Checking the Charges

Ever see a registration fee for a dance or worship arts conference and wonder why? There are several factors that go into determining whether an event can be hosted free of charge or if registration fees are necessary. I want to share with you a little bit of the happenings behind the scenes to get a better understanding of the charges...

FREE CONFERENCES AND EVENTS
It is easier to host free events when the facility, speakers, and sponsors are able to support or eliminate any financial expenses tied to the event. For my first three dance conferences, I hosted the gathering free of charge (to attendees), but the truth is, I paid for them out of my own pocket as a love offering to the dance community.

For my very first conference in 2003, the church donated the building, although we returned 10 percent of the offering back to the church. The food was donated by members of the church and all of the teachers (three of us) donated their time to teach the participants. For the evening dance concert, we received a freewill offering. What may not have been as obvious were the other expenses that went into preparing: administrative costs (printing, postage, ink), and hotel accommodations (I lived outside of the immediate area and the event started early in the morning). Unfortunately, many of the participants were not big "givers" so there was no profit derived from this conference (and I operated it at a natural loss, but a spiritual gain!)

My second conference moved to a larger facility. Though the church was donated again, we still gave a love offering for participation. In addition, I had to pay for the food to feed the participants myself. Expenses also increased. I now had a website, more printing costs (brochures and registrations forms), postal expenses (mailing out information), decorating fees, and gave the janitor a cleaning fee. We again received a love offering for the conference, but it did not cover the expenditures of the event.

The third conference proved even more challenging. The location that was donated before now came with a rental fee. The conference was still free for participants, food was still included, and administrative costs continued to grow. Since I was working a full-time, well-paying job, this was not an undue burden. To make things even more interesting, I moved to Las Vegas and still hosted this conference in Los Angeles, CA. This meant that I had to travel to get there for meetings and for the conference. (Do you see where this is going?).

PAID CONFERENCES AND EVENTS
After relocating to Las Vegas, the ballgame changed completely for my 4th event. Venue rentals for hotels, churches, and community centers proved to be expensive in this city. Since most people visit Vegas for vacation, I decided to host the event at a hotel. Many hotels have large food and beverage minimums or require hefty fees for meeting room rental space. In addition, bringing speakers from out of town entails flights, hotel arrangements, and love offerings. This did not include sound, decor, administrative costs, or transportation! All of this had to be factored in and a registration fee was charged. Although the experience was phenomenal, the expense far outweighed the return! I learned to make adjustments for the future.

By my 5th conference, I'd learned how to budget more carefully. I scaled down the size of the venue, looked for cheaper meeting room space, and narrowed down the list of invited speakers. I raised registration rates that included food served by the hotel and offered a better conference overall. We ended up being able to meet all budgetary needs for the conference!

I will be hosting my 6th conference in two weeks. Over the years, I have learned that it takes an army of supporters behind the scenes to move into success. Although ministry costs when delivering on a level of excellence, the return on investment always outweighs the natural expenses. There are some hosts who are able to "sponsor" their own conferences and workshops. As value increases, others may buy ad space, make donations, or provide in-kind gifts that will reduce the overall cost of the gathering.

Next time you consider attending a conference based on price, consider all that takes place behind the scenes. There is great value to be found in gatherings of all levels. The key is to consult God concerning which events to attend and seeking Him for the provision. As is is often said, "Where God guides, He provides."

Join us at "Worship, Incorporated," National Worship and Dance Conference August 11th-13th in Las Vegas, NV.

For the exciting details, visit us on our site:
http://www.rainreinreign.com/conference.html

Pre-Sale Copies of Rekesha Pittman's NEW Book!

SPECIAL OFFER for those who are registered for "Worship, Inc" National Worship and Dance Conference!

Reserve your personal copy of For This Cause I Bow My Knees: A Moving Testament TODAY!

You may buy your book online TODAY at the pre-sale rate of only $10.00 per book NOW through Saturday, August 6th! Those who purchase pre-sale copies online will be able to pick up your book during registration on Thursday, August 11th BEFORE it goes on sale to the general conference attendees!

HURRY---> The price of the book will increase after August 6th!

Rekesha Pittman and Reignaissance Publications will be hosting a Book Release Party in celebration on Friday, August 12th from 9:30pm -11pm at the Hampton Inn & Suites Las Vegas Airport where she will be available to sign copies of your book.


THIS OFFER IS ONLY AVAILABLE TO THOSE WHO WILL BE IN ATTENDANCE AT THE CONFERENCE.

Not registered for the conference or unable to attend? You may purchase your copy on Monday, August 15th!

Purchase your reserve copy of her NEW book TODAY by clicking the link!

http://www.rainreinreign.com/conference.html

Go Where You Have Favor

Hearing the voice of God clearly will change your life forever! For at least a year, I have been exclaiming "Let GOD do it" in social media, to friends, and in my daily life. I had no idea how powerful those words would really be in my life and ministry.

Earlier this year, I was making plans to head to Chicago to be a vendor at a conference. After calculating the cost for airfare, hotel, food, and weighing it against the expected return, I heard the Lord say, "Go where you have favor." I decided not to take the trip. About a week later, I got a phone call to teach at a conference in Georgia on the same dates that I would have been in Chicago!

On June 4th, I was scheduled to preach at a worship service where Reign Dance Company was in attendance with me. The prophet of the house began to speak a word over our ministry and was accurate beyond belief. Then he said, "You are going to South Africa!" We all rejoiced, even though we were not sure when this was going to happen.

Three weeks later, I boarded my flight and headed to Georgia for the dance conference. I truly enjoyed teaching and sharing the company of so many dancers hungry for the Word of the Lord! On the final night, I participated in a group dance piece and received another prophetic Word from the Lord! In the audience were visiting pastors who were introduced to the congregation, but I did not catch where they were from.

After service, I was standing at my table and a minister approached me and introduced himself. He then said that he was from SOUTH AFRICA and that he would like to bring me and my dancers there! (My dancers had not taken this trip with me, mind you...) Not only was this invitation legitimate, we will be going to South Africa on a Missions Trip October 6th-17th, 2011! LET GOD DO IT!!!!

God is truly amazing!

If you would like to assist Reign Dance Company as we head to South Africa, your financial encouragement is needed. You may contribute on our website:

http://www.reigndancecompany.com

or send checks payable to

Reign Dance Company
Attn: Rekesha Pittman
4262 Blue Diamond Rd Suite 102-296
Las Vegas, NV 89139

We will be visiting schools and prisons, providing supplies and serving food to the homeless. Of course, we will also worship through dance and the Word! Our first deposits are due this month... Thanks in advance for your support!

Speaking of Gospel

I am blessed to share this television interview with you! This has truly been a season of "Letting GOD do it" in my life, relationships, and ministry. I am overwhelmed by His blessings and His grace.

Speaking of Gospel - Rekesha Pittman from Rekesha Pittman on Vimeo.

Please watch the interview and share your feedback. I hope to see you August 11th-13th at "Worship, Incorporated" National Worship and Dance Conference in Las Vegas, NV. Please visit http://www.rainreinreign.com for more information about this conference.

In Awe of God,
Rekesha Pittman

Motion Sickness

Yesterday, the thought of motion sickness came to my mind. Too many praise dancers are focused on precision movement, "gigs," garments, and recognition and forgetting GOD. Anytime something becomes popular, the temptation to pervert its original design also becomes magnified. We should not want to promote the notion that dance ministry is a form of entertainment, social club, or extra-curricular activity. Although some may disagree with me, these people may not understand the true responsibility of those that labor in the gospel.

Motion sickness is also known as simulation sickness. It causes fatigue and tiredness. This type of sickness results from discord within the body. (Source: Wikipedia) Herein lies the problem for masses of dancers! When we stop following the pattern that God has orchestrated for others, we allow Him to give us direction for those we are uniquely called to impact. Wisdom can be gained by gleaning from the experience of others, but learning to obey God's voice will produce miraculous results!

Please help me read my Bible, but music, dance, and song in the Scriptures in the context of Godly representation were used to bring deliverance, prophesy, celebrate, testify, and magnify the LORD. There are also other instances of dance that denigrated, compromised, and served as gateways to idolatry and disobedience. Because many churches, dancers, and community leaders enjoy crowd reactions and want to accommodate the status quo, we have allowed spiritual anarchy to rule.

If we are of the Body and not healing the Body, why are we dancing? If we desire to do what we prefer instead of following God's direction, then dancing is aimless. When we get so used to "routines" and cannot operate in spiritual obedience, we lose value as effective gospel messengers. Dancing in itself does not please the LORD, obedience does!

New King James Bible Version

Ezekiel 34:4
The weak you have not strengthened, nor have you healed those who were sick, nor bound up the broken, nor brought back what was driven away, nor sought what was lost; but with force and cruelty you have ruled them.

Isaiah 1:14
Your New Moons and your appointed feasts My soul hates; They are a trouble to Me, I am weary of bearing them.

Matthew 10:8
Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.

No Experience Required

NEWS FLASH!!! Dance ministry is NOT a requirement for your church! Although I am a proponent of the ministry of movement, I am also an advocate of the Body functioning in its proper place. The problem within many ministries today is a spiritual "Keeping up with the Joneses" proliferating throughout our congregations. Dance leaders are being haphazardly selected for the mere purpose of forming a dance troupe without regard for core beliefs, lifestyle, or anointing for leadership. It is better to leave a hole in the wall open than to fill that SAME hole with deadly explosives!

Much of the spiritual warfare happening within our borders today is brewing from the inside. Pastors and governing leadership MUST understand the spiritual importance of placing people in proper position, and the lasting ramifications of starting ministries without the leading of the Lord. It is time to sound the alarm and stand on the TRUTH of the Word!

This structural damage taking place in our churches is now spilling into the streets of our communities and across the Nations. Wounded soldiers from the dance ministry battlefield are starting external ministries with bleeding hearts. Others, running from the shrapnel of words and ungodly behavior are hiding in spiritual caves and going "underground" when they are internally yearning for ministry to come forth. What have we allowed to happen in our (supposed) sanctuaries? These experiences are NOT a requirement to dance for the Lord!

Praise God for the many healthy ministries in the churches and the community that have been started with pure intentions and ordained by God. Not all external ministries are rogue, just as many church leaders incorporate proper prayer and reliance on God before setting leaders in place. Because many dancers desire to move outside of the appointed time, these war stories continue to mount. We must all rely on God to serve in the area that brings Him glory and leads other to Christ. If our current ministries are marred by fighting, rebellion, dysfunction, and disunity, we must humble ourselves and pray.... NOW!

(New King James Bible Version)

1 Corinthians 1:10
Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.

1 Timothy 6:3-5
If anyone teaches otherwise and does not consent to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which accords with godliness, he is proud, knowing nothing, but is obsessed with disputes and arguments over words, from which come envy, strife, reviling, evil suspicions, useless wranglings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. From such withdraw yourself.

Jude 1:17-19
But you, beloved, remember the words which were spoken before by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ: how they told you that there would be mockers in the last time who would walk according to their own ungodly lusts. These are sensual persons, who cause divisions, not having the Spirit.

In Remembrance of Me?

If our hearts are not set on pleasing God in the worship arts arena, we will be remembered for the wrong reasons. How many times have we attended a concert or worship event to only to ask ourselves, "What is WRONG with this picture?" Although there will always be dancers whose priorities are elsewhere, those of us who love the Lord with our entire existence will aim to please Him only.

Here are some questions that we should ask ourselves regularly:

Should I remember a creative hairstyle more than the message?

Are those eye-catching garments really more of a fashion show than a tool for ministry?

Does the general personality of the ministry promote anti-social behavior, callousness, or an unfriendly demeanor?

Is there a lot of joking, disrespect, talking, or carelessness taking place when there should be focus and unity?

Do the garments serve as a example of a "striptease" show more than reverence for the Creator?

Do electronic devices hinder the ability to worship or encourage others because many are consumed with giving or receiving updates on social networks and text messaging?

Are there more people observing others praise and worship than there are actually worshipping Him?

All that we do should cause others to remember the cause of Christ. If we spend our time consumed with our own preferences, desires, needs, choreography, dressing room space, line-up on the roster, and other self-centered priorities, we can guarantee that we will not be remembered as those who gave complete glory to God.

This process requires constant evaluation of our own motives, Bible reading, prayer time, and living lives that please God while serving others. When we can barely recall the song danced and its intended message, we know that we have been disrupted by the flesh. Let's focus on the assignment of letting others glorify God our Father by seeing the good works that we do here on earth.

New King James Bible Version

1 Samuel 10:25
Then Samuel explained to the people the behavior of royalty, and wrote it in a book and laid it up before the LORD. And Samuel sent all the people away, every man to his house.

Matthew 5:16
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

1 Timothy 5:25
Likewise, the good works of some are clearly evident, and those that are otherwise cannot be hidden.