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You can understand why Lou and Kris Rhoades of the city's Well Ministries think that some supernatural force is trying to derail this week's gospel sing at the Renziehausen Park bandshell.

First, someone broke into their home on Versailles Avenue and stole two video cameras, a laptop and a digital music mixer --- plus Kris Rhoades' flute.

Then, the replacement cameras they ordered from California became lost in transit.

Add that to other annoyances --- like the neighbor who kept complaining about The Well Ministries' tour bus --- and you could also understand if the Rhoadeses decided to chuck it all and stay home on weekends.

Instead, Lou and Kris Rhoades and their friends are keeping the faith. In fact, they're "prayer-walking" the hiking/biking trail around Renzie every night this week in preparation for Saturday's all-day gospel music sing.

"We've staked our ground, and we're claiming the ground as holy ground," Rhoades says.

. . .

It's the eighth-annual all-day gospel event that The Well has sponsored at Renzie. Events begin at 12 p.m. and continue until 9 p.m. with a mix of traditional gospel singers, contemporary Christian music, and The Well's unique puppet show.

The festivities will also be webcast live on The Well's website. More than 250 people attended last year's sing, Kris Rhoades says.

The Rhoadeses, who also own and operate Castle Printing, launched their local ministry more than 16 years ago with "Puppets for the King," a lighthearted mix of jokes, songs and inspirational messages aimed at kids and parents. Think a Christian-themed "Sesame Street." Lou Rhoades, a native of McKeesport, provides the voice of the slightly befuddled but sweet "Grandpa."

About eight years ago, the Rhoadeses formed a contemporary Christian singing group, Chalice. Like the puppet show, Chalice performs at churches and schools throughout Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia and New York. The quartet also includes DJ and guitarist Gary Coddington of the city and Keith Szirmae, a guitarist and singer from White Oak.

Chalice is Christian but ecumenical; Coddington is Catholic, Szirmae is Methodist, and Lou and Kris Rhoades are both members of the First Church of the Open Bible. The group has released three self-produced CDs.

In fact, the audio tracks from the third CD, as well as some production work for a fourth CD, were on the laptop computer that was stolen in an Aug. 3 daylight burglary, while the Rhoades family was at an event at a church in New Stanton.

Kris Rhoades' flute --- she's had it for 35 years --- was recovered at a Pittsburgh pawn shop, and the same person who hocked it apparently also tried to sell the digital video cameras. Police are investigating.

"There was a lot of other equipment that they didn't take," Kris Rhoades says. "It's really odd that it was only the stuff we're going to use for the gospel sing."

Darker forces at work, or just plain bad luck? You decide.

. . .

Donations have paid for replacement equipment that's currently stuck somewhere between the West Coast and McKeesport; if it doesn't arrive, she says, they'll borrow cameras to make sure that the show goes on.

The Well has overcome setbacks before. Last year, another ministry donated a tour bus, which was parked alongside the Rhoades home on Versailles Avenue. Since Chalice and Puppets for the King are on the road about three weekends per month, the bus is a huge convenience.

But its arrival instantly unleashed a flurry of complaints from a neighbor who claimed the bus was obstructing traffic.

The complaints tapered off after city police and Mayor Jim Brewster were assured that the bus was inspected, and wasn't blocking a sidewalk or public street.

. . .

Still, some hurt feelings remained until this Thanksgiving, when The Well Ministries was helping distribute complete turkey dinners to needy families. They had a surplus this year, and Lou Rhoades decided to take one of the dinners to the neighbor who had filed the complaints. The neighbor burst into tears at the gesture.

"You really can turn around your enemies with kindness," Kris Rhoades says.

. . .

Admission to Saturday's all-day gospel sing is free. Events begin at 1:15 p.m. with Grant Van Leuven and the River Town Band. Refreshments and activities for kids, including facepainting, also will be available. In case of rain, events will move inside to First Church of the Open Bible, 719 Union Ave. Call (412) 664-WELL for more information or visit the Well's website.

Editor's Note: In the interest of full disclosure, the author produces a Sunday afternoon gospel radio show, "Sharing Pearls," for WKHB (620) radio; its hosts are among the artists who will be performing at Sunday's event. However, no remuneration or consideration was offered in exchange for this story.

* --- Correction, Not Perfection: The gospel sing is Saturday, Sept. 6. The first version of this story had an incorrect date.