NATCHEZ &045;&045; Memories of nurturing love from Parkway Baptist Church members take Joey Williams back many years. Now he has returned to give to the congregation some of himself and his talents.

&uot;I started going to church here when I was in the second grade,&uot; said Williams, the new minister of music at the large Baptist church on Seargent S. Prentiss Drive. &uot;I grew up in the children’s ministry, the youth ministry and was always involved in music.&uot;

He remembers especially Buddy Casey, minister of music; and then during his high school years, Myron Burris. &uot;The friendship and encouragement of Myron affected God’s calling on my life in the music ministry,&uot; Williams said.

In his junior year at Natchez High School, he began to think about the future, he said. &uot;My desire always had been to be a baseball player, but that didn’t pan out. I sang in choral programs in church and in school.&uot;

He paid attention to the work of the music minister. &uot;Especially watching Myron and having a close relationship with him, I felt God was leading me into the ministry of music.&uot;

Kenny Jackson, a member of Parkway’s sanctuary choir and longtime member of the church, was chairman of the search committee that ultimately called Williams to the position.

&uot;We knew him and we loved him, but we wanted God to lead us to the right person,&uot; Jackson said. For a while, the committee resisted serious consideration of Williams for the position because of how close they felt to him. However, time went by, and the call became obvious.

&uot;God just worked it out, and it’s been wonderful,&uot; Jackson said. &uot;Joey is mature, professional, personable and an excellent conductor. We are just thrilled.&uot;

Williams sat in the same office where he received friendly advice and counsel from his mentor, Burris, as he reflected on the new position.

Sitting on the music minister’s side of the desk has been a humbling experience in the few weeks since he returned to his home church to work.

&uot;I’d come to this very office to talk to Myron. On the first day, it was a very unique feeling sitting on this side of the desk,&uot; Williams said. &uot;It was kind of humbling to think of what this church had invested in me and now the trust they have placed in me. I would love to have an impact on young lives here.&uot;

He is the first in the Parkway church family to leave and then come back in an official staff capacity. &uot;I’m sure it was a step of faith for them to bring me back.&uot;

The music ministry at Parkway begins with preschool children and goes to adult choir. &uot;My goal is that every musical activity not be just music but be worship and for that to be the mindset of everyone who participates,&uot; he said.

The focus will be on God. &uot;We will not be so focused on our performing that we forget why we do it &045;&045; to see living change all around us.&uot;

Music is important in the worship experience, Williams said. &uot;It stirs the soul and touches the heart. When you bring that to a spiritual setting, it gets us ready to hear what God wants to say to us through the pastor.&uot;

One month into his new position, the young music minister is excited about his work and about settling in Natchez with his wife, Jennifer, whom he met at Hillcrest Baptist Church in Jackson while he was a student at Mississippi College, and their one child, Jordyn Elizabeth, who is nearing her first birthday.

Williams, the son of former Natchez residents Artie Joe and Kay Williams, holds an undergraduate degree in church music from Mississippi College and a master of arts in Christian education from Baptist Seminary in New Orleans.

He is overwhelmed by the love shown him on his return to Parkway, he said. &uot;It’s been neat to experience the love from this side, experiencing the love in a totally different way,&uot; he said. &uot;I don’t know whether the community knows how loving this church is. Their arms are just wide open.&uot;