Rick Wilson came to serve Antioch as Music Director on January 1, 2009. Rick committed to take responsibility for selecting songs and leading the worship song service, and for coordinating special music, at Antioch. For the time being, at least, cantatas and choirs will not be part of his responsibility.
Rick and his wife, Michelle, have had a relationship with Antioch for some time through Rick’s family and the Ostbys. Rick, who supports his family as an architect, is the son of Joe and Frances Wilson, who attended Antioch for a while before Frances was called back to Riverlawn to play the piano for their traditional service. Some of you may also know Rick and Michelle from their work with Family Life’s Weekend to Remember (WTR) Marriage Conferences. They were in many ways leading the local WTR team until the birth of their son, Ian, in 2007.
Rick has been involved with music in worship since 1992, when he played keyboards for a campus Christian group at KSU. After his graduation in 1994, he returned to Riverlawn Christian Church to play piano/keyboards for the adult and teen worship services. He was interim worship leader in the latter half of 2000, and continued to play keyboards there until 2004, when he felt led to transfer membership to Southwest Baptist Church. He played piano/keyboards there since transferring, and led worship from 2006 through 2008.
Over the years, Rick has attended several workshops on music in worship and taken a graduate-level class on the subject at Friends University. Rick has also taught adult Sunday School classes at both Riverlawn and Southwest. Outside of work, family, and church, Rick enjoys playing viola in the Friends University Community Orchestra, the Grace Quartet, and occasionally with the Wichita Grand Opera.
Michelle is a talented vocalist, having lent her talents to numerous weddings, musicals, and solos, as well as leading with Rick on worship teams at Riverlawn and Southwest Baptist. Michelle has been a teacher in Christian schools up until the birth of Ian, who was born in November of 2007. She currently owns and manages the Grace Quartet, which has been playing in the Wichita area since 1999. In addition to her fine voice, she is exceptional at organization and management. She keeps the quartet schedule, makes client contacts, cues all entrances at weddings, and even acts as wedding coordinator from time to time, all while trying to maintain a household. She is currently working part-time at The Working Woman Shop, giving some proud grandparents time with their grandson while she is working and she has accepted the position as the Antioch Wedding Coordinator as well.
Rick and Michelle would appreciate your prayers as we plan to welcome Ian's sibling in November, if everything progresses as expected.