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Darrel Frater

Overview​

Darrel Frater is a Christian entrepreneur and community builder based in Tulsa, Oklahoma, focused on faith-based business development. He relocated to Tulsa from New Jersey approximately two years ago (around 2023) and is developing initiatives to integrate faith principles with entrepreneurship. He has connections to local Tulsa leadership and faith institutions, making him a potentially valuable contact for both Alpha Schools expansion and the God Wave Festival concept.

Background & Personal Details​

  • Originally from New Jersey, moved to Tulsa around 2023
  • 32 years old (as of May 2025)
  • Family man with a 2-year-old child and second child due around June 7, 2025
  • Strong Christian faith that guides his professional endeavors
  • Connected to Beef Jones through content around raising funds/capital

Professional Focus​

  • Developing "Ephesians 2:10" - a concept to catalyze entrepreneurship with Christian foundations
    • "Based on Ephesians 2:10... the goal is to really catalyze marketplace ministry to where we're empowering entrepreneurs to start businesses that are successful and done with excellence, but really understanding how by running a successful business, it's a great vehicle for the gospel to be spread."
  • Creating incubators to develop "net new entrepreneurs" with Christian values
  • Focused on "marketplace ministry" that extends Christian impact beyond church walls
  • Has been creating content around capital access for approximately four years
  • Has connections to Tulsa's mayor's office and local institutions
  • Well-connected to faith-centered venture capital networks

Connection to Faith Community​

  • Connected to Oral Roberts University (ORU) in Tulsa
  • Expressed enthusiasm about connecting Gary with ORU leadership
  • Strong biblical perspective on patience and divine timing
  • Believes in the integration of faith and business as a vehicle for spreading the gospel

Plaza 210 Comprehensive Vision (Detailed June 20, 2025)​

Biblical Foundation - Ephesians 2:10​

Scripture-Based Mission: "For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." This verse serves as foundational framework for faith-driven entrepreneurship.

Core Philosophy: "The goal is to really catalyze marketplace ministry to where we're empowering entrepreneurs to start businesses that are successful and done with excellence, but really understanding how by running a successful business, it's a great vehicle for the gospel to be spread."

Dual Organization Structure​

Non-Profit Arm: Center for Faith and Business

  • Resource hub and mentorship center
  • Coworking space for faith-driven entrepreneurs
  • Book and merchandise store featuring kingdom business resources
  • Educational programming on biblical entrepreneurship principles

For-Profit Arm: Plaza 210

  • Faith-driven entrepreneurship incubator
  • Dedicated buildings for different business verticals
  • Kingdom business culture and community development

Incubator Model - Business Vertical Integration​

Beauty & Personal Care: Dedicated beauty studio space for hair, makeup, and related services providing first office space for entrepreneurs.

Food Service: On-site food court offering restaurant concept testing and development opportunities.

Professional Services: Office spaces for consulting, legal, accounting, and other professional service businesses.

Retail & E-commerce: Storefront opportunities for product-based businesses and online retailers seeking physical presence.

Technology & Innovation: Dedicated space for tech startups and digital service providers.

Incubator-to-Community Scaling Strategy​

Phase 1 - Incubation: "So the plaza serves as an incubator. We help you get started. We help you get mentorship, resources, and capital."

Phase 2 - Launch: "And then hopefully you can actually get land and property outside the plaza. And now you're in the community with your business."

Phase 3 - Kingdom Impact: "And hopefully you take those kingdom principles that we teach you throughout that journey. And now you have your own business that when people walk into your facility, it can be an opportunity for the gospel to be spread to your customers."

Community Transformation: Focus on creating "radical transformation in our community" through kingdom business principles dispersed throughout broader business ecosystem.

National Scalability Framework​

Replication Model: "And if this model works well here in Tulsa, it could work in the city across the country."

Marketplace Ministry Focus: Emphasis on business as evangelism vehicle: "I feel like the marketplace is one of the most effective vehicles for the spread of the gospel."

Kingdom Business Culture: Creating sustainable community where faith-driven entrepreneurs "all thrive and serve each other and give. And uplift each other and have a culture."

Potential Collaboration Areas​

  • Dr. Alexander 70-Acre Integration: Potential to locate Plaza 210 within Dr. Alexander's downtown development ecosystem
  • Bishop Benjamin Family Life Centers: Alignment with Cape Renoir Business Incubator concept for comprehensive community development
  • Clay Clark Business Platform: Integration with quarterly business conferences and SEO/digital marketing expertise
  • Tulsa School System: Educational component integration for youth entrepreneurship development
  • White House Faith Initiatives: Access to federal faith-based funding across all government departments
  • Men's Brotherhood Development: Cohort-based intensive programs for male leadership restoration
  • Technology Integration: AI and "angelic intelligence" applications for business development and community coordination

Initial Interaction Highlights​

  • Expressed strong support for Gary's White House meeting with Paula White
  • Offered prayer and spiritual guidance, particularly around patience and divine timing
  • Shared wisdom about the importance of finding the right spouse for "kingdom purpose"
  • Showed enthusiasm for hosting God Wave Festival in Tulsa
  • Offered to make introductions to local Tulsa leaders and organizations

Spiritual Insights Shared​

  • Emphasized God's timing vs. human impatience: "God's timing is perfect and as believers we should desire God's will over our own"
  • Spoke about fruits of the spirit, particularly patience
  • Discussed the four divine institutions: family, church, business, and government
  • Offered perspective on spiritual discernment in relationships
  • Led prayer for Gary's White House meeting and future endeavors

Interactions​

  • 2025-05-16: Initial phone conversation before Gary's White House meeting. Discussed potential collaborations, shared faith perspectives, and Darrel led prayer for Gary's meeting with Paula White. Established foundation for future collaboration around God Wave Festival in Tulsa and connections to local leadership.

  • 2025-05-18: Follow-up conversation after Gary's White House meeting with Paula White. Gary shared insights about the faith representatives in each government agency and potential funding opportunities for Christian initiatives. Discussed briefly about Alpha Schools partnerships and a potential World's Fair for America's 250th anniversary. Attempted to schedule a meeting, with plans to follow up on scheduling.

  • 2025-06-20: STRATEGIC DINNER CONVERGENCE - Pivotal dinner meeting with Gary Sheng and Bishop Leon Benjamin revealing significant alignment between Plaza 210 vision, Family Life Centers, and Dr. Alexander's 70-acre development. Detailed comprehensive faith-based entrepreneurship model including dual organization structure (Center for Faith and Business non-profit + Plaza 210 for-profit incubator). Articulated incubator-to-community scaling strategy: "So the plaza serves as an incubator. We help you get started. We help you get mentorship, resources, and capital. And then hopefully you can actually get land and property outside the plaza." Offered "boots on the ground" collaboration commitment and expressed location flexibility for potential integration with Dr. Alexander's downtown ecosystem. Demonstrated sophisticated understanding of marketplace ministry principles and national scalability vision.

Next Steps​

  • Schedule visit with Dr. Alexander at factory or residence to discuss Plaza 210 integration
  • Coordinate with Bishop Benjamin on Family Life Centers alignment
  • Explore potential integration with Dr. Alexander's 70-acre downtown development
  • Develop brotherhood/men's leadership development programming
  • Connect with Tulsa mayor's office through existing relationships
  • Advance government faith-based funding initiative coordination

Transcripts​

Transcript IDDateSummary
2025-05-18-darrel-frater-conversation-summary2025-05-18Conversation with Darrel Frater - White House Faith Office Update
2025-05-16-conversation-with-darrel-frater2025-05-16Foundation for future collaboration including God Wave Festival in Tulsa, faith-based entrepreneurship through Ephesians 2:10 initiative, and spiritual guidance before Gary's White House meeting
2025-06-20-tulsa-dinner-strategic-collaboration2025-06-20Strategic dinner with Gary Sheng and Bishop Leon Benjamin aligning faith-based entrepreneurship initiatives