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The Keyboards for Christ Music Ministry History Now used in 16 Countries worldwide and 25 states in the US
The beginning's to SHARE the gift that other shared with me! To open the door's of children's hearts.
God was certainly into sensory experiences when he communicated with His people. In reading the Bible it amazed me how such a example of 'teaching' was given to us from God. So over the past 37 years I had been working in the development of this teaching method that God used.
Lets take for example
Exodus 20:1-16.
And all the people perceived the thunder and the lighting flashes and the sound of the trumpet and the mountain smoking; and when the people saw it, they trembled and stood at a distance.
For the early days of my career I had the calling within my heart and soul to share music with others. So I continued in the development of this teaching method with the music program. Want to know more about STS? Click here Adult Class Music Lessons: In my career I have been trained in 'class' teaching. I have studied with the masters in this field. From the early days of more than 7 classes each week I taught nearly 300 people each week. I worked with the major organ and keyboard manufactuer's, from Hammond, Kimball, Conn, Wurlitzer, Baldwin, Technics, Roland, Lowery. In the early 90's my class program teaching was written about in National Publications and I was honored to win a national from the Yamaha corporation of America in their "play for keeps" class music program. It was hard for many to believe that here in a small town of Wheeling, Wv that my classes where larger than the large markets throughout the United States. Watching seniors sitting down at a organ or keyboard and watching their faces simply light up was a blessing in itself. Music had been my whole life. From the age of 12, where a teacher told me, "you will never amount to anything in music" where in the same school a gray haired music teacher lifted my spirits up, and took me under her wings, then going into high school and the band director taking his lunch time to teach me how to play the tuba in the instrument room. The old timers had the right idea....they shared music with others. This burned deep into my being. How people had shared with me their gifts over the years. I remember a gentleman named Orlando, that guided me in the use of what he called "lush chords". He shared with me how to play these chords in song arrangements, and commented " this is how the concert artists do it, Dan". And they all were right, Mr. Zinka my band director opened the door's with the tuba for me to become known for my pedal mastery of the organ. I simply loved playing the foot pedals, and could play songs with both my feet. Not to take away from music teachers by any means who earn a living teaching. What I was given a music teacher cannot give. What we share we cannot share. It comes from within ones being. The word was Share. It is not like training, or teaching, for share is giving of ones self... and this is something that you can't purchase in lessons, or in schools. Each person had their own method, their own experiences, their own way dealing with music, and they shared it with me. Shared their time, and gifts. There are musicians that are trained in music, note for note, but become as I call it....mechanical. Those who shared with me, showed me how to become a artist and "Paint the music on the keyboards". If we take time to realize about music, it has always been present before us. The Bible showed us so many examples of how music effected people, how the prophets called upon the minstrels, and how David calmed the soul of Saul. But deep in my heart something was missing? Time went on, and these programs became more concerned with "selling" organs more than teaching adults music. I understand that the companies had to conduct business, but rather than marketing and bottom line I always believed that things would take care of themselve. When I had classes of 300 each week, it was natural for those to want instruments or even trade up to better instruments, and nature always took the coarse, without pressure using music as I see now " just a means to make money". As the organ market began to fall apart, there were only left a few manufacturers. They continued to ride the band wagon but now using words like " wellness " into their organ teaching programs. Great, but the problem is since the market had declined, the prices went up and up. I just could not continue on this journey. It is ok to make a fair market value on a product but three and four times the cost It just ate away at what my late dad and other's had taught me about business. That was not in my heart, though I was in sales from a very early age, and worked my way up to a store wide sales manager, I always keep music first and the well being of the person. I had began the program in 1999 and had a Internet web site called DanWheelerkeyboardartist.com. This site began my ministry although the Keyboards For Christ program had not been launched yet.
Then unexpectedly as I was going to work one Saturday as a manager of a music store in a mall, I took a fall on some black ice and which left me disabled. I was told that I would never perform concerts again. What a change in my life. I worked hard for 15 months in Physical Therapy but soon found out that what the doctor's told me was true. I could no longer play the pedals on the organ as I once could, and my ability to perform was gone. I did not give up and made my way back to be able to play my keyboards some, standing up. Well, as they say, were one door is closed another is opened. That is what happened to me. I started to focus more on the KFC music program. Then a changing moment came in my life. Down the road, I laid dying in my hallway which brought me to where I am today. It opened the eyes of my heart to what God had planed for me from the beginning. I started to author the Keyboard for Christ Music Program on paper. Page for page more of the program came together, using the 10 Commandments as the foundation of the program. My spirit was lead by God that we need to get back to the basic's...the laws of God. The door to pilot the program was opened by God at the oldest Church in Wheeling, Wv. The Fourth Street United Methodist Church.
Well, now you know the beginnings of this ministry. As the program progressed week by week for 12 weeks, it was amazing to watch the children come bringing their parents some 30 min. before each class. The excitement grew. As the year went on, God opened more doors for me. I began my study's to become a youth and music minister. To launch a Internet ministry that has turned into a worldwide ministry which has reached over 1/2 million. I was awarded a full scholarship for my degree. I studied and worked in class and the more knowledge I obtain, the more desire of my heart to study and like the dry sands of the desert wanting water....wanting more of Gods word. In 2005 I received my degree. Now I fully knew what God had in mind for my life. My mom told me from birth, when I was born, the cord was wrapped around my neck three times and they thought I was dead. She told me in latter life, that she saw Jesus in the delivery room that day, and that there was a special purpose for my life. Like the song says, all thing beautiful in His time. Well I thank God for his patience with me, for his faithfulness, and to allow me to travel life from a father of three sons, a sales manager, concert artist, teacher, professional hockey team organist, and now to the final chapter of my life...a humble servant. I never could have expected that 10 years latter the one time hobby web site has turned into a worldwide ministry. But it happened, The Keyboards for Christ Music Program then turned into a full ministry. The Keyboards for Christ Music Ministry. As I grew, the Lord opened new doors, including a pilot program for a Youth program called The Circle of Life Youth Program and Christian Drum Line which again was all God's doing. Then came The Hero Academy, Vacation Bible School program and Sunday School Programs and materials. I praise God for allowing me to be His servant to the world, using the gifts he has given me to share with others. Making the difference.....one child at a time...using music to teach the Bible. Now in 16 countries, 25 States in the U.S.A. used by missionaries, The Salvation Army, colleges, teachers, worldwide. WOW..when I worked for Wurlitzer we had a slogan one year...Expect the Unexpected.....How true that is with GOD, to expect, to claim, to hold fast to His promises, stand upon them! Freely given, shared with me by others, and now freely given to the world! TO GOD I give all the glory, honor and praise. For this ministry bears His name....Christ,
Keyboards for Christ Music Ministry |
Well here it came, it was a dark night and I was set up to pilot the first Keyboards for Christ Music Program. My keyboards were set up, the women of the church prepared refreshments. The program was to start at 7:00. Well 6:30 came, then 6:45, then 6:50 the doors remained closed, no one was present yet. My heart was heavy, and I walked back into the hallway by the kitchen, and raised my hands to heaven and prayed, Oh, Lord this is your program and I except whatever you do, I am simply your servant. I turned and went back into the room, it was now 6:57 and the door opened. In they came children and parents. As the room filled with 12 children and their parents I then knew that it was truly God's will that the Keyboards for Christ Music Program was to be launched.