I BELIEVE IN GOD

When it comes to singing the Profession of Faith, Jude Nnam’s "I Believe in God" is a familiar and beloved setting in many Nigerian parishes. Setting the entire Nicene Creed to music is always a challenge because of the sheer amount of text, but this arrangement handles it beautifully by breaking the prayer into eleven distinct, flowing phrases.

What makes this setting work so well in the choir loft is its call-and-response structure. Instead of singing the Creed straight through as a single heavy block, the choir and congregation return to a simple, grounding refrain—"I believe in one God the Father"—after each section. This keeps the momentum steady and allows the assembly to participate fully without getting lost in the longer theological passages.

From the solemnity of "He was crucified under Pontius Pilate" to the bright, rising hope of "We look forward to the resurrection," the melody naturally follows the emotional arc of our faith. It is a wonderful choice for Sunday Mass, giving the Creed a sense of joyful conviction rather than just being a recited list of beliefs.