Samantha Free Will Baptist Church welcomes Southern Gospel music artists James and Starla Dean
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Southern Gospel music artists James and Starla Dean will appear at 6 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 22 at the Samantha Free Will Baptist Church, located at 10211 S.R. 72 in Samantha.
James grew up in Wakeman, Ohio. He was raised in church and always loved to sing. He accepted Christ when he was 15 years old. From that point on, he had a desire to sing for the Lord. He began to travel nationally at the age of 19 when he joined The Kevin Spencer Family, which later became Kevin Spencer and Friends.
This would lead him to meet his wife Starla in 2001.
Starla grew up in Durant, Okla. Like James, she was also raised in church. She was saved at the age of 12 and never dreamed that singing – something she enjoyed doing, would be God’s plan for her life. She participated in the choral program in middle school all the way through college and continued to sing with her sisters in her home church and local churches.
Starla and her twin sister, Sharla, began singing at various events broadcasted by The Gospel Station, a local radio network, in Ada, Okla. They also held concerts bringing in southern gospel artists from across the country.
It was at one of these concerts where James, Starla, and Sharla would meet.
James always likes to say that Sharla had a lot to do with his relationship with Starla, because the night of the concert Starla did not want to go. But Sharla convinced her to go along. Since Starla and her twin sister are identical, James said it took a while to figure out which one he wanted to date. As time went on, James and Starla began dating in 2004, became engaged in 2005, and were married on June 10, 2006.
As it turned out, Kevin Spencer and Friends were looking for a tenor about the time James and Starla were planning to get married. Kevin talked to James about it and the rest fell into place. They began singing as Kevin Spencer and Friends (Kevin, James and Starla) two weeks after James and Starla were married.
It was from June 2006 to May 2010 that they sang on top charting songs and appeared on GMT (Gospel Music Television). They were also allowed the opportunity to be a part of the Gaither Gospel Series appearing on DVDs such as Rock of Ages and Amazing Grace.
James and Starla feel blessed by the opportunity the Lord has given them to be able to minister together to people all across the United States and other countries. They pray that they will continue to be used by and for Him, with songs that reach the hearts of people.
For more information, go to http://jamesandstarladean.com/about/
James grew up in Wakeman, Ohio. He was raised in church and always loved to sing. He accepted Christ when he was 15 years old. From that point on, he had a desire to sing for the Lord. He began to travel nationally at the age of 19 when he joined The Kevin Spencer Family, which later became Kevin Spencer and Friends.
This would lead him to meet his wife Starla in 2001.
Starla grew up in Durant, Okla. Like James, she was also raised in church. She was saved at the age of 12 and never dreamed that singing – something she enjoyed doing, would be God’s plan for her life. She participated in the choral program in middle school all the way through college and continued to sing with her sisters in her home church and local churches.
Starla and her twin sister, Sharla, began singing at various events broadcasted by The Gospel Station, a local radio network, in Ada, Okla. They also held concerts bringing in southern gospel artists from across the country.
It was at one of these concerts where James, Starla, and Sharla would meet.
James always likes to say that Sharla had a lot to do with his relationship with Starla, because the night of the concert Starla did not want to go. But Sharla convinced her to go along. Since Starla and her twin sister are identical, James said it took a while to figure out which one he wanted to date. As time went on, James and Starla began dating in 2004, became engaged in 2005, and were married on June 10, 2006.
As it turned out, Kevin Spencer and Friends were looking for a tenor about the time James and Starla were planning to get married. Kevin talked to James about it and the rest fell into place. They began singing as Kevin Spencer and Friends (Kevin, James and Starla) two weeks after James and Starla were married.
It was from June 2006 to May 2010 that they sang on top charting songs and appeared on GMT (Gospel Music Television). They were also allowed the opportunity to be a part of the Gaither Gospel Series appearing on DVDs such as Rock of Ages and Amazing Grace.
James and Starla feel blessed by the opportunity the Lord has given them to be able to minister together to people all across the United States and other countries. They pray that they will continue to be used by and for Him, with songs that reach the hearts of people.
For more information, go to http://jamesandstarladean.com/about/