Minister: Church Family Changed By Tragic Plane Crash

Matt Wilburn, minister of the Park Plaza Church of Christ, consoles his congregation on the loss of five church members.<BR><BR><A href="/global/Story.asp?s=11081324">Five Tulsans Killed In Chandler Park Plane Wreck</A> | <A href="http://parkplaza.org/" target=_blank>Message From Park Plaza Church Of Christ</A>

Sunday, September 6th 2009, 6:08 pm

By: News On 6

Minister: Church Family Changed By Tragic Plane Crash

By Jeffrey Smith, The News On 6

TULSA, OK -- More than 400 worshippers filled Park Plaza Church of Christ in Tulsa as the congregation remembered five church members lost in a plane crash Saturday.

Everyone on board was killed when their private plane clipped a tower wire near Chandler Park. The group was on the way to Dallas for OU's season opener.

Instead Stephen, Dana, Laura, and Christina Lester and family friend Kenneth Veteto were killed shortly after take off from Jones Airport.

Stephen Lester and Ken Veteto were senior deacons at the church on South Sheridan. Sunday morning the minister delivered a moving eulogy for the men who touched so many lives.

"Father if you've ever heard one of our prayers, Lord, hear this one, as we cry, please be with them Lord," prayed Minister Mitch Wilburn, Park Plaza Church of Christ.

It was a different kind of service for the church, Wilburn said, but then, "our church family is different" after Saturday's tragic event.

Heaven was enriched by the congregation's loss, he added.

Services for Dr. Ken Veteto are 1 p.m., Tuesday, September 8th at the Park Plaza Church of Christ. Arrangements for the Lester family members planned for Thursday.

Park Plaza Church of Christ has set up memory pages on their web site, and has started a Facebook page to remember the families.