by Sherry Traylor
even as some of your poets have said.”
(Acts 17:28)
has served the Lord in dance for over 20 years. Sherry has been blessed to facilitate dance conferences, and is in the process of writing a book on the ministry of
dance. Sherry offers free dance technique classes at Zoe on Saturdays at 11:00am in Room 53.
of Competition
by Marlita Hill
Dance Ministry Competitions. I was looking at some definitions and verses that the Lord put on my heart before I responded and
as I continued my research, I began to feel the burden to say much more as God revealed to me the dangers and ramifications of
this seemingly harmless activity.
It really saddens my heart to hear things like Dance Ministry Competitions going on. Truthfully, the phrase is oxymoronic because
true ministry and competition cannot co-exist. You must choose one over the other. However, in hindsight, it sadly does not
surprise me. They did it with music (the McDonald's GospelFest, Gospel Music Workshop, Stellar Awards-- a form of it) and with
preaching (Praise-a-Thon's comparing who can bring in the most money). In looking at the trends, it was unfortunately inevitable,
and only a matter of time.
Dance ministry workshops and competitions strengthen my conviction in our need to discover the healthy, and Godly ways to
FELLOWSHIP (coming together as partners and allies) with each other in our gifts. Unfortunately, I don't know if we are yet mature
enough to do this in the right spirit yet but I am hopeful that we will get there. Our attempts at this thus far, have for the most part
turned into one-upping sessions and it shouldn't be like that.
Before I begin, I want to say that I am in no way speaking in judgment or condemnation to those who host or participate in dance
ministry competitions. I come totally in love. This is simply a heads up, a relaying of information, so that if you continue in that
fashion, you choose to do so with full understanding of what you're involved in. It also serves to prepare you so that when judgment
does hit, you'll understand why.
I want to first share some definitions with you from Webster's Unabridged Dictionary:
Competition: The act or action of seeking to gain what another is seeking to gain at the same time...a common struggle for the
same object especially among individuals of relatively equal standing; a contest between rivals.
Compete: To seek or strive for something (as a position, possession, or reward) for which others are also contending; to come
into rivalry
Rivals: One of two or more striving for what only one can possess.
Strive: Contend for dominance, mastery, or superiority.
Strife: Exertion or contention for superiority; a contest usually for a desired goal or result.
Hebrews 10:24-25 says, "And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling
of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day
approaching."
Assemble: Bringing and fitting together various parts of something in order to make those parts an operative whole.
Without going any further, can you tell me how competition and its synonyms fit into our charge regarding one another in Hebrews
10:24-25. It obviously does not. Here's the thing-- Such arenas for contention reveal two things about its participants: 1) What
they are lacking, and 2) The state of their heart.
What Is Lacking?
Comparison is foolish because it reveals a lack of knowledge of self and individual purpose (individual as one person, or as group to
group). The folly in this is that there is no basis for us to really compare ourselves. We all have individual courses and function,
though they may share similarities. In many ways it's like comparing apples and oranges. There really is something to that phrase.
Apples and oranges both have the function of providing nourishment and vitamins to our body. However, the way in which that
function is accomplished between the two is different because the makeup of the two fruits is different. Their flesh is different. One
is pulpy and bulbous and the other is more smooth. Their skin is different. One tastes good to eat and the other doesn't. The
differences go on and on. Likewise with us, though we share similar functions, we, one, have different specialities within that
function, and two, even if we shared the exact same course, the way it would manifest from the two of us would be different
because our basic makeup (personality, thought process, view of the world, life experience) is completely different. This is what
Paul talks about in I Corinthians 12 in the foolishness of comparing the eye with the leg.
As always, there has been a trend of people too eager to get started in ministry, and they are not getting the full understanding of
their individual assignment and unique placement before they go forward. This is what the definition meant when it spoke of fighting
over what only one can have. God has set aside for each of us a portion, and it has been set aside for us specifically. So there is
nothing for us to try to compete for because we each already have an allotment. Competing will not give us someone else's
allotment. But it will place us at risk for losing our own. Proverbs 30:8 says, "Remove falsehood and lies far from me; give me
neither poverty nor riches- feed me with the food allotted to me." In Jeremiah 13:25 God says, "This is your lot, the portion of your
measures from Me..." This is where the problem lies- we don't know that a portion has been allotted to us already nor do we know
what that allotment is. We fight for the position and activity of others because we don't know what we should be involving ourselves
in.
I understand the difficulty in abstaining from this because we live in such a comparison driven culture, where the constant pressure
to measure up is always on your back. I, too, often have to remind myself that there is no need to compare myself to other people.
The balance is in recognizing attributes in other people that you desire to possess in your own life or ministry but understanding
the value of your individual identity and discovering how and if that fits into your life's course.
The State of the Heart.
1 Corinthians 10:12-13 (AMP) "Not that we [have the audacity to] venture to class ourselves with some who exalt and furnish
testimonials for themselves! However, when they measure themselves with themselves and compare themselves with one
another, they are without understanding and behave unwisely. We, on the other hand, will not boast beyond our legitimate province
and proper limit, but will keep within the limits [of our commission which] God has allotted us as our measuring line..."
Again I ask, if God does not compare us and speaks of the foolishness of us comparing ourselves, because of the differing
commission He has given to each of us, what makes us think that comparing ourselves in a competitive atmosphere is right?
"He that is of a proud heart stirreth up strife: but he that putteth his trust in the LORD shall be made fat." Proverbs 28:25
"For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?"
I Corinthians 3:3
Strife, as revealed above in our definitions, is a necessary component of competition. What I learned from this study is that strife is
not backbiting, talking about each other, etc. Strife is exertion or contention for superiority over somebody else, and this breeds
quarreling, backbiting, gossiping, competitive anger, etc.
Competition again is to seek or strive for something (as a position, possession, or reward) for which others are also contending; to
come into rivalry.
Why are we contending with one another and what are we contending with one another for? What is the result of winning such a
competition? On what basis do you determine who is "more deserving" of the honor of first place? No matter what either of us do,
unless God breathes on either of us, both of our efforts are nothing. So in what way is one of us better than the other when neither
can accomplish anything without the power of God? Is it based on technical prowess? If that's so, then say it's a dance
competition, but don't call it a ministry competition. That does not exist.
One of the dangers of this is the breeding of the erroneous thinking that you winning something in one of the "competitions"
somehow qualifies you or makes you more eligible than someone else to stand before the people of God, in a God-tested and
approved position, and relay His word to them. Maybe people may begin to think that because a particular ministry won an award
that they are qualified to speak to the people. Qualification and validation (at least that means anything) come from God. We need
to be careful. Proverbs 17:14 (AMP) says, "The beginning of strife is as when water first trickles [from a crack in a dam];
therefore stop contention before it becomes worse and quarreling breaks out [like water uncontrollably rushing out of a broken
dam]." I am lovingly warning that this idea of competitions among ministries is a disaster waiting to happen. I don't see where this
fits in our charge, and I don't see how anything good can come of this.
I believe that there is absolutely an arena for healthy and fun competition, even for the people of God to engage in, but I don't see
how ministry is the proper arena for that. I didn't see it for music ministries and I don't see it here. If the competitions are judged on
technical proficiency, understand where that takes our focus. It's then no longer about creating a place for the presence of God to
work among His people, or perfecting myself and strengthening my gift so that I can better serve God, but it's about perfecting
myself for the sole purpose of someone else saying that I can sing or dance better than my brother or sister, who I have absolutely
no business trying to one-up in the first place.
I do not know the heart and intentions of those who host or participate in these competitions. Their heart could have very well been
to establish a place for ministries to get together, but this is the danger of doing things that we think God would approve of instead
of getting His approval before we move on them. According to Heb. 10: 25-26, the purpose of gathering and assembling ourselves
is to provoke each other to love and good works, to exhort one another, not to provoke each other to feelings of inadequacy and
unworthiness, or to create an open door for bitterness, envy and quarreling to come rushing in.
Just something to think about..
Marlita
the strategic use and function of the dancer in the edification and progress of the body of Christ. She also publishes The Dancers
Sermon, a word-based online learning center for dance ministers that includes instruction, event postings and a message board.
position en l'air with the knee bent so that the pointed toe rests
in front of, behind or to the side of the supporting knee.
"Mercy Said No" Dance Concert
Calvary Missionary Baptist Church
2822 Dr. Martin Luther King Drive - St. Louis, MO
June 17th @ 5:00 pm
GUIDANCE "God U and I DANCE"
God's Angels 2nd Annual Praise Dance Concert
New Journey Ministries
14204 Prairie Avenue - Hawthorne, CA
Ticket Price: $5.00
Information: Pamela Lewis (310) 293-9531
East Coast Regional CDF Conference
"Free To Be Me" A Lazarus Experience
Host: Apostle Veronica Smith
website: www.edcworld.com
June 9th - 11th
"THE REFINER'S FIRE"
Worship Arts Conference 2006
Host: Bethel A.M.E. Church Liturgical Dance Ministry
Wilmington, DE
email: abethelangel@aol.com
Phone: (302) 658-1676
June 14th - 17th
"Mercy Said No"
Host: Rhema Dance Ministry
Calvary Missionary Baptist Church
2822 Dr. Martin Luther King Drive - St. Louis, MO
e-mail: rhemadanceministry@sbcglobal.net
Phone: 314-226-8309 or 618-206-8320
July 3rd - 9th
C.C.D.N. 12th Annual Dance Conference
Nassau, Bahamas
website: www.cc-dn.org
e-mail: ccdn@reborn.com
July 7th - 9th
2nd Annual Bay Area Liturgical Dance Conference
Host: Passion for Worship Dance Company and Ministries
Newark, California
website: www.passionforworshipdance.com
email: info@passionforworshipdance.com
Phone: 404-219-4650
Liturgical Dancers- Spiritual Being Anointed to Move...
Host: Dancers Array "N" Christian Evangelism
Citizens of Zion MBC
12930 N. Lime Ave - Compton, CA (310) 639-2826
July 8th - July 9th
Messianic Dance Camps International Presents:
“Lifting Our Hearts To Yeshua”
Dance Camp and Knott’s Berry Farm Outreach - Buena Park, CA
Phone: (661) 317-0435 website: www.mdci.info
July 25th - 30th
Worship In the Word 2006
"All To the Glory of God"
Host: Allen Liturgical Dance Ministry
Greater Allen Cathedral - Jamaica, NY
website: www.allencathedral.org/word
August 30th - September 3rd
Dancing Preachers International 2006 - Nassau, Bahamas
Online registration: www.sabrinamckenzie.org
October 5th - 8th
Gathering of the Eagles - Columbus, OH
website: www.pamelarutherford.org
November 8th - 11th
Express YOUR Worship Creative Arts Conference 2006 (EWY)
Tampa, Florida
website: www.daretodance.org
e-mail: eywregristration@daretodance.org
Phone: 813-377-4177
"Net" Work
by Rekesha Pittman
meeting May 20th. This network was founded to connect dance ministries
across the Las Vegas region, and to provide much needed fellowship,
support, and resources to dance ministers. Movement Ministers from
various backgrounds (genres and races) attending including Messianic
Dance, Liturgical, Contemporary, and Ministry Supporters as well.
The focus of the meeting was to "take the pulse of the city," to determine
what the needs are for dancers in the Las Vegas area. We talked, we
laughed, we cried, we prayed. We are moving forward in Him.
We encourage you to get connected with Local, National, and International
dance networks. Here is a brief list of just a few Dance Networks to
research and support:
churches and in the community through annual dance conferences, workshops, online resources and various media outlets. She has also established the
Las Vegas Liturgical Dance Network for dance ministers in the Nevada region.
dance. Author Paulette Rolle-Alesnik brings a depth of instruction and
inspiration to the ministry of dance that blows the refreshing breeze of the Spirit
through an often overlooked ministry. Dare to Dance With Him gives the reader
a 31-day program of affirmations, health tips, readings, and word studies all
designed to mold the reader into a new lifestyle of worship and obedience.
God is no respecter of persons, but He is a respecter of principles. This book is
loaded with powerful, practical, and spiritual principles that are sure to start you
on your way toward new life-changing habits. Enjoy the worship experience, the
dance stretches, the health tips, but most of all apply the affirmation and I
guarantee you will launch from dancing for the sake of dancing to dancing with
an understanding- with purpose, power, and passion!
- Drs. Randy & Paula White, Senior Pastors,
Without Walls International Church
We Offer Promotional Services For:
* Dance Conferences, Workshops, and Events.
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Special Introductory Offer!!!!
Purchase a promotional package by August 1st to receive special discounted rates:
$175.00 For Graphics/Flyers Provided By You & IDC Promo Services.
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Contact us today to get your ad campaign started!
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Spreading the Word to the Nations!
International Dance Commission
www.gadancecommission.org
Back Issues:
or announcements:
E-mail:
companykeepers@rainreinreign.com
For Dance Concerts & Events:
Please submit dates for
July & August 2006 only.
All submissions must be
received by June 25th
for inclusion in the
July newsletter.
Sherry Traylor - Consulting Editor (Dance Director- Zoe Expressions Dance Ministry)
LaVetta C. Williams - Staff Writer (Founder- Dancing Before the King Ministries)
Machelle Lewis - Staff Writer (Assistant - Zoe Expressions Dance Ministry)
Robin Deane - Staff Writer (Dance Leader- Rejoice Adult Dance Ministry & Victory Praise Dancers)
Sally Reynolds - Staff Writer (Fine Arts Director - Covenant Worship Center Inglewood)
(Article submission does not guarantee inclusion in newsletter).
For further details or information, e-mail our Editor-in-Chief at: companykeepers@rainreinreign.com
