Love Has Everything to Do with It

This is my latest article written for "The Answer Newspaper." ENJOY!

Love Has Everything to Do with It

by Pastor Rekesha Pittman

February is one of the months that entrepreneurs plan on making profits from the ways that we choose to express ourselves to those we are most intimate with. Do we expect people who are not in a committed relationship with us to load us with flowers, candy, cards, meals and other personal expressions with no further investment or exchange? Yet, this is what we encourage people to do every time that we come together and call it praise and worship!

Have we missed what gets people to the place of connection with our Lord and endlessly berate those who wonder why we profess our love so profusely on every microphone, stage, and platform available to us? If we commit to live like a ministry more than we promote it… When we choose to love people, even at the point when they feel most undesirable and abandoned… When we love each other without fail, we manifest the love of God more than a melody, praise dance, or musical masterpiece can! Our true commitment makes the worship that we bring even more extravagant.

How many of us have deterred unbelievers, new converts, or disenfranchised sons and daughters from a closer encounter with God because of our lack of love shown toward them? How can we say that we love God and hate our brother (1 John 4:20)? It is easy for those passionate about the worship arts to become enamored with our own images, projects, appearances, social media interactions and ministry networking, that we forget the basic meaning of ministry: to serve!

I don’t know about you, but I have been heartbroken, or at the very least disappointed, when prominent ministry musicians, singers, preachers, and teachers fall from grace. We realize that there is no perfect person walking this earth, but we inwardly cheer for these popular personalities from the sidelines, hoping that someone is really walking out this thing in which we faithfully invest our money, rehearsals, and emotional milestones by adopting their music, messages, and movements into our hearts. Maybe I am the only one who ever wondered: How can they do “that” and still be anointed? This is a perfect example of the love of God and His grace.

He gives us lavish gifts and deposits talents into us that He does not take away; however, I am a firm believer that our failure to walk in integrity may grant us the ability to still sing, play, write and dance, but will restrict our overall ability to win more souls or influence others for Christ. Did He call us to preach, sing, prophesy, or worship through movement only for us to mismanage that which He so freely gave us? Let’s love God enough to keep His commandments, the greatest of which is: “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.” – Matthew 22:37-39 (KJV)

Pastor Rekesha Pittman serves as the Artistic Director for Reign Dance Company and is a highly-requested conference speaker. As a Worship Arts Consultant, she has provided direction to churches and ministries that have resulted in growth and continued development of artistic staff and volunteers. www.divineturnaround.com

Arts in the News

I have been blessed to write for "The Answer Newspaper" in Las Vegas for the past 3 months. It is a monthly newspaper that has over 65,000 readers! Here is my latest article that I want to share with you... EMBRACE THE NEW!

I DO A NEW THING by Pastor Rekesha Pittman

Success can easily be the worst thing that can happen to an artist. Thunderous applause, excited hugs and gushing testimonies can cause us to want to replicate what we just accomplished. To an extent, utilizing the wisdom gained through our creative process is a good idea, but is it a "God" idea?

Are we living to please people, or do we desire to let God have center stage? I am often under pressure to outperform myself with a bigger-better dance routine, larger dance conference, or increased book sales. People say things to me like, "I do not know how you are going to top this," and "I cannot wait to see what you are going to do next!" If I let this type of commentary give me direction, I will be inspired by my own ego instead of by Divine assignment. When I keep my focus on doing what the Lord says, He has this wondrous way of doing His very best through me!

Who really wants to be a one-hit wonder? If we are honest, when we buy music that we enjoy from an artist, we immediately begin looking for the next big hit from them because we want more of a good thing. If you are anything like me, you've purchased a CD because you really liked the single and then experienced major disappointment when there were no other hit tracks on the album. Oh the joy that floods our souls when we do find that masterpiece that we can groove to from beginning to end!

We must remember that there are times and seasons for everything. There are some dance pieces that I have been blessed to choreograph that would not have worked five years ago, even though the song was released at that time. Others I have started, but could not complete because it just didn't "click." I have already outlined entire books to be released in the future when the timing is right. Even though God gave me a preview, I still need to develop more expertise in a few areas before publishing those best-sellers.

You may be envisioning something now that is for the future. Having a true relationship with God will help us to discern what is current, what was for yesterday, and what we need to do to now prepare for where He is taking us. He is doing a new thing, but do we even know how to recognize it? (Isaiah 43:19) For some of us, we need to leave the familiar and connect with people who manage things differently. It may be time to take a trip and see how others execute events meticulously and take good notes. Researching educational opportunities and reading materials that will propel us into excellence will give us a keener sense of vision and fine-tune our hearing. Doing all of this without first surrendering to God will only result in brilliant failures. We must be willing to be developed both naturally and spiritually.

God's plan is to prosper us. If you host an annual conference, promote concerts, or produce events, do not allow yourself to be driven by the desire to please people. I have not once regretted listening to God when it comes to doing His work. After all, He is my Producer, and I am His artist.

Pastor Rekesha Pittman serves as the Artistic Director for Reign Dance Company and is a highly-requested conference speaker. As a Worship Arts Consultant, she has provided direction to churches and ministries that have resulted in growth and continued development of artistic staff and volunteers. www.rekeshapittman.com

Let's Get Digital!

Access to information is becoming easier than ever! Just a few years ago, there were about a handful of books that we could read on the subject of praise and liturgical dance. Worship arts writings have abounded for years, but study on the ministry of movement was not as abundant as it has become now. With the growth in popularity of self-publishing, many authors have released books about dancing for the Lord with relative ease.

Although paperback books are multiplying by leaps and bounds, as technology has expanded, we must extend our ability to reach the masses as well. Amazon Kindle and Nook by Barnes & Noble allow authors and publishers to submit works for digital download and portability. My books, "Company Keepers: Dance Ministry Daily," and "For This Cause I Bow My Knees, A Moving Testament," are available in paperback, Kindle and Nook formats! You do not have to purchase an eReader device to download digitally. You can get the app for your smartphone or computer and read them as well!

If you are wondering how I was able to publish successfully, let me show you how through "Divine Turnaround Online Intensives!" I offer online courses in Book Writing & Publishing (English and Spanish versions!), Conference Planning & Event Management, Dance Company & Studio Management, and Kingdom Business. You do not have to be available in person to take these Intensives. All you need is access to the internet. Are you ready to embrace your calling?

Download "Company Keepers: Dance Ministry Daily" on Nook HERE!

Download "For This Cause I Bow My Knees, A Moving Testament" on Nook HERE!

Dance Leaders Advance in Las Vegas!

Have you heard? Dance leaders are preparing to advance in Las Vegas September 25th-28th, 2013.

Rain Rein Reign's most progressive conference to date, Dance Leaders Advance will offer electives including:

Master Level Dance Instruction

Business Coaching

Financial Management

Product Line Development

Garment Line Production

Technology Tools

Spiritual Advisement

Professional Counseling

AND MORE!

Registration will be offered in two levels (General and VIP) and includes lunch daily!

Our instructors have demonstrated a high-level of success in their respective fields and want to invest in your success. If you are planning to go to a conference next year, why not get many of your needs addressed at Dance Leaders Advance?

Visit our conference website to get a sneak peek at what you can expect. Our speakers will be announced soon... You will NOT be disappointed!

Conference Website: http://www.danceleadersadvance.com

SEE YOU IN LAS VEGAS!

Rekesha Pittman

Conference Host

http://www.rekeshapittman.com

Let God Do It

Ok... I realize that with advances in technology, social media, and international inter-connectivity, those of us in the "Christian" sector are wondering what is "right" and "wrong" to do in terms of ministry? My advice to you is to "Let GOD do it!"

Several years ago, I had a dream that one of my friends in ministry had a powerfully anointed group of dancers that ministered to the point that the church shook! I tried to approach her at the end to share my appreciation, but I was blocked by booking managers and opportunists who wanted to "take the ministry to another level." Since I could not get near her, I shouted, "Let GOD do it!" She reports that this dream continues to manifest as accurate to this day.

This is not an attack on Gospel music artists trying to break into an industry to make a living from singing and recording. This is not saying that marketing and promotions are ungodly. This is a call to those who claim that we are in the ministry for the purposes of serving God's people, leading people to Christ, and operating under the anointing.

Dance and Worship Conference season will be upon us very soon. Although I look forward to hosting conferences, I am not excited about receiving requests to speak, fielding calls from booking managers looking for a platform for their artists, and people feeling like something is "wrong" with our relationship if they are not asked to present this time around. But wait! Doesn't the "secular" world advise us to make networking contacts with people and ask if we can be a presenter at a conference or industry trade show?

Luke 14:7-11 So He told a parable to those who were invited, when He noted how they chose the best places, saying to them:“When you are invited by anyone to a wedding feast, do not sit down in the best place, lest one more honorable than you be invited by him; and he who invited you and him come and say to you, ‘Give place to this man,’ and then you begin with shame to take the lowest place. But when you are invited, go and sit down in the lowest place, so that when he who invited you comes he may say to you, ‘Friend, go up higher.’ Then you will have glory in the presence of those who sit at the table with you. For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” So, when we ask to dance or ask to speak, what is our TRUE motive? Often, I am asked to "pay" to place my dance company on a National program so that National artists will have an opportunity to see us and open doors for us. I understand that many Gospel artists do this, but as a movement ministry, we will continue to follow God! We have been given many opportunities to dance on major platforms, travel throughout the United States, and even ministered internationally in South Africa in just three short years! Instead of begging for opportunities, I ask the Lord to open doors for us to go where He has assigned us!

I encourage you, STUDY, PRAY, PRACTICE, and HUMBLE YOURSELF so that the Lord can exalt you! Yes, people may be able to give you a platform, but there may be strings attached! How many people in the industry have you heard of who have to do things because a contract requires it? I bless the Lord for the freedom to travel, teach, dance, and encourage people and He gets ALL of the glory! I am also thankful for those who have shown us favor along the way and obeyed God by extending us a chance to magnify Him. Before you send that email, post that video, or send that "ministry bio" remember to ask the question, "Lord, is this You, or is this ME?"

New King James Bible Version

1 Corinthians 10:31
Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

Revelation 3:8
I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name.

Strengthen That Which Remains

In every ministry, group, or organization, change is inevitable. Often, many dance and movement ministries start out with great momentum, but stumble along the way. Disagreements, disunity, and division can creep in and alter membership, introduce bitterness, and cause massive departure. It can even dismantle the ministry altogether. We should not be surprised when this happens, but we should be prepared.

True dance and ministry leaders should not be destroyed when alterations must be done. Moses was a great leader, but he had to deal with the sons of Korah who rebelled openly against his leadership. It is important to note that Moses continued to behave righteously in the midst of adversity, and acknowledged that Korah and his camp were revolting against the Lord (instead of trying to justify himself). When controversy appears in ministry, we must resist the urge to defend ourselves in order to look good before other people. What we must remember to do is to continue to walk according to the Word and remain obedient to God. He will take care of those who stand against Him.

We must keep in mind that there will be people who will remain with the leader after the storm passes. These people are watching how the leader responds, endures, and recovers from conflict. Leaders can unknowingly cause further damage by making insensitive remarks, revealing confidential information, behaving self-righteously or telling the story in a way that exclusively benefits themselves. Although there is no need to mislead people about the facts, wisdom will teach us that all information is not necessarily public information.

I have personally experienced heartbreak in ministry, but thanks be to God, I continued to listen to Him as I was going through it. While facing a particularly challenging time, I distinctly remember Him saying, "Strengthen that which remains." Instead of focusing on the negative, I was reminded to encourage those whose commitment extended beyond my own personality, popularity, charisma, and even shortcomings. Through it all, I learned how to become a better and more effective leader. I was also able to reflect back on the experience with joy. We are now stronger than ever!

If you are dealing with difficult leadership, pray about how God wants you to handle the situation. Do not allow yourself to become critical, accusatory, or revolutionary outside of God's will. Make sure that you are following a leader that is in right fellowship with God. Sometimes, we stay too long under a leader who can no longer steward us and become problematic instead of progressive.

Facing adversity as a leader? Remember that ALL leaders face challenges. How we respond will expose us as great front-runners or expose us as unqualified to command. The people who stay with us will internalize how we treat others and imagine themselves in the same position. We must look beyond our own need for justice and remain just in all we do.

Continue to review the mission of the ministry and make sure that objective has not been lost. Encourage obedience to the voice of God, and stay in position until the Lord ordains a move. When we strengthen those who stay, we may rediscover the joy of ministering with like-minded believers, united in focus: To spread the Gospel and bring glory to God.

NEW KING JAMES BIBLE VERSION

Nehemiah 2:18
Then I told them of the hand of my God which was good upon me; as also the king's words that he had spoken unto me. And they said, Let us rise up and build. So they strengthened their hands for this good work.

Luke 22:32
But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.

Revelation 3:2
Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God.

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