Example Praise Dance Vision Statement
By · CommentsWhat follows is an example Praise dance Mission Statement used for one of the teams we developed several years ago called, “Expressons”
EXPRESSIONS (DANCE)
VISION STATEMENT
“Our vision for the dance is to creatively express God’s Word through movement.”
1Cor. 6:19 Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own?
The nation of Israel held many feasts throughout the year, and at some of these dancers would dance and minister (rejoicing in what God had done and what He was going to do. In Jeremiah 31 verses 3-4 the scriptures talk about rebuilding and going forth in the dances of those who rejoice. These were holy times, times of jubilation, and times of revelation. As we minister to God, and He through us to others, we must sanctify the temple of our body for His pleasure.
These are the basic criteria that would be expected of dance participants in Christian Outreach Centre House of Prayer:
- Dress (clothed) modestly, at pastors discretion.
- No chewing gum or eating while ministering.
- Submissive to appointed leadership.
For core team members the requirements would also include:
- A life of holiness, a deliberate setting apart for God. (1 Thessalonians 5:23)1a. Devotion to His Word, as you will be ministering His Word through your body.1b. Regular prayer life, for where the Spirit of the Lord is there is freedom, and we must minister not only ‘the letter of the Word’ but the Spirit of the Word.
Let us therefore glorify God with our bodies, that we would usher in His Presence.
(1 Kings 8:10-11)
Praise And Worship Flags and Banners
By · Comments
The use of praise and worship flags and banners is Biblical. Flags and banners were so much part of the worship and identification of God’s people in the Old Testament and we are able to learn from this type and shadow some of the principles we can apply in our worship today.
Each tribe had its own banner, emblazoned with he symbol of their own particular tribe within Israel. This served to identify the tribes and acted as a signal and sign to rally to in times of gathering for worship or for war.
As we know, worship is so much more than just singing a few songs, and praise and worship flags and banners so much more than just waving a piece of material on a stick! A banner rightly carried and lifted in ten name of The Lord can declare significant truths in the realm of the spirit. Fr this reason, the practice and use of praise and worship flags and banners has endured.
Of course, as with any practice within the church, banners can be used unwisely and in a fleshly way too, and we must be careful to avoid this. We have found that considered use of flags and banners can truly enhance worship, but as with any prophetic instrument utilised during worship, there is a right moment for their use, and also to cease from waving them. The true significance of banners and flags in worship is found in allowing he Holy Spirit to orchestrate their use within the whole context of a worship experience. When we are sensitive in this way powerful things can happen, and prophetic dynamics go into play when we do use our flags and banners.
There is something so striking about banners and flags lifted high and skilfully used in this way. The joy and deliverance witnessed as God’s people rally to the name of Christ, to worship Him with energetic devotion is truly awe inspiring.
Throughout our ministry of dance and creative movement we have also been privileged to work with and witness men and women who have truly mattered prophetic use of worship flags and banners. The warrior spirit that routs the enemy and proclaims righteousness and victory through these chosen servants is so inspiring, carrying whole crowds onto the wings of victorious worship as they work together with musicians an other artists to turn hearts and minds toward the overcoming lion of the tribe of Judah!
Allow the Holy Spirit to train your hands for war in the spiritual realm, and make every movement you make a strike against the ungodly kingdoms of this world!
Expressions of Worship Dance
By · CommentsOne of the the first praise and worship dance teams we ever developed was simply called “expressions”. The full ministry title was “Expressions from the Heart of God”. And this perfectly describes where real anointed expressions of worship dance flow from – the heart of our Father in Heaven.
The key to really seeing the anointing go to work in worship dance ministry is in learning to flow with the Holy Spirit and follow His promptings. He is the organiser of the Church as a whole, orchestrating the vast array of ministry that flows from the Body of Christ around the globe. In the same way, He is the choreographer of our movement in worship. We offer Him our gifts, skill and talent, and allow Him to harness it for the glory of God.
Expressions of worship dance, just like any ministry in the Body of Christ, can take many and varied forms. We spoke already about the flow of the anointing. The Bible speaks of these anointing as as being like many rivers flowing from the same source. In tis respect, one could have anointed hip-hop alongside the most delicate liturgical expression of worship, and both would be equally valid and anointed in the right context, and as directed by the precious Holy Spirit.
The key principle is the altar upon which any worship dance talent is placed. Is your talent on the altar of performance and personal aggrandisement? If so, best go somewhere else to display your talents! All of our worship dance expressions must be laid on the altar, lifting not our own name but His!
Expressions of worship dance can be lyrical, liturgical, contemporary, messianic, dramatic or traditional. The variations of expression as as many faceted as our Lord Himself, because they flow creatively from His heart.
We believe that there are expressions of worship dance yet to be released, and that these expressions will gloriously carry the power and the anointing f the One from whom they proceed – Jesus Christ, the Lord made flesh. He will be and is embodied in our moves, and prophetic strength is delivered on the wings of our sanctified expressions of worship.
May God, from whom all creativity flows, place His hand upon each and every creative ministry and minister on the earth. May His Kingdom be brought to this earth, and heavenly realities be realised as we move and express our worship dance toward His throne! Amen and amen.
Praise Dance Ministry Mission Statement
By · CommentsDeveloping a mission stament for your praise dance ministry can be a key to focussing your realising your goals as a praise dance group. Mission statements by nature force us to evaluate the purpose and direction of our ministry, and provide a compass point for all that we do thereafter.
The content and emphasis of your praise dance ministry mission statement will differ according to the specific calling of God for your ministry team. Are you called to release dance in the church as an expression of praise and worship? To raise up creative teams to encourage the church and reach he lost? Maybe your praise dance ministry is focussed on working with youth or children, as ours was in the early days of our ministry of movement.
Consider want God has spoken to you, and the focus of your ministry. Where are you experiencing fruitfulness in what you are doing? What has God specifically spoken to you concerning your praise dance ministry?
Have you discussed with your pastoral oversight, and are you working together with the, in agreement? Working in unity with our fellow ministers and the pastors that God has joined us together with can really help is to clarify the mission we are called to accomplish in praise dance, and to discover pathways for that mission to be accomplished within the present structures of our churches. Always remember, we are team players, with a Kingdom focussed heart that sees the big picture, not just ministry focussed.
For us, we have found that the praise dance ministry mission statements that we have developed also have to be flexible, and adaptable to the season of ministry we are presently working in. There are Kairos times, times ordained by God as Now seasons – we need to be open to flow with Him in this.
As I mentioned earlier, our praise dance ministry in church began working with children, ages 5-9. We called it simply Kids Creative Arts, and covers all kinds of creative expression with them in a ministry context. The praise dance ministry mission statement for this was different to what followed.
God then called us to lead a creative arts team, focussed on evangelism. This Anointed Arts department in the church was aimed at developing creative outreach expressions in concerts, street work and other creative events.
Following this we planted new churches in different towns, pastoring and pioneering several congregations. Much of our creative ministry here ran on parallel tracks – encouraging creativity in our people, and developing creative mission teams which we would take to different nations to preach the gospel. Our creativity here was stretched because we needed on mission to bridge language gaps. Of course, visual and dance oriented ministry was perfectly fitted for such trips.
Our focus creatively in dance has now shifted to training and raising up new dancers and encouraging dance ministers in their calling. We also minister at Christian conferences and events, bringing the prophetic anointing that dance can carry – working together with the worship team and other ministers to release the fullness of God’s glorious Kingdom in he midst of His people.
Each of these streams have their own praise Dance ministry mission statement that could be developed. If you are cloudy about the focus of your praise dance ministry, and need to clarify the calling and emphasis of that which you are doing, maybe taking time to prayerfully craft a praise dance ministry mission statement is one of the steps you can take.
