Instruction – Page 10 – Worship Dance Ministries

Holy Visitation – Worship Dance Conference – Sherwood, Oregon – August 15-16, 2014

I am so excited to be hosting a Dancing for Him conference in August of 2014. Dancing for Him is an internationally recognized dance ministry that has helped me grow as a dancer and a dance ministry leader. I attended a Dancing for Him Conference on Anderson Island in June of 2013 and came home with my toolbox full of exciting ideas for choreography, team building, and creative movement as well as full of the Holy Spirit’s joy and power.

So, to be hosting a conference in my neck of the woods is an incredible opportunity for me to be equipped as a worship dancer, to equip other worship dancers in my area, and to invite the presence of the Holy Spirit more fully on my home church.

Here’s how DFH describes this conference:

Come, let us experience this deep place of worship where life-changes happen. We will see a transformation not only in our dance, but in our selves…Come, let us worship Him together. Then go home not only with fresh ideas, but changed…with Pastor Lynn M. Hayden

Would you love to learn many aspects and concepts of worship/expressive dance?

Would you love to learn some fresh movement and choreography ideas?

Would you love to receive ministry through and be activated in prophetic dance?

Then this conference is for you!

For more information about the conference, click here:

I did it!

I did it! I’m so proud, really thankful, to have finished this project that I’ve wanted to complete for a month. My husband was out of town, so I stayed up until past midnight for a couple of nights, and got it done. Normally, it’s not my style to work late into the night. I take Psalm 127:2 at face value,

It is vain for you to rise early, come home late, and work so hard for your food. Yes, he can provide for those whom he loves even when they sleep.

I’m usually nodding off around 10:30. But this was a project I couldn’t get done during the day with my kids wanting me, or wanting my computer. And I couldn’t get it done on a normal night after they went to bed, because that’s when my husband and I get to catch up. So, I burned the midnight oil for a couple of nights and, by the grace of God I did it.

I made a 3 minute video introducing my worship dance curriculum for children, And a Child Shall Lead Them – Ten Worship Dance Lessons for Children. This book, which is close to my heart, contains my ten favorite lessons to teach children about dancing for Jesus. In it, I instruct teachers/leaders/parents how to lay a biblical foundation for dance for their children, how to build a vocabulary of worship, how to dance the scriptures, and how to keep a kingdom mindset through it all. The book has clear lesson objectives, lists of songs to choose from, photos, lists additional resources, and two short videos that come with it. I think it’s really valuable and I want to get it into the hands of many parents, dance teachers, and children’s ministry leaders. It’s not cheap, so I know that for someone to buy this curriculum, they need to know what they can expect to receive before they purchase it. That’s why I created the video, to give a brief but meaty overview of what is in this curriculum package.

So, take 3 minutes, click the video above, have a look and let me know what you think.

By the way, I hardly felt tired over the next two days. God gave me grace. It reminds me of a favorite promise of God’s that my mom used to quote on busy days, “and your strength will equal your days,” Deuteronomy 33:25. He gave me strength to match the day.

Is there something you have really wanted to do that keeps getting pushed out by the urgent tasks of your day? Take a couple of nights and burn the midnight oil or get up before dawn. Ask God for strength to meet the day and just do it. You’ll be blessed, and others will through your work.

To purchase this package – which includes a digital download of And a Child Shall Lead Them – Ten Worship Dance Lessons for Children and the accompanying videos click here:

Price: $34

Come be encouraged and inspired.

Next week I have the privilege of being a speaker in a tele summit with six gifted and anointed women, and I would love for you to be there. Think of it as a women’s retreat on the phone. No, you don’t get the weekend away from all your responsibilities at home, but you also don’t have to travel or arrange for your family while you are gone. This is complementary, no cost to you at all.

I’ll be teaching on prayer, the key to advancing God’s kingdom when you serve. You’ll also also receive powerful biblical teaching, encouragement, practical wisdom for staying in shape, and much more. To hear about all the speakers, you can listen to this 4 minute audio to get the whole scoop and to register. audio and registration

The summit will take place Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, October 28, 29, and 30, from 7:00-9:00 PM EST (4:00-7:00 for those of us on the west coast) HOWEVER, it will be recorded, so even if you can’t make a single live session, I encourage you to register. You’ll then be able to download the audio files, but them on your ipod, and receive encouragement and equipping while you run, while you take your morning/evening walk, or while you are driving. Of course, if you can make it live, do it — you get the interaction, the give aways or special offers (I love those).

So you know, my teaching portion will be from 8:00-8:30 PM (5:00-5:30 PST).

Don’t miss this, I would love to have you there and I know you will be encouraged and equipped. Please feel free to pass it on to any friends whom you think would be interested.

Is God tapping you on the shoulder?

I used to think that prayer was about me tapping a very busy God on the shoulder and saying, “Lord, _______ is hurting. Please heal her,” or, ‘Lord, __________ is under spiritual attack. Please defend him.” But I’m learning that prayer is more about God tapping a very busy me on the shoulder and saying, “Amy, I want to heal ___________ and I want you to speak it into being.” Or, “Amy, _____________ is under spiritual attack. I’m ready to release power, and I want you to declare my victory in his life.”

When a friend and teacher, Cathy, shared this understanding of prayer with me, it changed the way I prayed. I began to see that prayer is not so much about me convincing God to act in the world as it is about me releasing the authority He has given me through Jesus to bring about His kingdom, to do the good works He stands ready to do in people’s lives.

In John 5:19,20, Jesus said, “Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does.”

In light of this, prayer is more about listening to the Father to find out what He wants to do, and then speaking it into being. If I am willing to listen, to be attentive for that tap on the shoulder, that quiet thought that pops into my mind, for that nudging of the Spirit, I get to be the vehicle He uses to bring healing, deliverance, encouragement, provision that He wants released in someone’s life.

Listening in prayer is much more of a challenge to me than talking. Early on in my marriage, my husband admitted that he didn’t really like praying with me sometimes because I pray so long. Ouch. That hurt. My husband is much less wordy than I am in prayer. Instead, he spends more time listening to God. When he does speak, his prayers are powerful and effective. From him, and from my friend Cathy, I’m learning to listen for what the Father is up to. Instead of telling God what I need Him to do in someone’s life, I need to listen for what He wants to do into their lives. Then I can pray with confidence, speaking into being His plans to bring about His Kingdom. Sometimes a scripture comes to my mind and I pray it for a person. Other times, I don’t hear anything specific. In those times, I can just say, “Lord, I say ‘Yes,’ to whatever you are doing in that person’s life.”

Some of you have shared specific prayer requests with me, and I am praying for you. I’m working on not just voicing my hopes for you, but listening to what the Father is doing in your life. If you would like me to pray for you, please let me know.

Thank you to those of you who are praying for the dance classes I am teaching now. I have sensed God’s Spirit at work through your prayers.

Let me know how I can pray for you.

God has called me to lead a prayerful dance ministry. One of my favorite verses is John 15:5 “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.”

When and only when we stay close to Jesus and His word, we bear fruit in ministry and in our personal lives. That’s what I want – fruit (lives changed, Jesus’s character and love revealed) that will last.

My focus over the next month in Worship Dance Ministries is going to be teaching on prayer and on praying.

I think it’s an incredible privilege to be able to secure help from the God of the whole universe and even greater honor and responsibility to speak His will into being in the lives of others through prayer. God has given us access to all the riches of His power and authority through prayer in Jesus’ name. I love that.

I pray for you in a general way, if you have subscribed to Worship Dance Ministries. If you would like prayer for something specific, please let me know.

If you pray for me this week, please pray for God’s Spirit to work in a special way among the children to whom I’m teaching worship dance right now.

And A Child Shall Lead Them – Ten Worship Dance Lessons for Children is Completed and Available!

I’m proud and grateful to have this e-curriculum completed and available to purchase. In it, I have assembled my favorite worship dance lessons – ones that teach children the heart of worship, engage them, and equip them to worship Jesus. This book contains ten scripted lesson plans for parents, dance teachers and dance ministry leaders. In addition to the lesson plans, it includes two videos, Building a Vocabulary of Movement and Joining the Worship of Heaven – Revelation 7 Gestures, which accompany the lessons. The biblical principals taught are foundational to worship dance, so dance teachers and dance ministry leaders can use them alongside their technique training to raise children who dance for Jesus. The movements in the book are simple, so that parents can use them at home with their children.

Click here for a preview of selected pages:

Summer Worship Dance Sessions begin June 18

Summer Worship Dance Class for Children Beginning Soon

Two four-week sessions: Tuesdays, June 18-July 9; Wednesdays, July 31-August 21

In both of these classes, students will have the opportunity to:

learn the biblical basis for using dance and movement to worship
build a vocabulary of movement for worship
learn choreographed movement to worship songs
experiment with props such as streamers, scarves and flags in worship.
get exercise, strengthen their muscles, practice following directions, build Christ-centered friendships and have FUN!

Session One: Tuesdays, June 18-July 9 – Dancing the Scriptures

The bible is full of movement, and God’s word comes alive to us when we dance to it. This four week class will be a fun way to make the scriptures come alive for children, to help them hide the scriptures in their hearts, and to see how much their God loves movement. We’ll put scripture to movement – using expressive sign as well as flags, streamers and scarves, we’ll embody the scriptures using dance.

Session Two: Wednesdays, July 31-August 21 – Dancing before the Lord

The bible says that God is looking for worshippers who worship in Spirit and in Truth. This class will focus on the heart of worship – devotion to Jesus. Children will learn how much the Lord delights in their worship and how powerful a child’s worship can be to advance the Kingdom of God. Children will use expressive sign and props to create movement phrases that express their own love for Jesus.

Continue reading “Summer Worship Dance Sessions begin June 18”

Spring Worship Dance Class Wednesdays, Beginning April 3

Psalm 8:2 “Through the praise of children and infants you have established a stronghold against your enemies.”

Worship Dance classes allow students to:

• learn the biblical basis for using dance and movement to worship
• build a vocabulary of movement for worship
• learn a choreographed dance to a worship song
• experiment with props such as streamers, scarves and flags in worship
• minister to others by presenting their dance at an Assisted Living Facility
• get exercise, strengthen their muscles, practice following directions, build Christ-centered friendships and have FUN!

Continue reading “Spring Worship Dance Class Wednesdays, Beginning April 3”

Movement and Dance in Worship Workshops

Romans 12:1 “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God. This is your reasonable service.”

Workshops for Women cover:

the biblical basis for dance
props and pageantry in worship using expressive sign language to tell God’s stories
the heart of the worshipper
the power of dance to minister
using movement as an expression of your private devotion to Jesus

Continue reading “Movement and Dance in Worship Workshops”