Piano-By-Ear: David & Antonia Ministry History

David Wayne Lawrence was born in Jersey City, New Jersey, to Evangelist John and Ethel Lawrence. He became a Christian at a very young age. At 12 years old, the oldest of 7 children, David had a desire to play the piano. He went before the Lord in prayer and asked the Lord to teach him. As David began to worship the Lord and pray on a daily basis, he learned how to play in just thirty days.

In 1976, he received a full scholarship to Oral Roberts University as a singer on their regular television programs. Besides being a full-time student, He directed a campus choir and ensemble called Souls A' Fire. When the teachers at ORU could not help him improve on his BY EAR playing ability, they requested that David teach them what he was doing. So David sought the Lord, and for 7 days he received REVELATION KNOWLEDGE on how to teach people to play the piano "BY EAR".

Oral Roberts University is where David met his wife, Antonia D.A. Edwards. Antonia was born to Jamaican parents in Manchester, England, and was raised in Canada. She received her degree in Social Work in 1981. They now have 6 lovely children, 4 girls and 2 boys.

After graduating from ORU with a degree in Music Education, Theology, and a minor in Psychology, David and his wife Antonia, moved to Fayetteville, Arkansas. There, he directed a gospel choir, and was the Assistant Director of Financial Aid at the University of Arkansas for three years. In May of 1983, the Lord called him into full-time ministry. He and his wife pastored NEW CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP and travelled together ministering in song and the Word. They also conducted KEYBOARD SEMINARS, teaching groups of 20 people to play the piano "by ear" in just 8 hours. In the fall of 1983, they recorded their first independent album, JESUS BE GLORIFIED.

Having served as Pastors, Evangelists, Missionaries, Musicians, and Songwriters, God has called David and Antonia to minister to the body of Christ in the area of PRAISE AND WORSHIP through biblically sound music and teaching. The anointing of the Holy Spirit is evident as they preach, teach and sing the Word of God across the United States, Canada, South America, the Caribbean and South-East Asia.

In the fall of 1984, David and his family moved to Atlanta, Georgia and began the Piano-By-Ear and Gospel Arts Institute. THE GOSPEL ARTS INSTITUTE, is a Bible-based Christian Ministry whose purpose is to equip people to glorify God through Music. While David has a special TEACHING ANOINTING to teach people HOW TO PLAY THE PIANO BY EAR in just a few hours, Antonia has a extraordinary voice and a well balanced understanding of SINGING AND VOCAL TECHNIQUES. Together, they share their gifts by developing and strengthening Local Church Music Departments through their WORSHIP & MUSIC SEMINARS. Much of what they share has been experienced while serving as Worship Leader and Pastor of Worship at Christ Fellowship Atlanta, for 8 years. Currently, David serves as a Pastor of Worship working with UniteAtlanta, and Antonia is Vocal Director and Worship Leader at Victory World Church in Norcross, Georgia.

This ministry has a vision to bring together anointed and skilled instructors to establish a UNIVERSITY OF TRANSFORMING ARTS. Together, they will equip the body of Christ to minister in every area of THE ARTS, TO PRAISE AND WORSHIP GOD.

Based in Atlanta, Georgia, the Institute currently provides TOOLS OF WORSHIP in the areas of PIANO-BY-EAR, VOCAL INSTRUCTION, AND WORSHIP DEPARTMENT DEVELOPMENT AND MANAGEMENT. These tools, given through audio cassettes, video tapes, seminars and workshops, will equip the saints and help them become effective worshipers, musicians and vocalists. Other resources include a Cross-cultural praise and worship tapes entitled, "Worship Defined" and "Righteousness & Praise", "Up Close and Personal", "Live in Brazil", "Kingdom and Power" ,"Pure Worship", with their Atlanta based worship team, 'His Friends', and now with Antonia's new Solo Project entitled, "Free To Be Me."

In addition to preaching, teaching, and singing, David and Antonia led the ATLANTA PRAISE & WORSHIP CHOIR and the FLORIDA PRAISE & WORSHIP CHOIR, which recorded the videos "GOD IS ABLE" and "SING OUT WITH ONE VOICE", with Ron Kenoly, for Integrity Music. They served as hosts for the 'PRAISE THE LORD' program for Paul and Jan Crouch's Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN) for serveral years.

David and Antonia's call is summed up with this phrase - CROSS-CULTURAL EDUCATION AND ACTIVATION TO PRAYERFUL WORSHIP, leading God's people of every nation in worship that is directed straight to the heart of God.