I've been friends with Allen French for many years. He's the worship minister for the Overland Park congregation and is one of the most spiritual men I know. I call him a "Barnabas," because he is constantly encouraging me. His heart for God is very obvious. As I ponder my music background, I can understand how worship leaders can lean heavily toward an inordinate musical emphasis and miss the spiritual priority of what we do. Allen's tender heart qualifies him to lead God's people in worship.
Allen's previous full-time worship minister role was with the Memorial Drive Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma. You'll see him at the Zoe Conference most years (including later this year) as he strives to fill his cup to better prepare himself to serve others. I'm proud that Allen has just completed his Masters degree through Pepperdine University. I hope you get to meet Allen sometime - although you'll find someone who knows as many corny jokes as I do!
There's a lot of variety in our Praise & Harmony traveling ministry; not only the geography and diversity of regional cultures, but the size and personality of the congregations. Overland Park is a rather large congregation with over 1,000 members. It was a privilege to work with the talented singers who serve in both the early and late services. At a recent Praise & Harmony professional recording, no church was more represented than Overland Park.
I don't have in my possession the other pictures that were taken for the weekend, but you can see some portraits that I took of smiling Overland Park members in my Portraits Gallery.
It was a treat to work with minister, Curt Sparks. As in most of our Praise & Harmony weekends, the preacher chooses a message on worship, praise and celebration to weave into a theme with congregational readings, prayers and songs. Curt served the Sycamore View Church in Memphis before moving to Overland Park. We stopped by there three years ago when we were conducting a boot camp for a new configuration of Acappella.
As a photographer, I'm always looking for potential photos. Sitting on the front row, I could not help but notice the way that Curt's hand gestures mimicked the silhouette on the screen representing praise, almost as if the screen was his shadow. I grabbed several shots that you can catch at the Overland Park Gallery.
What a powerful message and an inspiring weekend of worship! Check back at my galleries at www.AcappellaPhotos.com as I plan on adding more photos from the weekend at Praise & Harmony Overland Park Gallery. Also, I'll be adding some photos I took of the Vocal Union concert during our Overland Park weekend and some shots of our visit to the the very photogenic Plaza of Kansas City. Allen and Anne really spoiled us with unsurpassed hospitality.
