Reader Question: Children in Ministry Protocols
January 4, 2010 by Lakita
Filed under From the Mailroom
A reader asked:
Hey Kita, I wanted to ask you - I am the servant leader of the liturgical dance ministry of the youth. Our rehersals are 1 hour. We recently received a younger praise dancer (she is 4 yrs old), the mom has been been taking me for a baby sitter. Do you have a format that you use for children and youth in your ministry? -V.
V,
Yes I have protocol established, but what is more important than what the protocol may say is that it is supported by your Pastor and communicated to those in the ministry (when dealing with children that includes the parents). While not a necessity, I prefer written guidelines. These can be objectively referred to without the appearance of bias. When you say the mother is taking you for a baby-sitter….what does that mean? She is picking the child up late? Does the child want to participate? Behavioral problems? All of these are contingencies that can be addressed in a ministry guideline.
I have some more information on this in Starting a Dance Ministry part 2 (The Practical) and Starting a Dance Ministry part 3 (The Administrative). I will also include a sample ministry guideline in the Starting a Dance Ministry E-book that I hope to release later this month. If you want to receive more information about that, you can subscribe for the email alert using the button below:
What about you? Have you faced a similiar situation in ministry? Do you have additional advice for V? Leave your comment below!
Paneh Weekly Roundup #13: Holiday Commercials 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.
Earlier I asked a question on Facebook, what is your favorite "holiday commercial"? There are some commercials, like the Campbell's Soup Snowman commercial that are shown year after year….timeless!
Not many articles in the round-up this week, but the ones that are here are great! Be sure to read them all!
Uuh, Check That Again is a timely reminder from His Hem Ministry to exercise caution and discretion when selecting garments for ministry. If you find yourself in search of appropriate worship attire after reading this article, be sure to check out What to Wear – Garment Resource List
Confessions of a Busy Mom is a featured guest post at Dance Advantage. It is a must read for anyone that works with children either as a ministry leader or studio owner. It is no secret that dealing with parents can be sometimes…um….challenging. This article does not offer excuses for the communication gap that often exists between parent and student, but offers a look from the other side of the fence. By the way, special thanks to all the parents do! Taking their children to rehearsals, fund-raisers, assisting at dance recitals and more! It is appreciated!
Note: The article is originally from DanceStudioOwner.com. If you own a dance studio, membership to this site can be very valuable!
Below are two of my favorite holiday commercials. What's yours?
Paneh Weekly Round-up: Dance Instructor 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.
My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment. – James 3:1
Why YOU need an Email Service Provider. I posted this article on Professional Presence Designs to discuss the need for Email Service Providers. Too many dance ministers have developed a bad habit of sending out mass mailings from personal email accounts. If you are using the Blind Copy (BCC) field, then at least you are protecting the privacy of your recipients. However, your personal email account was not built to handle frequent mass mailings. There are technical implications outlined in the article that can be hindering the receipt of your message. Also, you may be inadvertently violating ICANN Anti-spam policies or your email company’s terms of use policy.
Beauty in Billows – This isn’t really an article, but a picture of how beautiful billows can be when introduced in choreography
Creative Arts Gathering In Waterloo, IA October 8-11 is reported on KWWL. This International Creative Arts Conference is hosted by one of my fellow dance ministry friends Ellaysa Newton. Great job getting your event picked up by the local media!
Paneh Weekly Round-up: Fellowship & Family 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.
Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.
Exodus 20:12
But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.
1 John 1:7
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!
Diversified Praise Conf.
July 7, 2009 by Lakita
Filed under Events List
Title: Diversified Praise Conf.
Location: Hampton, VA
Start Date: 2009-08-14
End Date: 2009-08-15
Register for Equipping the Saints by July 24
June 9, 2009 by Lakita
Filed under News and Updates
Note: The early registration rates have been extended to JULY 24th!
Kingdom Greetings!
The registration rates for the Equipping the Saints Dance & Worship Arts Conference are scheduled to increase after July 24th.
Register before then to take advantage of the low rates
This year’s conference THY KINGDOM COME will introduce new classes such as:
- A 4-hour dance intensive
- Twirl Flags
- Davidic Dance
- Prophetic Dance
- Banners & Processionals
- About My Father’s Business (Starting and operating a business)
- and many more!
Conference Facilitators:
- Dr. Gregory Wells Sr.
- Pastor Tanya Brown
- Prophet Barbara McClain
- Elder Cecilia Beasley
- Minister Sabrina McKenzie
- Minister Rekesha Pittman
- Minister Paulette Rolle-Alesnik
- Minister Robert Hayes (aka The Last Mime)
- Pat & Gary Anderson (Banners of Praise)
- Dr. Chena Anderson
- and many more!!!!
Use the form below to register, or visit our conference registration page for more information
Flood Watch Coming Soon
May 9, 2009 by Lakita
Filed under News and Updates
The International Dance Commission (Midwest Region) presents Flood Watch ~ Moving to Higher Ground
May 16th in Des Moines, IA
This is the first stop on The GLORY Revival Tour!
This Revival / Crusade has 3 parts:
Part 1: The Daily Workshops:
We will present classes designed to educated, empower, impart, equip and REVIVE the movement ministers. Classes include: The HEART of an Evangelist, Dance for JOY (youth), Worship that God Accepts, Dance & Mime as Ministry (and not entertainment), Flags & Banners, and a special leadership session with the IDC Founder, Minister Sabrina McKenzie.
Part 2: Go YE!
We are going to take it to the streets! Spreading the Gospel and encouraging people to return for the evening celebration in the park!
Part 3: Soul Harvest
We are going to have Praise in the Park! Choirs, movement ministers, flags, step…all lifting up the name of JESUS in Unity.
If you are near the Des Moines, IA area we encourage you to join us! We are expecting a mighty outpouring of His Spirit
Check out our event page for more information
Event Recap: Dance for Joy
May 8, 2009 by Lakita
Filed under Event Recaps
I am still in awe of the GREAT things that took place at the Dance for JOY workshop! JOYED UP! Youth praise dance ministry really took ownership of their event from beginning to end. They picked the movement disciplines, the menu (pizza of course), and ministered through teaching and dance.
The day started with their class "Dance for JOY" in which they spoke about why they choose to minister in dance, Bible verses supporting dance, and perhaps their favorite topic – Ministry vs. Entertainment, where they compared and contrasted ministry with entertainers their peers are familiar with (America’s Best Dance Crew, Hannah Montana, and Cheetah Girls to name a few).
At an age where peer approval is priority, I commend them for standing in front of a group of their peers and teaching a foundational truth of ministry. The revelations God downloaded into these teens, pre-teens (and pre-pre-teens!) was direct from His mouth to theirs. Nuggets such as:
"When we minister we are not concern with making people happy – we want to make God happy"
"Ministry is letting God take control and move through you and with entertainment you stay in control"
"With entertainment you get the glory and with ministry God gets the glory"
**************
The breakout sessions were full of energy as the youth learned a variety of movement disciplines such as Step, Mime, African, and Praise. There were classes for the Parents / Leaders as well such as: Pulling the Gifts out of your youth, Starting & Maintaining a Dance Ministry and the "Un-Blushable" Generation.
The energy poured into the afternoon service as we all came together to lift up the name of Jesus. JOYED UP ministered an Israel Medley with the help of some of the workshop dancers!
Sidebar: Let’s not underestimate our youth! These kids learned choreography for a 12 minute song in less than an hour!!!
We witnessed the Spirit of the Lord fall upon one of our youngest members as she Danced before the Lord and led us to a higher place of worship! And a child shall lead them!
Each ministry (all youth) came to give God glory! Our speaker, Tearra Vaughn blessed us with praise dance too ~ GLORY! She spoke directly to the youth to meet them where they are. She was engaging an kept their attention…not always an easy task!
At the end of the day the altar was filled with youth that desired to walk closer with Jesus – to God be ALL the GLORY!
On behalf of JOYED UP! I would like to thank every participant & attendee for your loving support.
To JOYED UP (and their parents!) ~ I am honored to serve as your dance ministry president. I love you all very much!
View JOYED UP! Ministering at the Workshop
Dancing for JOY!
Lakita
Equipping the Saints
April 9, 2009 by Lakita
Filed under Events List
Title: Equipping the Saints
Location: St. Louis, MO
Link out: Click here
Description: Equipping the Saints Dance and Worship Arts Conference: THY KINGDOM COME
Start Date: 2009-09-10
End Date: 2009-09-13
Join us for the 3rd Annual Equipping the Saints Dance & Worship Arts Conference. Our theme this year is Thy Kingdom Come. We are calling for the kingdom-minded ministers to join us for praise, worship, exhortation and equipping!
