Williams, a University of Alabama graduate with a degree in musical composition, later earned his master’s in choral conducting from Georgia State University. After undergraduate study, he became a music director with Campus Crusade for Christ, leading evangelistic teams in the United States and around the world. Through his Campus Crusade experience, Williams developed a heart for evangelism that always remained part of his worship presentations, as well as a passion for international ministry.

Heaven’s harmonic ensemble became richer when the Lord called Wade Williams to his eternal home.

For more than 35 years, Williams served as director of music and worship leader at Perimeter Church (PCA) outside Atlanta, ChristChurch Presbyterian in Atlanta’s Buckhead community, and North Shore Fellowship (PCA) in Chattanooga, Tenn. Born July 10, 1953, he passed away May 1 after a two-year battle with brain cancer.

He was known throughout the PCA and beyond for leading worship “liturgically rich, historically rooted, theologically full and robust, and musically eclectic,” according to the Rev. Joe Novenson, with whom Williams served for five years at North Shore Fellowship, a church plant of Lookout Mountain Presbyterian.

Randy Pope, senior pastor at Perimeter Presbyterian, agreed. He hired Williams to become Perimeter’s second staff member in 1977 when it also was a church plant. “I’ve yet to meet anybody with as deep and biblical a philosophy of worship as Wade. He was uncompromising in this emphasis.

“He was a gifted singer and guitarist. Unlike many musicians who are so artistic they can’t lead others effectively, Wade was excellent at organizing. A people person, he attracted top musical talent, not only from metro Atlanta but also across the country. Many outstanding lay musicians came just to be part of our ministry and perform under his direction.”

Williams, a University of Alabama graduate with a degree in musical composition, later earned his master’s in choral conducting from Georgia State University. After undergraduate study, he became a music director with Campus Crusade for Christ, leading evangelistic teams in the United States and around the world.

Through his Campus Crusade experience, Williams developed a heart for evangelism that always remained part of his worship presentations, as well as a passion for international ministry. During his PCA career he led praise and worship teams to many countries, including England, Scotland, Russia, and Italy.

Pope and Williams both grew up in Gadsden, Ala., and knew each other. Based in Atlanta with Campus Crusade, Williams became one of Perimeter’s first members and then was invited to join Pope on the staff, initially serving as worship leader as well as overseer of the singles ministry and small group/discipleship programs.

By the church’s third year, the staff had grown sufficiently, enabling Williams to focus solely on worship, but “he and I spent so much time together, it would have seemed to the congregation as if we were co-pastors,” Pope noted.

A Musician Evangelist

In 1995 he coordinated services for the Korean War Memorial dedication in Washington, D.C.

One of the innovations Williams started at Perimeter was an evening evangelistic outreach called PM Perspective, productions held several times a year using secular music to attract non-believers. Each program had a specific theme, such as music of the 1960s, a Las Vegas-style revue, love (around Valentine’s Day), or a show featuring Disney film tunes, merging drama and music into a message consistent with the Gospel. At the end of each, Pope would connect the evening’s content with the truths of Jesus Christ.

“I remember stating if I ever lost Wade, I think I might just quit,” Pope said. “And when he decided to help in planting ChristChurch, I did feel the loss deeply.”

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