and again I say, Rejoice
Philippians 4:4
Our "Menistry" edition last month proved to be our most popular
issue to date! We thank the Lord for the overwhelming response
that we received regarding the role of men in worship and dance.
We pray that this newsletter continues to encourage all in the
Body of Christ to fulfill their purpose for God's Kingdom in the
earth.
Below are a few responses from the "Davids..."
Allow me the opportunity to thank you on behalf of all the mighty men of God who have been
ordained by God to go forth in boldness and authority as it relates to the arts!!
In Him I move!
Bro. Raymond Young
Director- The Vessels of Praise
I greet you in the name of our LORD & SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST. I am e-mailing you because your latest
edition bulletin. My name is Deacon Telly T. Timpson from the City of Hope International Worship Centre
in Laural & Baltimore, Maryland. I am a male dancer/mime. My sister in Christ forwarded me your latest
edition & it blessed me so much! I would like to thank GOD for your ministry to be in place for a time such
as this!!! Sometimes it gets lonely & frustrating when there is a few men willing to lift up their hands,
raise their voice, break out in a dance in adoration to the Most High FATHER in the open. I am overjoyed
that there are more men having the spirit of David! I would like to share a poem that was birthed out of
my adoration for GOD, I hope this blesses you. You can use it however you like. Stay blessed in
GOD who loves you all so much!!!
"Between the porch & the altar I kneel for you"
- Telly T. Timpson
You keep blowing & blowing your life-giving breath on me
Refreshing me, like stepping out of a shower as the coolness of the air hits my skin
But you touch my soul, behold my flesh goes but my spirit stay to lay in your arms
Your love lifted me from the pit of depression
Transforming it into a platform obsession for you
It is not surprising why my spirit is rising, longing for your presence
Lord, Lord I want more of you
I love your embrace of grace
Your sweet kiss of mercy & your touch of kindness
It is a collage of your love
Lord, you love me like no organism could
When Jesus given His life on a cross made of wood
I am free because what your Word says in John 3:16
You so loved me.
That you given me a chance to reconnect with Thee
I seek Thee oh, I seek Thee
Your thoughts are towards me
With a pattern so Fatherly
Your sweet love covers a multitude of my sins
You are more then a friend
Oh sweet Lord, the one whom I adore
Who can escape your allure?
When you open the door to restore
You speak to my heart to jump start my adoration
This river that flows from my eyes cries Holy!
I long to be at your feet to lay on your chest & hear your heartbeat
It is easy to be intimate & free with Thee, because you so love me.
- Telly T. Timpson
Winning Souls
Through Dance
(Costa Rica Dance Missions Trip)
by Sherry Traylor
and then shall the end come.
Matthew 24:14
Costa Rica last month. This powerful experience brought 175 Souls to Christ! What I’ve learned from this experience is
that it does not take a whole lot of folks to do Gods work, just willing hearts! This 8-day trip was all God’s doing. The
Costa Rican people were so friendly and open to the Word and very eager to learn to use their gifts. We visited several
high schools and churches. The Pastors came together to prepare along with us for the harvest. We saw many youth
weep and give their hearts to Christ!
Listed below are some of the KEY ELEMENTS of how we got the job done:
PRAYER/STEPPING OUT ON FAITH
You should pray and seek God for the assignment. Once you get the answer, do let anyone stop what God has called
you to do. Write the vision and make it plain (Hab 2:2)
SUPPORT
Believe God for the resources and do fund raisers. We could not wait on people, we had to get out there and work for
it. Faith without works is dead! (James 2:20)
STRATEGY
Our strategy was to use the gift of dance to draw them in. We spent time planning, meeting, working on special
presentations and obeying the Holy Spirit! We had 150 show up to learn how to worship in Dance.
FASTING
Sacrifice! Present your bodies as a living sacrifice. Give up whatever is necessary so that God may be all in you!
DO THE WORK AS A TEAM
There is no "I" in TEAM! As a result of us working together, 1,000 youth showed up at our major event, and 175
RECEIVED SALVATION!
DANCERS- IT’S TIME TO GO TO THE NATIONS!!!
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.
by Robin Deane
presentation. Hence, you will receive a fleshy response with a great deal of
carnality from the congregation resulting in no spiritual renewal.
We have to be very careful of how we present ourselves. If someone gave
you your favorite meal and presented it on a trash can top, you probably
would not eat it. If it were on nice plates or china, it would probably be
enticing to your appetite.
My point? Is what we present to the congregation repulsive or appealing ?
When you bow down to reverence the Lord, does your cleavage bulge out
from your tight leotards? Do men have to turn their heads because they
feel guilty looking at you?
Are you excited about wearing that tight leotard and refuse to cover up
because you have a nice shape and you love being sexy?
is under the cross. When you dance in jeans or pants, is every feminine curve showing? Are you dressed so
provocatively that you instantly become a sex object in the pulpit?
The flesh is not only limited to revealing body parts. We can be fleshly when we compete- when we try to “out-do”
another dancer or dance ministry. We can be fleshly when we spend more time in the mirror, doing hair and make-up
for an hour before we dance more than time spent praying and seeking the Lord for anointed and effective ministry.
I constantly hear dancers say “Man looks on the outward appearance, God looks on the heart, so what I wear doesn't
matter.” It does. Remember, we do not want to distract anyone from the Saviour. If we are serious about what we are
doing, everything should be in line with drawing attention to God, not ourselves.
We must also remember we are ministers when we are not dancing before His people. What we wear and what we do
when the song goes off is also vitally important.
Our ministry should always lead people to Christ. The purpose is to glorify God, and only Him. Our attitude should be:
"I refuse to do anything that interferes with the glory of God! I refuse to do any movement or wear anything that would
cause anyone to focus on me and forget about you Jesus!"
When we are a distraction, the focus in on US, not God. We can become a distraction by what we wear, how we wear it;
what we don’t wear, or what we forgot to wear. The flesh is not an easy thing to put under control. That’s why the Bible
tells us to DIE DAILY. Romans 12:2 tells us to "Be transformed." Be changed from the inside out. Obey the direction of
the Holy Spirit. We should be led by His Word, not by our feelings.
Dance Ministry, Inc., a citywide outreach dance ministry that reaches out to young girls by teaching, equipping and training them for ministry.
endorse events listed below. Please be prayerful and led of the Lord when selecting and attending ministry
gatherings. Please contact event organizer with any questions or for information regarding these events.
2:30 pm - 5:00 pm
Messianic Dance Camps International
Hosts: Ralph & Mindy Seta
We will be teaching worship dances centered around the Fall Biblical Feasts.
Location: Green Valley Library
2797 N. Green Valley Parkway - Henderson, NV
website: www.mdci.info
Saturday, September 30th @7:00pm
5th Annual "Night of Praise Dance Concert"
Host: Shekinah Praise Dancers
Location: College of the Canyons Performing Arts Center - Santa Clarita, CA
For Tickets:
website: www.canyonspac.com/shekinahpraise.html
Phone: (661) 547-2982
Saturday, October 7th
Judah First Fellowship for Dance Ministry Leaders
FOREWORD - 2006, RE-CORD THE VISION
Contact: Stine McDonald
e-mail: stepsbygod@sbcglobal.net
Phone: (323) 401-8628
Saturday, October 14th @ 4:00pm
No Limits.... And The Wall Fell Down
The Experience Praise Dance Concert
Host: Dwell Inc. Dance Ministries
Location: Christian Life Assembly
3250 E. Lancaster Blvd - Lancaster, CA
e-mail: dwell_inc@yahoo.com
Saturday, October 21, 2006 @ 7PM
Dance Saints, Dance
Community College of Philadelphia - Bonnell Theatre
1700 Spring Garden Street - Philadelphia, PA
Tickets $15.00 In Advance / $20 at the Door
Groups of 20+ $11 / In Advance
Purchase online - http://dancesaintsdance.mollyguard.com/
or charge by phone at 1 (877) 777-4TIX
October 5th - 8th
Gathering of the Eagles
Columbus, OH
Host: Set Free Evangelistic Ministries / Dr. Pamela Hardy
website: www.pamelarutherford.org
November 2-4
"From Stream to Surge: God's River of Refreshing in the Southwest Desert"
Western Regional CDFUSA Conference
Location: Living Springs Assemblies of God Church
6532 N. El Mirage Road
Glendale, AZ
Website: www.cdfusa.us
Phone (623) 536-1313
November 8th - 11th
Express YOUR Worship Creative Arts Conference 2006 (EWY)
Tampa, Florida
Host: Dare 2 Dance / Paulette Rolle-Alesnik
website: www.daretodance.org
e-mail: eywregristration@daretodance.org
Phone: (813) 377-4177
Dance Ministry Event Reports
Dancing Preachers International 2006
Kings & Priests at Paradise Island
by Rekesha Pittman
baggage delays, neither transportation, neither expense, neither any hinderance! The Lord met us at the Atlantis in
Nassau, Bahamas where He refreshed the thirsty and fed the hungry!
HUNDREDS of Kingdom dancers, ministers, and servants gathered together to sit at the King's table and feast on the
spiritual meal that He set before us. We began each day with worship on the beach led by Sabrina McKenzie, Elder
Dontanette CoHill, Pastor Yulonda Lewis, and Psalmist Chiquita Lockley. Baptism, communion, and foot washing were
experienced in a whole new light during our morning gatherings at the beach.
Workshop classes were held Thursday, Friday and Saturday, and covered many aspects of dance ministry, technique,
intercession, leadership, relationships, fitness, purpose and servanthood. Instructors from many countries shared their
unique ministries and expertise. The tears began to flow as the chains were loosed off of many lives. GLORY!!
Worship services were filled with instruction, admonition, and encouragement. Wednesday night began with a trickle
and ended with an overflow as Pastor William Murphy reminded us to "Let the glory fall!" Prophetess Mattie Nottage and
her Praise Team caused us to take off our shoes and dance before the Lord. The Cultural Praise Concert featured
ministries from Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, USA, and many more. Dr. Ann Peterson Higgins and Pastor Henry
Higgins ministered and shared with us the wealth of the Lord's presence in the Bahamas. Bishop Neil C. Ellis provoked
us to evaluate and dismiss anything that may hinder us from experiencing the fullness of God in our lives. His "tell it like
it is" delivery reminded us what it means to rightly divide the word of TRUTH. Pastor Yulonda Lewis stood with the
boldness of the righteous and gave a profound word to all of us so that we not "choke" but "retain" the Word which was
Deposited in us during the conference. Dr. Venessa Battle placed the "battle axe" of the Word in our hands to defeat
the enemy.
Not only did the conference delegates benefit from this outpouring, hotel staff and visitors alike began to glorify our
Lord for His presence and revelation at the Atlantis. Let NOTHING separate you from the next Dancing Preachers
International Conference in Barbados. Let His life-giving waters surround you so that you are carried only by His will.
We praise God for anointing and appointing Minister Sabrina McKenzie to transport His glory to the Nations and for her
obedience to His leading. We thank God for every delegate, teacher, staff member, Atlantis employee, shuttle driver
and person that the Lord used to make this conference possible. I encourage you to start preparing NOW for next
year.See you in Barbados!
communities, and the nations through annual dance conferences, workshops, online resources and various media outlets. She also serves as Nevada Area
Coordinator for the International Dance Commission.
by Yvonne Owens
Liturgical Dance Conference held July 7 – 8, 2006 in Compton, CA hosted by Dancers Array N Christian Evangelism of
Citizens of Zion Missionary Baptist Church very beneficial to their ministry.
This conference offered courses for children, adults, directors, and those whose ministry is to support the arts. A pre-
conference event held Thursday evening treated participants to a fellowship social and two dynamic master classes;
one in Jazz conducted by Master in Fine Arts instructor Toni Thomas and the other a West African dance class
conducted by Renee Mims of the West African Dance & Drum Company.
It is important to note that the significant word for this conference was “liturgical” which relates to liturgy or liturgics
meaning the study of formal public worship or a rite prescribed for public worship. I mention this because conspicuous to
the array of course offerings were such classes as Decorum, Etiquette, Present Yourself, Liturgical Ballet and Religious
Choreography.
It was profound that these classes were taught alongside other technique classes staffed by professionals in the field,
but when it came right down to it, the practical application took place at concert time where the information and
instruction was tested and . . . corrected without reservation or hesitation.
This proved to be a real laboratory of learning, especially needed in this area where the arts are being restored back to
the church. If anybody needs to come correct, the church does and that is what this conference provided. Sandra
Shackelford, Founder, Dancers Array “N” Christian Evangelism, is to be commended and she was by Eric J. Perrodin,
Mayor of the City of Compton who gave her recognition for 10 years of service to the community in establishing a place
for a work like this to be done under her tutorship.
It was a blessing to be in the company of sound wisdom and knowledge where the “Bread of Life” was available to
directors who needed a staff to lean on to the babies who needed to hear from a mature shepherd who cares. A brook
was provided where the thirsty soul could be filled. The question has been asked “Can anything good come out of
Compton (Nazareth)?” The answer is yes—and it did!
member of Bible Enrichment Fellowship International Church (Inglewood, CA). She continues to be an avid dance ministry supporter and pioneer.
everyone waits with anticipation to witness what may be one of the best praise dance experiences they’ve ever had. You
go out there and while you’re ministering, some have their hands raised, some look on with no expression whatsoever,
some are in tears and others are applauding profusely as you let go and let God use you! As ministers, have we ever
stopped to think about what is going through the minds of those watching us as we kick, twirl, releve and just move to
the music as we minister unto God’s people? Well, let’s take a look at what they see...
If you’re “performing” it shows. We have to be careful to never find ourselves in a mindset that we need to do something
a certain way to get a reaction from the people versus doing it the way God has given it to us so there may be an
outpouring of God’s spirit. A performing spirit may also lead to a competitive spirit as well. Competing with your fellow
ministers is not the way to go. Proverbs 29:23 says, “A man’s pride shall bring him low but honor shall uphold the
humble in spirit.” Humility always outweighs ability!
Whatever is hidden in your heart is what shows in the dance! A humble heart gives God the access He needs to work
ON you first…and through you secondly. As ministers, we are ministered to first through the word in dance. We are
dancing the word! It’s important to know that the gift you have inside of you is from God. In order for Him to use you, it’s
imperative that you let go of “yourself and your hangups” because you can’t do warfare with a lot of baggage and a
clouded mind. Prayer is the key! If you don’t have a prayer life, you will always find yourself in a struggle, weighed down
and maybe even flustered when you stand in front of God’s people. This is warfare, so prayer is not an option…it’s a
must!
Those that have never taken a class in their life but have an appreciation for the art will have an open mind to what they
are about to see. But then again, those of us that have dance experience, know the terminology and are familiar with
choreography may find ourselves caught up in being a "looky loo" versus being ministered to as well. Let’s pray for one
another that God will shake the very foundation every time we get up to minister. Not because we are ALL THAT and a
bag of chips, but because we have made ourselves available to be used by Him mightily. Just to show you how
awesome our God is, because of our humility, He blesses us and in time will ultimately increase our ability. No matter
how many times a year we travel throughout our communities and across the country to dance at different churches, we
all have one common goal: To bring glory and honor to God. It’s not about me, it’s not about you. But lives are hanging
in the balance, waiting for that word through dance to help deliver them out of their troubles, edify the saints and exalt
the name of the Lord. No matter how you slice it, humility will always outweigh ability.
Choreographer of Silent Praise adult dance team. She also serves as Director and Overseer of 3 youth and young adult dance teams, Majestic Praise
(ages 3-11), MOD Squad (ages 12 and up) and Rakad (ages 14 and above) She's currently working on launching her new dance company 'On Pointe
Productions' in 2006.
For publication, please submit completed articles or poems
by the 25th of each month.
(Article submission does not guarantee inclusion in newsletter).
For further details or information, e-mail our Editor-in-Chief at:
companykeepers@rainreinreign.com
Sherry Traylor - Consulting Editor (Dance Director- Zoe Expressions Dance Ministry)
LaVetta C. Williams - Assistant Editor (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)
