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Grace Place Hawai'i Artists in Residence
Chris Alsup grew up in Memphis, Tennessee, surrounded by the rich traditions of gospel, blues, and rock-and-roll music, and spent eight years on staff at Bellevue Baptist Church serving in student and music ministries while performing in large-scale Christian productions attended by tens of thousands. He has sung with The Voices of Liberty at Disney World, toured for more than 25 years with retired Disney artists in churches across the U.S., and performed with well-known Christian artists including Steve Green and Francesca Battistelli. Chris holds a B.S. in Mathematics from the University of Memphis and an M.Div. from Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary and has served as a pastor and worship leader for over 35 years. He is currently Executive Director of Grace Place Hawai'i and Pastor of Grace Church Kailua, and is passionate about inspiring young people to use their God-given artistic gifts to share the message of Jesus Christ. Below are some links to our productions and musical experiences in using the arts for sharing the Good News!
Chris singing the part of the angel at the tomb in the Memphis Passion Play 2001
Chris interviewing multiple Grammy and Dove Award winners David and Celeste Clydesdale
Chris singing backup with Francesca Batistelli
Michael Gayer Jr (Mike) has been a Bible teacher and worship leader for over 20 years. He plays many instruments but specializes in guitar. He writes original Christian music and is also a children's book author. Mike has passed out thousands of gospel tracts, hundreds of Bibles, and has shared his faith withmany on college campuses, street corners, bus stops, and in individual conversations. Mike is part native Hawaiian and wants to see more people in Hawaii and beyond to come to faith in The Messiah. You can listen to one of his compositions on Youtube @michaelgayerjr7154
Crystale Cayaban is a passionate educator and cultural practitioner with over 12 years of experience integrating Hawaiian culture and performing arts. She holds a Master’s Degree in Education from Chaminade University and is a strong advocate for lifelong learning, continually expanding her expertise in dance and teaching. As Performing Arts Director of Moments Unforgettable, a nonprofit dedicated to reaching communities through the arts, Crystale
has helped guide a program that has served hundreds of students and produced numerous performances and full-scale productions. She teaches Tahitian, Hula, and Hawaiian Language, and is deeply committed to helping students grow artistically while honoring the culture, traditions, and stories of Hawaiʻi.
Lance Fairly’s love for art began in childhood, rooted in a deep wonder for the natural world. From his earliest years, he felt compelled to capture beauty as he saw it—an instinct that later led him to formal training at the Ringling School of Art in Sarasota, Florida, where he developed both technical skill and a belief in art’s power to inspire and uplift. Influenced by the Hudson River School and artists like Thomas Cole, Lance approaches nature as something sacred, filled with meaning and presence. Now living on OÊ»ahu’s North Shore, his work reflects HawaiÊ»i’s mountains, ocean, and light, infused with the Aloha spirit of harmony and respect for the land. Through richly detailed, vibrant paintings, Lance continues to share his conviction that art can connect people to beauty, goodness, and the wonder of the world around them. See more at www.lancefairly.com
Dr. Shellie O’Neal is a lifelong theatre artist and educator whose creativity was shaped early on by growing up in the piney woods of East Texas, where imagination and outdoor play were part of everyday life. With an active career in educational theatre, she has worked as an actor, director, technical director, designer, and playwright, and served for 20 years as Chair of Theatre at Navarro College in Corsicana, Texas. Dr. O’Neal discovered a passion for playwriting while seeking creative solutions for student learning, and her original works—many of which have received awards—have been performed in schools, churches, community theatres, and universities across the country. She holds an A.A. from Panola College, a B.A. and M.A. from The University of Texas at Tyler, and a Ph.D. from Louisiana State University. Whether hiking, kayaking, singing, writing plays, or spending time with her puppies, Dr. O’Neal continues to nurture imagination and believes deeply in theatre’s power to teach, delight, and help students better understand both art and life—preferably in a shade of her current favorite color, Creamsicle Orange. See more of her work at www.shellieoneal.com
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