Paul Maxwell's Last Words

Jim Francis on the left, Paul Maxwell on the right.

Paul was scheduled to speak at the Houghton College Chapel on Friday morning, September 27th. He and his roommate, Jim Francis, were killed in an auto accident on September 25th. These notes for his chapel message were found on Paul’s desk, written the night before his death. Even after 20 years, he has something to say. Make sure to read all the way to the end.

Three years ago I had the incredible opportunity to spend part of a summer in Japan working with high school students through an organization called Hi-B.A.

It was amazing to see such a different part of the world, bu even more amazing to witness what God was doing over there—changing the lives of Japanese high school students.

This summer I was invited to return to Japan as part of a summer college team for a period of two months. I would work alongside the Japanese and American missionaries and my college teammate Mark from California. I was excited when I got there, as I had been to Japan before and knew a few words of Japanese and would meet old friends. My friend Mark, on the other hand, was without a clue. So it put me one up on him.

That excitement I felt when I thankfully stepped off that DC-10 after nearly 20 hours of flight only increased up to the day I sadly had to leave. What god did this summer through Gospel Team outreaches in the cities of Osaka and Tokyo to over 700 high school students astounded me. Japanese students were anxious to see and hear about the “God of the West”, which they have only heard on TV and in movies when used as a cuss word.


But even then, through the loud actions of love and acceptance, the power of God’s Holy Spirit made on impression on hearts that will have altered lives forever. And later on, towards the end of the summer, during the week-long camps at the coast, God brought a happiness to dismal lives that a week of making friends, playing sports, and swimming in the Pacific could never come close to doing.

For in that time, high school students met THE GOD of LOVE that they knew their parents and families would disown them for. But what they experienced they held onto with a tenacity that we as Americans only read about.

 This was incredible stuff to witness and actually be a part of. But there was something that happened during the first week of my stay in Japan that turned me upside down in fear but resulted in turning me right side up for God.

I don’t know what God has in store for me tomorrow, let alone three years from now. But I do know this—that I must seek God earnestly in faith with all my heart, soul, and strength—today!

Here's a video showing much of what teams like Paul's did in Japan.

If knowing Paul, or hearing about him touched your life, we'd love for you to leave a comment to let us know!