About the piano at First Baptist, Fayetteville…

The First Baptist Church of Fayetteville, Arkansas is blessed to have a 9’ Steinway Concert Grand Piano. It is a wonderful instrument.  How we came to own this piano is a remarkable story of God’s work in our midst.

In 2000 our church established a fund to either refurbish or replace the Baldwin concert grand piano in our sanctuary that had been in service since the 1960’s. To honor Rita Savage for her ten years of service as Church Pianist, the Ministry of Music made a seed gift of $2,000.  Many inside and outside our church contributed and the fund enjoyed steady, though not particularly dramatic, growth. 

In the fall of 2002 an anonymous donor agreed to finish out the fund giving the balance needed to reach our goal.  However, we soon learned that the retail price had increased $5,000!  Beyond this, the local dealer had no interest in our Baldwin as a trade-in.  So, with $75,000 available, the fund remained open, as we waited for the additional $1,700 required. Two weeks later, that figure was reached and a week-long adventure began!

With some coercion, the local Yamaha dealer finally offered $8,000 for the old Baldwin as a trade-in.  At this point, none of these details had been shared with our church family.  So, it seemed unusual when a member left the minister of music this message:  “I know that it may be some time before the church is in the market for a new piano; but someone should check out the Steinway Piano Festival slated for this weekend in Rogers.”  This seemed to be odd timing and more than a coincidence.   

Despite an excellent reputation, a typically higher price over other brands of similar quality had precluded our considering Steinway from the outset.  Yet, numerous inquiries revealed that most knowledgeable sources still recommended Steinway as the best choice if finances allowed it. This, along with the local availability, seemed to demand further investigation into Steinway as a possibility. 

When contacted in Tulsa, the closest Steinway dealer quoted a retail price of $89,600, well beyond the funds available. Additionally, the dealer stated, “Presently we don’t have a concert grand on the floor.  We have one coming, but a Tulsa church has already asked to look at it.  However, at this moment, it is at our piano festival in Rogers, Arkansas.” 

Having the instrument in proximity, it seemed only reasonable to at least make an appointment to see and hear it.  With Rita Savage, church pianist, out-of-town, the minister of music made a trip to Rogers.  Impressed with the instrument, he was pleased to discover that the dealer allowed churches a 20% discount, making the price of the piano, $71,680, well within the funds available! Arrangements were immediately made for Mrs. Savage to play the piano upon her return.  The dealer also agreed to come to Fayetteville and make an appraisal of the old Baldwin as a trade-in. 

The following Monday the dealer offered $13,000 for the old Baldwin, reducing the church’s cost for the new Steinway to $58,680!  Later that afternoon, after playing a single hymn on the instrument, Rita Savage confirmed it:  “This is the one.” It was delivered to the church the following afternoon and has been an excellent resource for worship each week since. 

As a congregation we rejoice that God made it possible for our church to have such an exquisite instrument to use in worship.  Yet, as this story reveals, our gratitude is not so much that He blessed us with a Steinway; but rather, that as we sought God’s will, He led us to this specific instrument.  That it happens to be a Steinway is simply His extended grace.