I first knew Max through his presence at Falls Creek, the Baptist camp where I went each summer growing up as a teenager in Oklahoma. I was already very involved in musical activities, so I took special notice of the wonderful pianist who accompanied the group services-Max could play anything effortlessly. Later I knew Max through his work as accompanist for the Singing Churchmen of Oklahoma and the CenturyMen, a men's choir made up of ministers of music from churches across the country. Finally I got to spend some one-on-one time with Max when he came to Brazil, where I was serving as a missionary. Max came to present a piano concert at the seminary where I taught, and then spent some time at home with me and Donna.

 Later, when I was contemplating coming to Heritage as your minister of music, I called up Max on the phone at his home in Baltimore to ask his opinion of the church and of the pastor, since I knew Max had recently been here in connection with the church's Centennial celebration. (Max recommended both the church and Henry quite highly.) Since both Max and I were Oklahoma boys, I asked him what it was like to live in Maryland. He said that it was normally quite pleasant, but at that moment Baltimore was being hit by hurricane Isabel! A year or so after I moved to Maryland, Max moved back to Oklahoma to be close to family and friends. He became a part of the First Baptist Church of Oklahoma City, where my sister Cathy is also a member; it was good to continue that personal connection.

 My relationship with Paul Williams (J. Paul was his pen name) dates from the latter part of the '70s, when Donna and I lived in northeastern Arkansas. Paul, who lived in Little Rock, asked me if I would consider collaborating with him on some anthems; he would write the words and melody, and I would write the choral parts and the accompaniment. I agreed, and we wrote three anthems together at that time. Donna and I enjoyed visiting in Paul's home, where we got to know his wife Donna. Paul visited in our home as well; he was quite taken with (my) Donna's collection of hippos. In all our later correspondence (after Donna and I left Arkansas for Brazil and then Maryland) he would rarely fail to mention hippos or to include a drawing of a hippo.

 Paul was a talented and prolific lyricist. He eventually quit writing melodies and concentrated on producing high-quality texts, which were then set to music by a dazzling array of composers. A number of anthems with "words by J. Paul Williams" have been sung at our church, including two with music by Ralph Manuel: "Cast Your Care on Him" (sung by the group "In His Care") and "In a Lowly Manger" (sung by the Adult Choir).

 I was extremely blessed to have known two such exceptional men. Besides their God-given talent, they had in common a spirit of encouragement and an attitude of humility. Their lives were a testament to the Lord they loved as they used their talents in His service.

                                                            -- Ralph Manuel, Minister of Music