2009 Year in Review
In April 2009 this website was transformed into the blog you are reading today. It is still a work in progress, but the new format has allowed me to share more content with you all. In the past 9 months we have posted 112 articles and logged over 200 of your comments!
In case you missed some of the content, here is Paneh’s website year in review! There is a lot here, so I suggest you bookmark it and refer back to it from time to time.
Top Posts of All Time
1. The Starting a Dance Ministry Series continues to be the most popular page on this site. There are 3 parts: Part 1: The Spiritual, Part 2: The Practical, and Part 3: The Administrative. I am also working on my first E-book, Starting a Dance Ministry: Prepare Now or Repair Later. This guide will go into even more detail and include a high level flow chart to assist in the decisions that must be made from the very beginning. If you would like to receive more information about the E-book when it becomes available…you can sign up here:
2. What to “Wear”: Praise Garment Resource List quickly rose to the top of the list. I compiled this list later in the year and the number of views skyrocketed!
3. 3 Tips & Resources for New Dance & Mime Ministries was also very popular among those seeking information
4. I was surprised at the interest in A Spiritual Leader’s View of Dance Ministry. But this observatory report that started as an academic project by my pastor’s wife, Lady Joyce A. Wells has helped leaders and dancers see things from the other’s point of view.
Most Community Involvement
As much as I enjoy writing articles, I enjoy interacting with you all even more. These posts had the most community involvement
1. The Dance Ministry Ethics Series was something we did at the end of October. Each day a topic was launched for discussion, some were considered breach of protocol, while others were unanimously unethical. Read over each discussion and the comments. By the way, even though the “week” is over, comments are still open and you are welcome to leave yours!
Day 1: Invited Guests Leaving After Ministering
Day 2: Contracts Required for Ministry
Day 3: Self Promotion or Creative Marketing
Day 4: Praise Dance Competitions
Day 5: Inspiration or Imitation?
2. The 31 Dance Minister’s Choreography Tip Challenge is something I did for fun on Twitter & Facebook. I asked my friends to submit choreography tip in 120 CHARACTERS OR LESS. These were posted on Facebook & Twitter (1 per day) for the entire month of November. At the end of the month, they were all compiled into one post. This could not have been done without you all!
3. The 2009 Equipping the Saints Conference Recap was one of my personal favorites to write as it gave me an opportunity to reflect on such an awesome event! It’s not awesome because of anything I did…but because the Lord himself manifested HIS presence. Writing the recap is a way for me to reflect on the event, thank you for sharing your miraculous testimonies. To God be ALL the Glory!
My Personal Favorites
These are the ones I enjoyed writing the most. I hope you enjoy reading them as well!
The Dance Minister’s Choreography Devotion Series. This was done in two parts. Each part ran Monday – Friday with a new dance choreography technique was explained how to execute properly as well as how we, as ministers, can reflect on the awesome God we serve while moving for His glory! Part 1 cover the five ballet positions, while part two will beginner / intermediate ballet techniques:
g. Releve'
h. Piroutte
i. Jete
j. Chasse'
2. As I mentioned earlier, I love event hosting and planning so writing How to Plan Events and The Truth About Hotel Room Blocks was a pleasure. If you’re planning an event at a hotel in 2010 and you’re unfamiliar with hotel contracts, rules and the lingo, you should read those articles.
3. My other passion is personal finance. I am working on a project on that very topic that I hope to release at the end of 2010. In the interim, check out D.A.N.C.E. Out of Debt and read about the DUMBEST (Financial) Move I’ve Ever Made.
Worth a Second Look
These articles were either written early on or during a down time. For some reason or another they didn’t get many views. So in case you missed them, here they are again:
1. Miriam: Praise Dancer, Prophetess, Leader and More
3. The Spiritual Side to Technique series: Balance & Alignment
4. Tips for Ministry Excellence Series: Appearance & Communication
5. Tips for Traveling Dance Ministers
6. What Exactly is Liturgical Dance?
This is less than ONE THIRD of the content currently on the site and the goal is to constantly add more! If you never want to miss an article, I suggest you sign up for e-mail or RSS subscription. This is different from the monthly newsletter. You’ll receive an email as soon as a new article is published.
Props to the Top Referrers of 2009
Aside from search engines, Facebook, and Twitter traffic. Many readers arrive here from someone else’s website. This is to show some love to Paneh’s top referrer’s. Check out their sites as well:
2. Done Unto the Lord Ministries
I am looking forward to all that lies in store for you and me in 2010. I intend to write more articles and continue to encourage interaction. I'm also plan to continue to blog carnivals and weekly round-ups through out 2010. I also hope to publish more guest posts…so if you have an article or would like to write on a relevant topic…please contact me!
Blessings, Love and a Happy New Year!
The DUMBEST (Financial) Move I’ve Ever Made
November 11, 2009 by Lakita
Filed under Practical Advice
Dancers, not all of our “moves” are related to choreography! Regular readers of this site know that I have an interest in financial stewardship, debt reduction and personal finances. I recently paid off my laptop and it felt great! It was a financial weight (ok, DUMBbell) that I should have attacked and annihilated a long time ago. I wish I could say that was my dumbest move…but that trophy goes to my 2004 Mitsubishi Outlander!
In 2002, I graduated from the Rochester Institute of Technology and was commissioned as an officer in the United States Air Force. I had a guaranteed job for at least the next 4 years. With that reasoning, I bought my first brand new car…a 2002 Mitsubishi Lancer (think Fast & the Furious 2 without the spoilers or ground lights). The payments were manageable, but the damage was already done. I was bitten by the new car bug!
Fast forward 2 ½ years and I am “itching” for a new car. Somehow, I made up in my mind that I needed a new vehicle. I justified the purchase of a mini-SUV by the fact that I would be moving soon and the larger vehicle would prove handy. I started looking around and my eyes landed on the 2004 Mitsubishi Outlander.
I’ll spare you all the details of my non-existent negotiating skills. I’m sure I was a car salesman’s dream customer. I traded in my 2002 for a brand new car with monthly payments that were TWICE AS MUCH as my previous payments. All this with NO MONEY DOWN. I hope you all are seeing the red flags!
To make matters worse, exactly a week after I drove off the lot, 2-days before I was supposed to make my initial payment, I was in a 3-car accident (snow storm). Fortunately, everyone walked away without a scratch, but my new car needed $4,000 of repairs after I paid my insurance deductable. Also, the frame was not damaged, but it is still a black mark on the vehicle should I ever decide to sell it. New cars depreciate fast enough as it is…certainly did not need my help!
By this point I was already starting to regret my shiny new toy purchase. Some people actually suggested I return the car to the dealer saying I changed my mind since I haven’t paid anything yet! I’m not sure if they were serious or not, but that would certainly be less than ethical and was not an option.
Let’s recap why this was a DUMB Financial Move:
1. There was absolutely nothing wrong with the 2002 car I had
2. I traded in a gently used vehicle that was almost paid off for a more expensive vehicle with higher payments and a longer loan period
The irony of the car accident and the fact that I didn’t relocate even though that was my primary justification just adds insult to injury. The fact of the matter is a new car is rarely a wise investment. Leased vehicles are even worse! Since vehicles depreciate as soon as you drive them off the lot, purchasing a 6-month used or even 1 year old vehicle could save you thousands.
Personal finance guru Dave Ramsey has a lot to say about debt and how to effectively purchase cars. I believe his Drive Free – Retire Rich scenario uses optimistic percentages, but the principal is solid – save and plan for the big purchases.
Remember, just because you can afford something, it doesn’t mean it is a good move. This wouldn't have been such a dumb move if I actually needed reliable transportation, but that was not the case.
Why are you sharing this story?
I receive several e-mails from dance ministers that surround financial issues. While some things cannot be helped (medical bills, lost job etc), we can mitigate unforeseen financial damage by eliminating dumb moves. I also realize a lot of the readers are young adults / undergraduates…that seems to be when the "new car bug" hits the hardest! I hope by sharing this story and can help someone avoid a similar mistake.
What about you?
I’ve shared my story, I’d love you hear yours in the comments below!
Here are a few other personal finance related articles from Company Keepers Dance Ministry Talk written with ministers in mind:
Paneh Weekly Roundup #7: Giving Edition
Every Thursday, I will post a link round-up of articles I've found while researching the Internet. While all may not be directly related to dance ministry or worship arts, I hope it will be of benefit to the dance ministers, mime ministers and worship artists that frequent this site.
We are entering the holiday season, this time of year means different things for different people. Some focus on giving, others receiving, for some it means spending and others celebrating and memories. I wrote a guest post for Christian Personal Finance called There is No Such Thing as a Free Lunch – Or is there?, it has to do with the concept of giving selflessly. As we prepare for Thanksgiving festivities & Christmas productions, let’s go out of our way to be a blessing to others.
Enjoy these articles from around the web!
Do You Hear What I Hear? – Reverend Stephanie Butler reminds us to be open to receive a fresh wind from the Lord. Just like he communicated to young Samuel (1 Sam 3:1-12), He is still communicating today.
Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord,
and he will repay him for his deed.
Proverbs 19:17
Dancers, do you know why you are told to breathe while Stretching? 4Dancers blog explains the “why” of this important stretching element. For those that teach, it may help to explain why breathing properly is important.
But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
Matthew 6:3-4
Homemade Christmas Ornaments & Decorations – Debt Free Adventure shares these ideas to help decommercialize Christmas and get together as a family creating these crafts
If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that?
James 2:15-16
Sign On the Dotted Line started as a comment by Minister Rekesha Pittman on Dance Ministry Ethics #2: Contracted Ministry. The response was so thorough and passionate that it deserved to be its own blog post!
Conduct a food drive or help out at a soup kitchen this holiday season
His Hem Ministry provides information on a Tambourine workshop this weekend in Pennsylvania hosted by Shachah Ministries International.
In case you missed any of the articles posted here this month, there is a full recap in the October Summary
Dance Ministry Ethics #3: Self Promotion
October 26 – 30, 2009 is Dance Ministry Ethics Week here on Paneh’s site. Each day a new topic will be featured for discussion. The scenarios presented are based on real events however no actual names will be used.
The topic for day 3 is Self Promotion or Creative Marketing?
The Lord has graced us with many gifts to be a blessing to HIS people. The bible tells us in Matthew 28:19 to go and make disciples...this involved sharing what they were taught. The bible also says in Ephesians 4:11 that He gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry. He bestows gifts on us to share with the world.
The Bible also says
A man’s gift makes room for him, And brings him before great men.
Proverbs 18:16
In this Information Technology Age, we have another media to spread the gospel that was not available to the disciples. I’ve heard it said before that God’s message doesn’t change but the method does. We have social networking, e-mail, cell phones, and much more at our finger tips. How do we leverage the zeal to do the work of the ministry with the promises of God?
Creative Marketing or Self Promotion?:
- Typically, I’ll receive several e-mails or phone calls from people letting me know they are available to minister (teach, preach, sing, dance) at an upcoming conference.
- I find myself "subscribed" to various newsletters that I have never signed up for
- Asking to be placed on program
- Posting their own event flyers on my "wall" (Facebook / Myspace) when I am not affiliated with it
- Harvesting contact information from someone for your own use (This is why I encourage using the BCC field with email. When someone sends and email and the address is shown in the TO block….any recipient can take all the email addresses and send their own information.)
It’s your turn!
I’ve listed several examples above. Do you believe that behavior is OK from a Christian ethical standpoint? Why or why not?
Share your own stories / testimonies, insights and questions below!
Dance Ministry Ethics #1: Leaving After Ministry
October 26 – 30, 2009 is Dance Ministry Ethics Week here on Paneh’s site. Each day a new topic will be featured for discussion. The scenarios presented are based on real events however no actual names will be used.
The first topic for discussion is ministries that leave a service after their "turn" on program. Whenever I sponsor an event, it is disheartening to see invited dance and/or mime ministries leave immediately after their selection. When accepting an engagement to minister in dance, is it too much to ask for ministries to stay for the entire program? Should an invitee consider the length of the entire service when considering whether or not accept an engagement? Is asking the guests to stay for the entire service too much?
There have been occasions where invitees have asked to be moved to a particular spot on program because they are either coming from or going to another engagement. This lets me know their intention is not to stay for the duration of the event. I understand circumstances may come up after a commitment has been made and appreciate the communication and compromise. However, I don’t understand accepting multiple engagements on the same day, or worse…leaving for no apparent reason at all.
On one hand:
Invited guests should stay for the entire service. You never know when their will be a shift in the program and the hosts or organizers may need you to minister again. Ministry means to serve and that should extend to the entire service.
On one other hand:
There are only so many hours in a day! If a ministry’s schedule is demanding, sometimes the only way to support various services is to only attend in part.
Personally, when accepting an invitation I do everything possible to make sure my schedule allows me to stay for the duration of the service. There have been occassions, especially with the children & teen dance ministries that they are not able to stay for the entire duration. During those instances, I make sure the host knows before confirming the invite to ensure this is acceptable and also try to position ourselves near the exit so we can leave without creating a distraction.
It’s your turn!
Is it OK to leave before the end of a service as an invited guest?
If you host events, how would you feel about guests leaving? Would it bother you?
Leave your comments and participate in the poll below
