[Amarte he, oh Jehová]

Composer: David M. Surpless

Born in Philadelphia, PA. in 1940, David was 1st child of Robert and Pauline (both poets in their own rights; she, a published poet), students at BIP, in Philadelphia, as they prepared to serve the Lord as missionaries in a Spanish country of God's choice, which turned out to be Puerto Rico. They arrived in PR as missionaries under CEF in January 1946 when David was 5. Soon after, twin sisters arrived (Ruth and Dorrie). During their 1st furlough to NJ, David began playing trumpet at 10, and got a new sister as well, (Betsy). Back in PR in 1951, he played trumpet in PR's School of music. At 15, after a year of piano lessons with the organist of a newly started Wesleyan Methodist Church (where he met his wife-to-be), whose husband's mi… Go to person page >