He was requested to compose, on short notice, a piece for the ordination Mass of a deacon, incorporating in the lyrics God's word, of Jesus as the light, and the bread and wine of the Eucharist.
[2] Schutte's hymn is also sung in many Protestant worship services and is found in multiple hymnals and missalettes.
In 2004 a survey conducted by the Tablet, an international Catholic magazine, reported "Here I Am, Lord" as readers' favorite.
A poll conducted by the National Association of Pastoral Musicians found among members that it came in second among "songs that make a difference".
[3] In 2013 a survey conducted by Songs of Praise, "Here I Am, Lord" was named the fifth most popular hymn in Britain.