Starting a Praise Dance Ministry

• 1). Pray first about the timing and details of starting the ministry before doing anything else. Many ideas birthed of the Holy Spirit require you to press in for more information. Pray about when to start it and if it should be a private endeavor before taking it to the church stage. Pray about who to approach first and ask for open hearts and minds. This is especially important regardless of the creativity and love of the arts present in your church. Get direction on who to talk to and save yourself time and heartache.
  
  
• 2). Approach church leadership about incorporating praise dancers into either a specific service each week or allowing dancers to be backstage during worship at any service and come out as the Spirit guides. If dance is not a normal expression at your church, prepare verses from the Bible that show dance as a normal expression of praise and worship. Try Psalm 149:3, Ecclesiastes 3:1-4 and 1 Samuel 18:6-7 for starters. Show videos or read testimonies of other ministries' success of adding dance to corporate meetings and the outcome.
  
  
• 3). Once approved, plan for and announce a dance class to see who is interested in being a part of the ministry. Rather than just teaching how to dance, teach the dancers how to listen to the Holy Spirit and move as he instructs. Ask the most anointed dancers, regardless of technique or style, to be a part of the dance team. Keep holding classes for those interested and on the dance ministry team to encourage the art to flourish.