Who would have thought that our home church would be the Park Plaza Church of Christ in Tulsa, Oklahoma?  God moves in mysterious ways.  Here’s the recap . . .


This congregation is no stranger to our Praise & Harmony ministry.  Keith Webber (now the business manager for the congregation) made a concerted effort to ensure that our workshop came to Park Plaza, and we did just that; in fact, three times.  One visit, I was invited to lead worship on Sunday morning at the new civic center in town, allowing all the services of the church to combine into one very special Sunday celebration.

But why Park Plaza? Simply put, Park Plaza is an Antioch church.  I have never seen a congregation that is more outward-focused and so heavily involved in missions around the world; even to the point of involving a majority of the members in all types of missions and mission trips - - Park Plaza is seriously immersed in kingdom business.


With an outstanding group of elders, this congregation is also very committed to encouraging and preserving a cappella congregational singing.  Instead of merely offering a tepid endorsement, the leaders are willing to invest in strengthening the practice and participation of singing and worship.  In addition to developing worship leaders and enhancing the singing at Park Plaza, Sharon and I will continue our busy Praise & Harmony workshop schedule as well as international mission trips. 


We are grateful that the congregation is sponsoring  a great deal of our mission efforts; so much so, that the elders have bestowed upon me the title of “Musicianary.”  I’m very happy with the implications of this label, as I’m fully convinced of the power of music to convey the tenants of the Gospel, as well as being the ideal language through which to address our Creator.


Senior minister, Mitch Wilburn, is a true man of God who knows the Word and delivers it with skill and unsurpassed passion.  It’s a joy to work with him and to see the way he lives his sermons.  I’ve always been thankful for preachers who are not afraid to bear their souls and express deep emotion when sharing the message.


Our workshops were not our first introduction to Park Plaza.  In 1984 (the previous century, you know), the Acappella van and trailer rolled into this church’s parking lot, to unleash the latest version of our group at the time.  I remember how five of us presented a concert as we were beginning a tour to the West Coast.


But why Tulsa, Oklahoma, you say?  Actually, it is not that strange for this Tennessee boy to feel totally at home in Tulsa.  In fact, I consider it more of a “Jerusalem” to me than how others might claim Nashville, Abilene, or such.  Our first introduction to this oil town came as Sharon and I were students at Freed Hardeman, attending the very first International Soul-Winning Workshop.  Hearing David Powers, Marvin Phillips and so many others preach a practical message geared toward mobilizing for evangelism, proved to be a magnet to our hearts.


It was at Tulsa that I first learned of Williamstown Bible College.  The second annual International Soul Winning Workshop in Tulsa found us attending as newlyweds, about to move to West Virginia to continue our studies in the Scriptures and in Christian service.  Although I thought I’d given up a serious musical pursuit upon graduating high school, the first semester at Bible College provided a surprise opportunity to audition for an a cappella quartet that was destined to travel the country on behalf of the school (and would become the prototype of ACAPPELLA Ministries.)


By the third year of the Tulsa International Workshop, our college quartet was featured at Garnett and throughout the workshop.  We developed a relationship with my mentor, Marvin Phillips, a relationship that has now spanned decades.  In fact, some of the greatest mission memories that I cherish are of spending time as a “Silas” to Marvin in accompanying him in Australia, South Africa and across this nation.

It’s great to be at the same congregation with Marvin, as we held many worship workshops in the 90’s, (a definite precursor to our Praise & Harmony ministry.)  I love Marvin so much, that in 1982, as we were moving back to Tennessee, I was trying to decide if I wanted to launch a full-time a cappella group, or approach Marvin about being a worship minister with him.  (God led us to launch a full-time singing group.)


Yes, I’m a Tennessee boy.  Reared in West Tennessee and with a home in Nashville, we spread our time between Tennessee and Oklahoma and claim “dual citizenship.”  Most of you know how strong the church roots are in Nashville and Dallas.  But now, maybe you can understand why I can claim such a tie to Oklahoma and to the good people who live in this area, viewing this as "my Jerusalem."


Tomorrow, we’ll spend time with the Clark family, who serve the Agape church in Portland, Oregon.  They are also supported by Park Plaza.  We are looking forward to conducting a workshop for them in September.  Earlier this week, we spent quality time with the  Calegari family who minister to the church in Brasilia, also sponsored by our congregation.  We’ll look forward to being with them in Brazil in only a few weeks from now, as we join Acappella to conduct evangelistic concerts.


We’ve been approached to minister to another church sponsored by Park Plaza that is in New Orleans.  The list goes on and on.  You can see, there is a parallel to the Biblical mission home base of Antioch.  One of my dreams has been to find a home congregation that views our ministry as an extension of their work around the world. God has blessed us more than we asked or imagined.


Although we continue to travel quite extensively, it’s always a blessing to return home to recharge, meet with the worship committee, fellowship, lead singing and gear up for the next mission - whether that mission is Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria or the “uttermost parts of the world.”

Keith Lancaster
 -  Musicianary