Music Transition

We recently asked our Music Minister to resign.  There were philosophical and stylistic differences that kept us from operating on the same page, and clear expectations were not being met.  It was a difficult decision to make, but the right one.

Our Minister of Music, Charles Yale, had served our congregation with integrity and honor for over five years.  He worked hard, going way out of his comfort zone, to develop a service that blended traditional and contemporary music together.  He had begun to develop a praise band that was the first of its kind for our church.  All this while working full time as the Chief Architect for the Central Texas Veterans Hospital in Waco and Temple, not to mention he was a Lieutenant Colonel in the Air Force Reserves, and a single Dad of two active boys.  Charles was a gifted pianist, and talented in his dealings with our choir, both were areas where he excelled in ministry.

We wish nothing but the best for Charles and his boys.  We know this decision was difficult, and will sting as he reflects on his time here at Park Lake.  We hope in time that our relationship with him will be restored, and he will see God’s will as he enters new phases of his ministry.

Difficult decisions have to be made to move forward.  At times, people will be hurt as a result of the process.  If we fail to make these choices, stumble through the transition of the future for our church, we risk collapsing altogether.  The decision to make this move at this time was not done in a vacuum, the Personnel Committee was consulted, and key leaders were aware of our interaction with Charles that dates back two years.

Our philosophy for the music Ministry of Park Lake is to develop a program that allows the different generations represented in our congregation an opportunity to worship.  We strive to achieve a unified service, where all present express their adoration and praise towards God, through music familiar to them.  We want to provide opportunities for all those who attend our service regularly to use their talents to serve the Lord and each other through music; this includes playing instruments, singing in the choir, and participating in corporate worship.

We appreciate your prayers for us as we seek a replacement for this critical area of our ministry here at Park Lake.  We also would encourage you to pray for Charles as he is now in a transitional time between positions.