Do You Really Wanna...

So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless.

~1 Corinthians 15:58 (NLT)

     When I have time, I enjoy watching dance ministry videos just to see what others are doing, or to be blessed by someone else's gifts. There are so many You Tube channels with hundreds (if not thousands) of  recorded footage that makes it impossible to view every one. No matter where the group is based, what music they choose to dance to, how much or how little choreography they use, or their skill level or age, the one thing that effective ministries have in common is that they all look happy to be dancing for the Lord. They dance with their entire being, they are not hindered or holding back. Their facial expressions are full of peace, joy, and reverence. If the song is intense, they project that in the same way. Even through the computer or tablet/phone screen, the intention of the message can be clearly seen and felt.

     I remember hearing a long time ago, that if you want to know if your ministry project is effective, turn off the music and watch the piece in silence. If it just looks like random movement with no direction or expression, you probably need to go back and rework it, because what you are seeing is the same thing that the people you are going to be in front of will see. I have watched far too many videos where the dancers have blank facial expressions, or have their lips folded in. The latter is especially true with teenagers who are at that self-conscious age, and although it is extremely challenging to get them to "come out of their shell", part of your rehearsal time should definitely include time in the mirror to work on the face, connecting with the message of the song, learning how to relate scripture to the song, and being comfortable in front of others, starting with self. Also, when working with teens, they as well as their parents/guardians need to be reminded that dance ministry is just that. It's not cheer, drill, competition or any of the things they see on reality TV, it's God's work. So, while they should always be welcomed to come into the group, they do need to understand the difference between each one, and if they are not ready, should not be forced to participate.

      One of the worse things you could ever do is offer any kind of ministry that is not effective, meaning that it only provides a platform for your group, but does nothing to help other people. In fact, that's not ministry at all, it's not even good performance.  In the professional arena, a good performance always leaves something with the audience. Have you ever heard the saying "Always leave your audience wanting more?" That means that what you gave was so fulfilling, they wanted to see or hear more of what you had to offer. In ministry, what you have to offer is the Good News of Christ, not your skill or your talents; although God will use that, it's secondary. What God is interested in is your heart, and once He has it, He can lead you in whatever ways that will benefit the people you are sharing with.

     Another trend that has become more frequent is a lot of dancers who dance to songs that they like, but lack the ability to effectively minister because they cannot carry the weight of the music. Remember, in dance, you are to become the music, not simply dance to it. There are some songs that lend themselves easily to soloists, other songs are more appropriate for two or more dancers, or large groups. Listen to the musical arrangement and orchestration. Do you hear a choir singing or multiple layers of music? It's one thing to turn the music on and dance to your heart's content at home, and quite another do to the same thing in a public worship setting. People may say "Amen" and praise you to your face, but once you dance out the back door...need I say more? Just because you respond emotionally to a song, does not necessarily mean that it is a song for you to minister at this time, or ever. Before going out to do something that will be remembered in cyberspace as a hot mess for years, please consider attending local dance ministry workshops where classes are offered on choreography, Biblical foundations of dance, musical selections, garments, and dance ministry etiquette. You can click on any of the ministry links or do a search on dance ministry conferences and workshops on your favorite search engine or social media website. Do you really wanna?

Please be blessed by the ministry of Zion's Daughters...dancing from the heart!

 

New Year, New Start!

Trust the Lord with all your heart,
    and don’t depend on your own understanding.
 Remember the Lord in all you do,    and he will give you success.
~ Prov. 3:5-6 (NCV)



      2014 has officially arrived, along with all of the New Year's Resolutions, goals, aspirations and good intentions that we promise to fulfill in the coming months. Some of them are realistic, and sometimes as humans we make promises because others are making them and we don't want to feel left out, knowing that we don't have the drive or real intention on following through with what we said that we would do. But...I have a suggestion: Why not think about the things you were working on, struggling with, or moving towards, and instead of making new resolutions, continue your work on whatever you were doing in 2013? If you were planning to start a workshop that God inspired you to do, and it didn't happen last year, prayerfully look at your plans and rethink them, seek out guidance from a trusted source, and keep focusing on your goal. Have a budget and a target audience, do your research, find your facilitators and plan your deadlines. Think about how much everything will cost and count the cost of the entire project. Good events require a lot of planning to be effective, and need many hands and much prayer to be successful. In fact, a very wise Prophetess, Pastor Sarah Morgan of Women of Vision L.A. states: "Whatever is not birthed in prayer, is illegal"*. That is a very profound statement, but it means that if you haven't spent time praying and getting guidance from God in what you do, it should not be done!

     While we are on the subject of goals, what are you doing to improve your dance ministry presentations for the coming months? There are always new ministries being formed, some have knowledge of how to start and maintain a dance ministry, some have the heart for ministering but no idea of how to prepare themselves. Maybe God has called you to be a solo worshipper, and you need to know about choreography or exactly what to do with your singular ministry. Find out where your place is, and assume the position! There are several sources available to help you in your endeavors that are of good quality, easily accessible, and an affordable investment. Many ministries are faltering because of lack of preparation, or they fail to invest the time in learning about their art. The ministry is whatever God wants to accomplish through your art form, whether it is dance, poetry, theatre, mime, step or flagging. Just because we call something a ministry does not automatically make it one, which is why we can look around and see so many things going on in church that do not glorify God and actually bring confusion and disgust to the church. So many are turned off when they see us calling ourselves ministries (servants) but what we are serving is not fit for consumption. Selah...

     My mind goes back to a video I watched in which there were two dancers presenting a song to the church. The song was about who God is to us. Instead of one dancer representing God speaking to the other dancer, they appeared to take turns being God, and neither one was receiving what the other was giving. At one point in the song, it looked like a war between good and evil. It was a very beautiful song, but extremely challenging to choreograph if you don't study the scriptural basis of the song and plot out your movement theme based on (1) Who is speaking? (2) Who is being spoken to? (3) What is the through-line or pervasive message of the song? (4) What is the resolution? (The end point of the song). If you don't take time to study that, your audience will walk away confused, empty, turned-off, or even think that what you are doing is comical. Although they may never tell you this, they may tell it to other people. Don't be the ministry that people start texting on or decide to go to the bathroom on because you are not effective!

     Again...make this the year that you make plans to attend a workshop in your area, take classes, or avail yourself of some of the many media resources for dance ministry that are available online, on DVD, or in e-books. All of these are relatively inexpensive and are brought to you by people who have many years of experience and want to share their knowledge with you. There are also many ministries who have taken time to study and are eager to have you join in their learning journey along with them: A few are:

• The Praise Dance Life with Jocelyn Richard - Minister Jocelyn Richard of Visual Praise Ministries has a wealth of information on dance ministry, choreography, garments, technique, nutrition, music, and many other resources on DVD and in e-book form. She also has podcasts that are archived that you can listen to, teleconferences, and does local workshops as well as some traveling to dance conferences where she teaches classes. You can find out more about her ministry at: www.thepraisedancelife.com.
• Dancing for Him Ministries with Pastor Lynn Hayden - Pastor Lynn has a profound ministry that focuses on the prophetic in movement and dance, and holds regular worship dance workshops around the country. She also has many resources in book form, and on DVD for dancers on all levels that you can use in the privacy of your own home. For more information, you can find her at: www.dancingforhim.com.

     All of these ministries have video on YouTube for you to see, and find out which one would be best suited for your needs. There are many wonderful worship dance resources to choose from, but these are the three that are being highlighted this month. More will be shared as space and time allows.

     Whatever you do, acknowledge God in all your ways, and allow Him to direct your ministries this year. Be original, and be your best!

*Quote from Pastor Sarah Morgan, Women of Vision/Trees of Righteousness Mentoring Class
 - www.womenofvisionla.org

Shekinah Glory Ministry - Just for Me



So Much to do...Not Much Money?

This is a repost...but it never gets old.



      There are so many classes, workshops, retreats and conferences going on, but most of us have to choose between attending only a few, or none at all. We can't be everywhere all the time, due to job and family obligations, and if an event involves travel, that's an added expense. Of course when we arrive at our destination, we need to have money to purchase food (if not included) books, resources and most importantly have emergency funds -- just in case.

     How do we do this, in the midst of economic challenges? In her e-book, Garments of Glory, Jocelyn Richard (http://www.thepraisedancelife.com/) has many fundraising suggestions for your ministry. A few of her suggestions are:  Having a ballroom dancing class for married couples or seniors; a silent auction; a car wash; sponsor a walk; a dance ministry concert;  a baby praise ballet class for preschoolers, and temporarily cutting back on items that are not important for a worthwhile cause (From Garments of Glory, page 19). There are so many creative ways to generate funds, if we plan ahead.  One of the ways I save money for a special occasion is to put all of my spare change aside, and not spend it unless I absolutely have to. It is surprising how quickly those quarters, nickels, dimes, and pennies add up! We can also save rebate checks and money saved from store coupons.  If there is recycling in our area, we can utilize that resource. How about  not going to that weekly $12 movie, or taking lunch and snacks to work instead of stopping at that fast-food place?  So much of our money that could go towards things that have eternal value for us and others is being wasted, because it's going to the wrong places.  Some of us can always find money to shop at the mall and spend, spend, spend...but when it's time to get equipped for Kingdom business, we complain about how expensive it is. It's time to rethink our priorities and put our money where God's heart is. And remember, if we consistently give to God and share with others, it will come back to us when we need it (Matt. 6: 28-33).

     If there's an event that we would like to participate in that will especially enhance our training, we can write fundraiser letters for sponsorships to help us attend. After we have prayed and saved all that we possibly can,  people who know what we do, know our character and are able to help will be more than willing to contribute.  If we want something we never had, sometimes we have to do something we have never done before!

    So, next time there is a conference, retreat, class, or workshop that you feel is out of reach, think again. Where there's a will, there's a way!

Calling all worship dancers! Get ready for The Sound...at Greater Allen Cathedral of New York, July 25-29, 2012. Conference fees: Adults - $300; Teens $275. Group rates and payment plans available. More info to follow. Start planning now...