About the contributor, Laban West:
Born in Norfolk VA, December of 1950 and attended the Norfolk 1st Pentecostal Holiness Church
from early childhood.
He began his career in music at the age of 6, playing by ear, and beginning piano lessons.
Around the age of 9 he began playing for the youth Lifeliners in his church and by the age of 11 was the organist of the Norfolk 1st Church.
Laban also studied classical piano music from an early age and participated annually in the National Guild for a number of years, receiving his NG High School diploma in 1968.
After graduating in 1968 from Norview High School in Norfolk VA Laban accepted a music scholarship at Southwestern College in Oklahoma City.
While attending Southwestern, Laban was a member of the College Choir and Choraleers under the direction of Mr. Bill Hedrick.
In the fall of 1969 he met Susie Faulkner who also came to Southwestern from California. They
began dating early on in the fall of 1969 and were married in September of 1970.
Upon graduation from SWC in 1970 with an Associate of Arts degree, Laban transferred to Central State University in Edmond to pursue a Bachelors degree in Music Education.
In 1972 Laban joined the Air Force/Oklahoma Air National Guard (1972-78). After basic training and Tech school he was assigned to the 137th Aeromedical Squadron at Will Rogers Air National Guard Base in OKC.
After returning from military active duty, Laban resumed college at Central State and graduated in 1973 with a Bachelor of Arts in Music Education.
In the fall of 1977 Laban was asked to serve as Music Director at Southwestern College. Responsibilities included directing Choir and the Great Life Singers and teaching music classes and piano instruction. He continued teaching at the college until the school closed down its 10th St campus. When Southwestern College of Christian Ministries reopened in the fall of 1981 Laban was rehired as a music instructor on the new Bethany campus.
Mr. West remained on the music faculty through the 1980s as the school continued to grow. Ministry trips during this time included traveling to the Bahamas, California, Mexico, and culminating in 1986 with a month of singing and ministry in our sister churches in the South American countries of Brazil and Chile.
Following this, Mr. West transitioned to the administrative arm of the school serving as Dean of Students for the next 9 years while continuing to teach selected music classes.
During the early to mid 1980s Laban also completed his Master of Music Education degree at Central State University (graduating Magna Cum Laude) ..... and 11 hours toward his doctorate at the University of Oklahoma. The birth of Laban and Susie's sons Benjamin (1983) and Zachary (1985) took precedence over the completion of the doctoral program.
In 1990, Laban re-enlisted in the Oklahoma Air National Guard and retired from the military in 2004 as a Senior Master Sergeant (SMSgt) with 20+ years.
In 1994, after 17 years of service at Southwestern, Laban decided to pursue a different career accepting a teaching position with Oklahoma City Public Schools as a music instructor. He taught in Oklahoma City for 19 years and retired in 2013.
When Laban and Susie met, they began attending Muse Memorial Church on NW 10th in Oklahoma City. Laban has been involved in the music at Muse/River of Life/now Compassion Church OKC for almost 50 years. During this time he served in the positions of Pianist, Organist,Music Director, Choir Director, and Senior Musician.
Both Laban and Susie decided to fully retire at 62. Early retirement would afford them the opportunity to travel and be with their family. Laban has had the opportunity to travel to 50+ countries . He and Susie have visited all 50 states, and have participated in missions trips to Mexico, Costa Rica, Peru, Sudan, Nepal, and Bangladesh.
Laban has produced two CD's .... The Covered Wagon Sessions (comprised of traditional hymn
tunes) and Sharing Christmas (a collection of Christmas arrangements).
Photography has always been a hobby and pastime for Laban. Considering himself an amateur photographer, he started taking casual pictures almost as early as he starting playing the piano. He says that he now has over 150,000 images stored online.
Regarding their two sons... Benjamin and wife Deysi and family are currently serving as missionaries for the
IPHC in Peru, South America. They have three wonderful children - Gabriel, Ariel, and Abby.
Zachary and Alicia (Hutson) West now live in Oklahoma City where Zachary, an attorney, is an Assistant Solicitor General working under Oklahoma Attorney General Mike Hunter. They also have three beautiful daughters - Susanna, Bekah, and Lydia, and one on the way.
Born in Norfolk VA, December of 1950 and attended the Norfolk 1st Pentecostal Holiness Church
from early childhood.
He began his career in music at the age of 6, playing by ear, and beginning piano lessons.
Around the age of 9 he began playing for the youth Lifeliners in his church and by the age of 11 was the organist of the Norfolk 1st Church.
Laban also studied classical piano music from an early age and participated annually in the National Guild for a number of years, receiving his NG High School diploma in 1968.
After graduating in 1968 from Norview High School in Norfolk VA Laban accepted a music scholarship at Southwestern College in Oklahoma City.
While attending Southwestern, Laban was a member of the College Choir and Choraleers under the direction of Mr. Bill Hedrick.
In the fall of 1969 he met Susie Faulkner who also came to Southwestern from California. They
began dating early on in the fall of 1969 and were married in September of 1970.
Upon graduation from SWC in 1970 with an Associate of Arts degree, Laban transferred to Central State University in Edmond to pursue a Bachelors degree in Music Education.
In 1972 Laban joined the Air Force/Oklahoma Air National Guard (1972-78). After basic training and Tech school he was assigned to the 137th Aeromedical Squadron at Will Rogers Air National Guard Base in OKC.
After returning from military active duty, Laban resumed college at Central State and graduated in 1973 with a Bachelor of Arts in Music Education.
In the fall of 1977 Laban was asked to serve as Music Director at Southwestern College. Responsibilities included directing Choir and the Great Life Singers and teaching music classes and piano instruction. He continued teaching at the college until the school closed down its 10th St campus. When Southwestern College of Christian Ministries reopened in the fall of 1981 Laban was rehired as a music instructor on the new Bethany campus.
Mr. West remained on the music faculty through the 1980s as the school continued to grow. Ministry trips during this time included traveling to the Bahamas, California, Mexico, and culminating in 1986 with a month of singing and ministry in our sister churches in the South American countries of Brazil and Chile.
Following this, Mr. West transitioned to the administrative arm of the school serving as Dean of Students for the next 9 years while continuing to teach selected music classes.
During the early to mid 1980s Laban also completed his Master of Music Education degree at Central State University (graduating Magna Cum Laude) ..... and 11 hours toward his doctorate at the University of Oklahoma. The birth of Laban and Susie's sons Benjamin (1983) and Zachary (1985) took precedence over the completion of the doctoral program.
In 1990, Laban re-enlisted in the Oklahoma Air National Guard and retired from the military in 2004 as a Senior Master Sergeant (SMSgt) with 20+ years.
In 1994, after 17 years of service at Southwestern, Laban decided to pursue a different career accepting a teaching position with Oklahoma City Public Schools as a music instructor. He taught in Oklahoma City for 19 years and retired in 2013.
When Laban and Susie met, they began attending Muse Memorial Church on NW 10th in Oklahoma City. Laban has been involved in the music at Muse/River of Life/now Compassion Church OKC for almost 50 years. During this time he served in the positions of Pianist, Organist,Music Director, Choir Director, and Senior Musician.
Both Laban and Susie decided to fully retire at 62. Early retirement would afford them the opportunity to travel and be with their family. Laban has had the opportunity to travel to 50+ countries . He and Susie have visited all 50 states, and have participated in missions trips to Mexico, Costa Rica, Peru, Sudan, Nepal, and Bangladesh.
Laban has produced two CD's .... The Covered Wagon Sessions (comprised of traditional hymn
tunes) and Sharing Christmas (a collection of Christmas arrangements).
Photography has always been a hobby and pastime for Laban. Considering himself an amateur photographer, he started taking casual pictures almost as early as he starting playing the piano. He says that he now has over 150,000 images stored online.
Regarding their two sons... Benjamin and wife Deysi and family are currently serving as missionaries for the
IPHC in Peru, South America. They have three wonderful children - Gabriel, Ariel, and Abby.
Zachary and Alicia (Hutson) West now live in Oklahoma City where Zachary, an attorney, is an Assistant Solicitor General working under Oklahoma Attorney General Mike Hunter. They also have three beautiful daughters - Susanna, Bekah, and Lydia, and one on the way.