The Super Bowl of 1987 marks an important day for members of First Baptist Church Kingfisher.

That was the day Harold Drake began serving as the minister of music for the church.

Now, 32 years later, Drake and his wife Drulaine are retiring from their duties at the church.

“My life here has been enriched during my ministry by the Lord in many ways. I have grown through the preaching, teaching, serving and fellowship with Kingfisher’s First Baptist Church family,” said Drake. “I cannot begin to list all of the fond memories here.”

Since following God’s leading to Kingfisher, Drake has taken on several duties.

In addition to serving as the minister of music, Drake was also in charge of media and the senior adult ministry program.

For Drake, music has always been a part of his life.

“I grew up in a musical family and was always involved in school and church choir programs,” he said. “Following the leadership of the Lord, my junior year at Oklahoma Baptist University I began serving the Lord in a musical capacity in a local church.”

Prior to serving in Kingfisher, Drake was the minister of music and youth at the First Baptist Church in Bristow.

In Kingfisher, Drake served under the supervision of the senior pastor.

He directed both the youth and adult choirs as well as a fourth through sixth grade young musicians choir for 25 of the 32 years he has been at the church.

“I have also directed a youth and adult handbell choir, a youth ensemble, a ladies ensemble, an adult ensemble, a men’s choir that sang quarterly, for a brief time sang in a men’s quartet, worked with soloists, duets, trios and instrumental groups,” said Drake.

As minister of music, Drake was also in charge of ordering literature for all choirs and instrumentalists; working with the coordinator of children’s choirs to staff volunteers; directing music in church services; supervising the organist, pianist and, on occasion, instrumentalists; maintaining tuning of the pianos and upkeep of the church organ; supervising and coordinating all musical functions of the church to include but not limited to adult worship choir, master design youth choir and graded children’s choirs; and coordinating and planning music programs.

“In my ministry, I have seen changes in music styles,” said Drake.

He added that one of biggest challenges was staying current with new music.

Drake’s wife Drulaine also helped with the music programs at FBC Kingfisher.

A Jefferson, Texas, native, Drulaine served as the coordinator for the children’s choirs and directed one of the choirs.

She also helped her husband during the school year with master design youth choir rehearsals.

Other duties performed by Drake included recruiting and training media staff, rebroadcasting the weekly Sunday services on Pioneer DTV’s community channel, planning senior adult activities and visiting nursing homes, assisted living centers and homebound members.

Drake, originally from Oklahoma City, was also in charge of the senior adult Twilighter’s A-Glow program, or TAG.

Drake planned trips in and out of the state for the program, with the help of his wife, and secured speakers and entertainment for monthly programs.

He and his wife also helped plan master design youth choir mission trips.

“Kingfisher’s First Baptist Church has been blessed with a rich, musical history and many talented musicians and singers,” said Drake.

“Colossians 3:16 says, ‘Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.’ Singing in a choir is a unique experience. To me, it is one of the most important things in the world,” said Drake.

“A church choir and a strong music program provides a way to worship God in song and adds to the overall spiritual experience for an individual as well as a congregation. There is something about a choir that enriches the worship service. I believe it brings pleasure to the Lord when He hears his children worshiping together.”

Drake said he hopes the music program will continue to grow and develop in the future.

He has also been very active in the Kingfisher community during his time here.

“One of his favorite extra things to do was sports announcing for football and basketball games for the Yellowjackets from 1989 to the mid 2000’s,” said Drulaine.

Drake has also led Christmas carols for the opening night of Kingfisher in Lights, is a member of the Kingfisher Lions Club, was in all of the Rockin’ Boppin’ shows, in addition to many other contributions to the community.

In the meantime, Drake said he and Drulaine are both looking forward to the plans the Lord has for them.