in this crusade
For my heart to be found faithful
I must live with certainty
I lay down all my illusions
And take up this simple creed
In this world of temptation
I will stand for what is right
With a heart of salvation
I will hold up the light
If I live or if I die
If I laugh or if I cry
In this world of temptation
I will stand
I wanna live with Godly passion
For what I know is true
I'm gonna take Your word
And give myself completely to You
In this world of temptation
I will stand for what is right
With a heart of salvation
I will hold up the light
If I live or if I die
If I laugh or if I cry
In this world of temptation
I will stand
What you gonna do
No compromise
Pam Thum's song "I Will Stand" is a declaration of faith and commitment to God. The lyrics speak of the songwriter's belief in God the Father and Jesus Christ, and their sacrifice for eternal life. The promise of eternal life is the foundation on which the songwriter stands.
The song also acknowledges the challenges of living in a world of temptation and compromise. The songwriter knows what it means to be attracted to the world's pleasures and to have danced with compromise. However, they are no longer a child of darkness because they made a promise to live what they believe. They vow to stand for what is right with a heart of salvation and to hold up the light of God's truth.
The last section of the song talks about the songwriter's determination to live with Godly passion and give themselves entirely to God. They vow to lay down all illusions and take up the simple creed of living for God's purposes.
Overall, "I Will Stand" is a powerful declaration of faith, commitment, and determination to live a life that honors God.
Line by Line Meaning
I believe in God the Father
I have faith in the existence of God the Father
I believe in Jesus Christ His only Son
I have faith in Jesus Christ as God's only son
He was crucified, buried and rose again
Jesus Christ was crucified, buried, and rose again from the dead
So that I might have eternal life
Jesus' sacrifice allows me to have eternal life
And it is on the promise I will stand
I have faith in this promise and will stand on it
In this world of temptation
In the world that's full of temptation
I will stand for what is right
I will stand firm for what is morally correct
With a heart of salvation
With a heart that is committed to following Jesus
I will hold up the light
I will spread the light of Christ to others
If I live or if I die
Whether I'm alive or dead
If I laugh or if I cry
Whether I'm happy or sad
I have felt the world's attraction
I have been tempted by the world
Looked in the devil's eyes
Faced the devil's temptations
I have lived what I do not believe
I have acted contrary to my beliefs
I've danced with compromise
I have compromised my morals
But I'm not a child of darkness
I am not someone who follows the ways of darkness
Though I've walked through shadow lands
Even though I've gone through dark times
So I will rise to meet the mission
I will rise up to fulfill my mission
With conviction, I will stand
I will stand confidently with my beliefs
When I saw His eyes of mercy
When I experienced God's merciful nature
And felt the warmth of peace
And felt the peace that God provides
I made my God a promise
I made a promise to God
To live what I believe
To live in accordance with my beliefs
I have heard the Spirit moving
I have felt the Holy Spirit moving within me
Like a strong and gentle wind
Like a powerful and gentle breeze
As it called from in my solace
As the Holy Spirit called to me in my peaceful moments
To walk in truth again
To live in truth once more
I won't waver for His purpose
I won't stray from God's purpose for me
If I'm mocked or if I'm praised
Whether I am criticized or praised
For the Cross of Jesus Christ
For the sacrifice that Jesus Christ made on the cross
I will march in this crusade
I will stand firm in my beliefs and values
For my heart to be found faithful
For my heart to be seen as loyal and committed
I must live with certainty
I must live with a sense of assurance
I lay down all my illusions
I give up all my false beliefs and perceptions
And take up this simple creed
And embrace this straightforward belief
I wanna live with Godly passion
I desire to live with a passionate devotion to God
For what I know is true
For what I believe to be true
I'm gonna take Your word
I will follow God's word
And give myself completely to You
And devote myself fully to God
What you gonna do
What will you do?
No compromise
Without any concessions or deals
Contributed by Mason P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@sandycaudill7325
Thank you, Pam, your music is always a blessing!
@TWCAlex802
It's about time someone made this album available on YouTube
@sandycaudill7325
I agree Alex!