Eastman First Baptist Keeps Faith, Sings Out With Pianos For Praise

As seen in the Boston Chronicle, Issue Two, 2015.

Clay Layfield recognized that Eastman First Baptist Church needed a new piano. But when the keys on the old one still go up and down, it can be a significant challenge convincing some members to replace it, especially during a $2.5 million children's building project.

"The most common response was 'why do we need it?' Our building campaign was going well, so we decided it would be best to wait," recalls the associate pastor of music. Plans changed, however, after the lowest G string in the bass section snapped, bringing the feeble condition of the existing piano to the forefront.

Mr. Layfield, who plays guitar and drums, didn't realize how bad the 37-year-old piano was until a fellow music minister invited him to another church, and he heard the soul-stirring sounds of a new Steinway. In February, he reconnected with Eric Campbell, a classmate from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and church consultant at the Steinway Piano Gallery Atlanta-Alpharetta. "It was providential.

I trusted Eric's opinion and he knew what we were looking for," he said. At the new Steinway showroom in Phipps Plaza, with blessings of two church pianists who accompanied Mr. Layfield, Eastman selected a Boston GP-178 Performance Edition in high polish ebony. "We liked the Steinway design, and the price point made it very attractive," he said, noting The Steinway Promise helped solidify the decision. Anytime within the next ten years, the church is eligible to apply the full purchase price toward a new Steinway grand piano.

From Mr. Campbell s perspective, "the wide tail design was helpful because there was not much room in the choir loft where the new piano needed to go. This model, with a larger sound, was the best fit for a smaller footprint."

To fund the purchase, Mr. Layfield inquired about Steinway's Pianos for Praise program, enabling Eastman to enjoy the glistening new Boston for two months while inspiring donors to pay for it. "When we talked about the need, we had a little response," he said, "but once our church members got a chance to hear it, that helped everyone get behind the project."

"They started an Adopt-A-Key fundraiser with envelopes in the pew racks and progress reports in the church bulletin," explains Mr. Campbell, adding that congregants could purchase a key for $300.

The generosity of church members, combined with the trade-in value of the former piano and a supplementary contribution from the general fund put all the pieces together.

According to Mr. Layfield, "the mood of the church went from 'we can't do this, to 'we're ready to do this.' Some folks gave what they could. They bought a half key in the first month and the other half in the second month of the campaign. As we saw with our building project, when everyone gives to his or her capacity, it's remarkable."

Mr. Layfield was out of town when the piano arrived just before Easter Sunday. "I got there about an hour before our nine a.m. Easter service for a sound check and when our pianist started playing, I couldn't believe what I was hearing," he said.

Musical arrangements at Eastman can combine piano, guitar, bass guitar, drums, flute, saxophone, violin, and occasionally an organ. "The piano sounds great by itself, but also provides much richness for the other instruments. Now, even when our bass guitarist is missing, you can hear that bottom, and it makes a big difference," he said.

The new instrument won high praise at a concert by the renowned Jubalheirs, a female chorus composed of organists, pianists, college faculty and ministers of music who serve more than 160 Georgia Baptist churches and ministries. "We were proud that these talented women from so many wonderful places got to see and hear the excellence of the Boston piano," said Mr. Campbell.

Pastor Dr. Jerry Peele even suggested someone in the church compose a special song to commemorate the latest addition to its musical family. "I am always grateful for good music . . . to see children singing and playing, growing and developing. And I thank God for our new piano," he said.