Equipping the Saints Conference Recap
September 15, 2009 by Lakita
Filed under Event Recaps, News and Updates
I am constantly amazed by how the Lord continues to manifest HIS splendid presence at the Equipping the Saints conference in St. Louis, MO. Worshippers came together from across the rivers and across the ocean with one purpose: To lift up the name of Jesus!
As we praised and worshipped on one accord, He manifested HIS presence in such a tangible way. There were testimonies of physical healings, deliverance and revival.
This year, we welcomed International guests from Bahamas, Barbados, Antigua, and Bermuda! It was a special pleasure to fellowship with you all. I count it an honor that you would travel to the United States to attend Equipping the Saints. It is my prayer the conference exceeded your expectations and you left spiritually full, armed and equipped. Ready to take new knowledge and inject it into your respective community.
Thursday Night
Enter into HIS gates with thanksgiving and into HIS courts with PRAISE!
Wings of Praise started us off Thursday with a wonderful procession. This was followed by congregational praise & worship led by Minister Rekesha Pittman. Kudos to all the congregational dancers that volunteered!
Silent Praise from Omaha, NE ministered Praise Him in Advance by Marvin Sapp. This ministries testimony truly blessed me! (Read it in full below!) Since the conference, they have started a praise dance, mime, African, and flag ministry. They are truly doing the work of the ministry. To Dr. Anderson and the rest of the Allen AME leadership….keep up the GOD work! I see the Lord all over those youth and the best is yet to come!
Patricia Burnett you touched my son’s chest during your prophetic dance and he has been seeking the Lord every since. Thank you so much for allowing God to use you in such a might way!!
- Miriam A. , St. Louis, MO
Ms. Lauren Brown ushered us into the Holy of Holies with an anointed worship medley. This P.K. (that is "preacher’s kid) is the daughter of our evening speaker Pastor Tanya Brown. At 14 she is letter the Lord use her mightily through song, prophecy and the preached word!
Our speaker, Pastor Tanya Brown from Bethesda Temple of Alton, IL stepped into an atmosphere that was charged for worship. As she shared her testimony of the Lord’s grace, mercy and miraculous power the Spirit of the Lord began to fall and His people. To God be ALL the Glory!
Friday – Breakout Sessions & Dance Intensives
This year we introduced several new sessions and a 4-hour dance & mime intensive. Some of the new classes include Preparing to Meet the Bridegroom, Understanding the Times: Issachar & Israel, Raquad! Step it Up, Processions & Pageantry, Streamers in the Desert and About My Father’s Business.
The facilitators were all phenomenal! They eagerly shared scripturally sound advice, revelations and knowledge. Thank you all for sharing your gifts.
The dance intensive we just that….INTENSE! Those that braved the 4-hour workshop learned foundational techniques that they could apply in movement. I peeked in both classes and they covered conditioning, positioning, posture, walking, body alignment, choreography and so much more. Everyone definitely looked as if they received a full body workout!
For His Glory Dance Ministry started our evening service with Anthem of Praise. These girls ministered with flags under the anointing.
The few students from the Mime Intensive session along with facilitator Minister Robert Hayes reminded us that We Need the Glory. Their cry for the GLORY to fall resonated with the attendees as we shifted into worship.
Pat & Gary Anderson of Wings of Praise blessed us with Let the Veil Down Let the Praise Go Up by Judy Jacobs. They used the billows in such a way it felt like the Lord was breathing on us!
Minister Rekesha Pittman encouraged us to FLY! The Lord used her to minister to people prophetically and set the platform for our evening speaker Prophet Barbara McClain to bring the Word!
Saturday- Breakout Sessions, Five Fold Ministry Panel & Prophetic Wedding Feast
I was overwhelmed with the number of people that showed up for Between the Porch & Altar intercessory prayer! Under the leadership of Dr. Ann Higgins we strategically prayed for our nation, Jerusalem, our visiting nations, and dancers everywhere to name a few.
We continued with our daily breakout sessions including new sessions: God’s Order for Garments TM, Streamers in the Desert and Challenges in Ministry (taught by my pastor!).
After the last breakout session, we held a 5 Fold Ministry Panel Discussion. This was an opportunity for the attendees to ask their questions directly from those operating is various areas of ministry. There were some great questions…I’ll post the Q&A that I can remember on the website, so be sure to bookmark this site and check back!
Dr. Ann Higgins blessed us with a ministry selection in the evening before our speaker. The selection was so appropriate for Equipping the Saints – fill us up & send us out!
Elder Cecilia Beasley was our evening preacher. The Lord allowed her to release a prophetic song…only 7 words, but it is still in my spirit: Thy Kingdom Come…Thy Will be Done. It still brings tears to my eyes every time I think of it!
Immediately following her sermon was the Prophetic Wedding Feast. Wings of Praise created a beautiful depiction of the Marriage of the Lamb. There were streets paved with gold, beautiful banners, and communion. It was such a personal worship experience as we were individually escorted through a canopy to ascend the the wedding feast. It was an awesome reminder of the glory that awaits those of us whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life!
Sunday – Morning Worship & Fellowship!
On Sunday we caravaned across the river to my church home, O’Fallon Apostolic Assembly, for our 8:00 am service. Dr. Ann Higgins preached a RHEMA WORD! She encouraged us to step into position so we could continue to see Jesus.
After service, we traveled to one of my favorite restaurants (Bristol’s Seafood Grill) for an all-you-can-eat Sunday brunch. We ate, laughed, and recapped all the events that took place…officially marking the end of EQS2009.
Special Thank You!
Equipping the Saints 2010!
Many of you have contacted me about pre-registering for Equipping the Saints 2010. Once all the information is finalized early registration will open. I hope to have the dates and location confirmed and available by the next newsletter release.
Heads up! There will be an "Early Registration" challenge. All I’ll say now is community effort will be necessary for it to work.
I has been my honor to serve as your conference host for a 3rd year and I am looking forward to the 4th should be Lord delay His return.
Conference Photos!
Whole Person Concept
June 9, 2009 by Lakita
Filed under Encouragement
Ever heard of the “whole-person" concept? It is a military factor used by senior leadership when qualifying prospects for promotion. It is subjective and highly based on the opinion of the governing board. The whole-person concept does not look at metrics such as how many awards you’ve won, fitness test scores, or commanders’ ranking, it looks at what is done outside of military duties such as volunteer work, education goals, and other types of activities.
While praying about what to write this month I kept hearing “whole”. I started to ponder on the whole-person concept as I know it. It is based on “filling a square”, which means doing what needs to be done in order to progress to the next rank. As dance ministers, I propose to you, – to apply the "whole" person concept, not based on the military standards, but rather 1 Thessalonians 5:23:
And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
The Lord is the one doing the promoting; not your boss, not my boss, not your seniority but God! Psalms 75:6 says For promotion comes neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south. But God is the judge: he puts down one, and sets up another. Not only is the Lord about to promote us in the natural but spiritually as well. Are you ready for promotion? Have you applied the “whole-person" concept to your life?
Look at the scripture above again…”your whole spirit AND soul AND body”. You can’t take care of one without the other. In fact, what you do to one affects the other. Below are a few examples:
As an active dance minister you may exercise regularly and be disciplined to eat nutritious, balanced meals, but are you feeding your spirit through prayer, reading, and studying the Word of God?
Let’s say you read the Word of God on a regular basis, have a good prayer life, and on top of that you exercise and eat healthy. Sounds good so far — but you’re a worrier. You may pray, but you do not leave your problems at the altar and continue to carry whatever burden instead of releasing it to the Lord. Did you know that worrying and anxiety can have an affect on your body and affect how you minister???
The combinations could go on – but the point is to be whole. Apply the whole-person concept to your life. Do a self assessment. Be always conscious that there is more to YOU than your outward body. Take care of your body, mind, and soul. The Lord is waiting to promote His children…but we have to be ready! Are you ready???
Spiritual Dance Techniques Pt 1: Balance
May 18, 2009 by Lakita
Filed under Practical Advice
The Importance of Balance
As dance ministers some of you may be thinking this article has to do with poise and posture. The type of balance discussed within this article is far more important than dance techniques – or the ability to maintain bodily equilibrium. This is the ability to put all aspects of our life into a harmonious arrangement that allows God to fully use us (His willing vessels) to get the glory.
We need balance! It takes direction from the Holy Spirit to be able to juggle responsibilities such as work / school, rest, recreation, church duties / ministry. I submit to you “3 Ps” to gaining and maintaining balance in your life.
Know your purpose! If you have not sought the Lord about your purpose you need to earnestly do so. Chances are that if you do not know your specific purpose you will tire yourself doing things trying to fulfill your purpose without any focus. Everyone has a common purpose and that is to worship the Lord and bring Him glory! Realize that you are unique – fearfully and wonderfully made! God has a specific purpose for you!
Once you know what your purpose is you can prioritize the things you have to do in your life (putting God first goes without saying!). When your priorities are in order, God can bless you. Look at Solomon, he didn’t ask God for money or a long life…but he asked for wisdom. Something he realized was necessary to accomplish his purpose. Because his priorities were in order, God blessed him with wisdom and wealth.
When you know your purpose and have established your priorities it is time to make a plan. Plans don’t always have to be extensive, but as the Lord reveals your purpose to you and you have set your priorities in order you can map out a plan. Let’s again turn to Solomon as an example. His plan was to build a temple (1 Kings 5:5) — according to his purpose. (Your purpose will reveal the direction you are supposed to take and be a catalyst for your plan to accomplish it). Solomon had a plan, as you read through the 2nd and 3rd chapters of II Chronicles you’ll see that he gathered resources, organized the people, designed the temple, and set a time to begin work.
“A basketball in my hands is worth about $19. A basketball in Michael Jordan’s hands is worth about $33 million. It depends whose hands it’s in. A baseball in my hands is worth about $6. A baseball in Mark McGuire’s hands is worth $19 million. It depends whose hands it’s in. A tennis racket is useless in my hands. A tennis racket in Pete Sampras’ hands is a Wimbledon Championship. It depends whose hands it’s in. A sling shot in my hands is a kid’s toy. A sling shot in David’s hand is a mighty weapon that brings down giants. It depends whose hands it’s in. Two fish and 5 loaves of bread in my hands is a couple of fish sandwiches. Two fish and 5 loaves of bread in God’s hands will feed thousands. It depends whose hands it’s in. Nails in my hands might produce a birdhouse. Nails in Jesus Christ’s hands will produce salvation for the entire world. It depends whose hands it’s in.” Your life in your hands is a mess, but your life in God’s hands will produce a miracle. It all depends on whose hands it’s in.
photo credit: bike queen
