Rhode Island joins the National Liturgical Dance Network!

(Melodie with NLDN staff--Lakeisha Sykes and Sentheia McLeod, and Founding Director, Rev. Eyesha Marable - with daughter, Honor, in tow!)
This month, Rhode Island joined over 20 other states and over 7 countries in becoming a chapter in the National Liturgical Dance Network! Melodie Thompson-Thomas will serve as RI Chapter Chair,under the leadership of founding director, Rev. Eyesha Marable. Founded in 1998, NLDN promotes in-reach and outreach ministry through dance, challenging leaders and ministries world-wide to strive for excellence in their art and in their biblical knowledge. NLDN provides ongoing dance and leadership training to help equip the saints for effective ministry in dance and movement arts. As a NLDN Chapter, we can look forward to expanding opportunities for service to others and growth in our art, all to the glory of God!

"GOD'S PUBLIC DISPLAY of AFFECTION"

As once pointed out by one of my members, GPDA (God's Providence Dance Assembly) could also stand for "God's Public Display of Affection." :-) Perhaps the similarity in acronym is no coincidence. As we enter our 3rd season together, I can definitely testify that I've been blessed by the affection of each of these women of God. They have seen me at my physical lowest (on crutches with fractures shortly before last year's Gospel Dance Concert!)and at emotional low points as well. And they have been there for me- with laughter, hugs, encouragement.... even admonitions (cause,yeah, leaders need this, too, sometime!) Likewise, we have been there for each other. Through tears and joy and fear (Arise, Shoe Warriors!),and celebrations -- we have, indeed, been helpers one to another. And what does all this have to do with Dance Ministry? It has everything to do with dance ministry!God uses our affection for His Direction!
Because we love one another, we are able to appreciate, celebrate and support each other's strengths, weaknesses, differences and similarities. Unlike many other dance ministries, God's Providence Dance Assembly is made up of liturgical dancers from different churches in RI and MA. This aspect of our union adds tremendous richness to our fellowship,and I think it also adds to our appreciation of each other. I was recently talking to Valencia Friend, one of my dear dance sisters. We were talking about how disheartening it is to see some dance ministry members caught up in a spirit of competition, and how this is so contrary to God's purposes. We are all human, so if we say we have never ever looked at the skills of a more highly trained liturgical dancer without a "wee bit" of covetousness,then "the truth is not in us." But, as a former pastor of mine used to say, "You can't stop the birds from flying over your head, but you can stop them from making a nest in your hair!" Fleeting thoughts are just fleeting thoughts. But let our concentration be on affection for one another, as we display God's affection to a needy world!

Gospel Dance Concert III: God's Mission Accomplished!

" As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is My Word that goes out from My Mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it."
So began the 3rd Annual Gospel Dance Concert at Providence Assembly of God in Providence, RI. What proceeded for the next 2 hours was God's Word in Dance! From Genesis to Revelation, His Word walked and spun and twirled and leapt and jumped across the stage and up and down the aisles! And by the end, almost all who were present had responded to that Word in one way or another. Twenty + people came to the altar for salvation or rededication of their lives to Jesus Christ; 100+ people came to join the dancers in worshipping, repenting and rejoicing at the altar. Many, many, many people's lives were touched and transformed by God's message to His children, delivered through the creative expression of Dance. Mission Accomplished! (Stay tuned for Gospel Dance Concert IV in 2010!)