Charles F. Weigle

Dr Charles Weigle, born in Indiana in 1871, was an itinerant evangelist and hymnwriter.  Returning home after a series of meetings, he found a note from his wife.  It read, “I’m leaving, Charlie.  I don’t want to live the life you’re living.  I want to go the other way – toward the bright lights.”  She took their only child, a daughter, with her and filed for divorce.

Charles wandered aimlessly for a period of time, during which he contemplated suicide.  He wondered if anyone could ever care for him again.  Eventually, though, he turned his despair around and resolved to commit himself to living completely for Jesus.  Charles met his ex-wife by chance a few months later, and she mocked him, bragging to him about the sins she was committing.  Two years later, she lay on her deathbed – a result of the life she chose.

A few years later, Charles sat down and contemplated all that God had brought him through.  He thought about how Jesus was there for him, even when he felt abandoned and that nobody could care for him.  He said he wrote these words in the span of about 20 minutes, and wrote the music soon after.

I would love to tell you what I think of Jesus; Since I found in Him a friend so strong and true;
I would tell you how He changed my life completely; He did something that no other friend could do.

(Chorus)
No one ever cared for me like Jesus, There’s no other friend so kind as He;
No one else could take the sin and darkness from me.  O how much He cared for me.

All my life was full of sin when Jesus found me; All my heart was full of misery and woe;
Jesus placed His strong and loving arms around me; And he led me in the way I ought to go.

Every day He comes to me with new assurance; More and more I understand His words of love;
But I’ll never know just why He came to save me; Till some day I see His blessed face above.

Dr Weigel retired to Chattanooga at the age of 80.  He lived near Tennessee Temple Schools, a Bible college, and was active in the lives of young people training for the ministry.  He died in 1966, at the age of 95.  The last time he was seen alive, he was in his office Bible open, making notes in the margins.

https://welovegod.org/guide/charles_frederick_weigle/#:~:text=Charles%20Frederick%20Weigle%201871-1966%20Evangelist%20and%20Gospel%20songwriter.,training%20that%20later%20helped%20him%20in%20his%20ministry.

https://www.wayoflife.org/reports/conversion_of_charles_weigle.html