Tamika Hall

I received a beautiful email yesterday from someone who happened upon my website.  In the email she spoke about wanting to breakthrough in her singing and dancing and that she recognized that she was holding back. Today's podcast is going to deal with just that...How to Worship Without Holding Back!

Everytime you minister through the arts it is not going to be perfect. As a matter of fact you may always find something you could have done better...honey, that's just who we are as creative people. But think about when your child brings you the picture they drew. It may have holes in it from where.they erased too much...you may not even know what the picture but it is still perfect. So every bad note i hit, every dance move that was wobbly.....it kind of doesn't matter anymore because loves it and sees it as perfect.
I challenge you....
Throw your hands up just a little higher
Leap with a little more vigor
Smile when you go before the people
Show the love for your God in your face

Did you Miss This Week's Podcast?

• #009-Lisa Henley talks about Leaving Prostitution to Dance for the Lord!  
• #010: Najah Garlington teaches Praise Dancers How to Become Technical Dancers
• #011: Lowell Pye tells us How to Be Transformed with Our Worship! 
• #012: Bianca Soloman Emery tells playwrights how to enter the NOLA (New Orleans, LA) Urban Playwrights Festival. 

Lowell’s solo debut CD, “Finally”, debuted at #10 Billboard Gospel Chart and now he is bringing the song of "redemption" to the masses with his latest single, "Perfect." His latest project, Transformed," will be in stores and online on January 28th, 2014.

In this podcast Lowell discusses:

• Singing Background for John P. Kee
• Singing with Men of Standard
• Single, "Perfect" written by Josiah Martin
• CD Release "Transformed"
• The meaning of worship
• The importance of building a personal relationship with God

Worship Means:
A lifestyle, the time that I spend with God. Often times we think that it's about a fast song or a slow song. It isn't about that, it's about my personal relationship God that I spend privately that I can express that to Him openly.














Pre-Order Lowell's CD: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/transformed/id700906426?ls=1

Websites Mentioned:
www.lowellpye.com
www.instagram/lowpye

During this episode we are exploring leading praise and worship and weather or not performance ever enters into the equation.  I had the honor of interviewing:

• Brittney Wright: Recording Arts & Praise and Worship Leader
• Princess Lee: Recording Artist & Praise & Worship Leader

In This Episode we Highlight:

• How Brittney & Princess started in music
• How Brittney & Princess discovered their own talent
• Being "good enough" for the music Industry
  
• How Brittney's song, "Be Alright," made it on James Fortunes' project
• Definition of Praise and Worship
• What it means to be a Praise & Worship Leader
• Common mistakes made during Praise and Worship Service
• Learning How to Get of the way and actually LEAD people into worship
• How to choose songs that will flow with the service
• Our role as a Praise & Worship Leader
• The praise and worship team as Levites
• Spiritual warfare during PNW service
• How Presentation Matters during Praise & Worship Service

Resources featured in this Episode:
-Soundcloud: www.soundcloud.com
-Brittney Wright: https://twitter.com/BrittneyWright
-Princess Lee: http://www.twitter.com/princesszlee
-Faith Junkie Productions: https://www.facebook.com/pages/FaithJunkie-Productions/216863471902 

I recently came across an article written about Kirk Cameron from February 2013...yes, I was obviously tardy for the party on this article but the message he gave the students of Liberty University is one that needs to be reiterated over and over again.  He told the film students:

“I encourage you: have convictions, have standards, don’t let others set them for you. They will set the bar too low,” he told students. “Set the bar high and perform for an audience of One (God)—and you’ll get the applause of Heaven; you can just trust God to take care of everybody else. That’s the motto I go by." 

This message resonated with me because it is so true.  Everyone knows that my catch phrase is Our job is bring God's word to the world in 3D.  This is what Mark 16:14-15 commissions us to do:

14Afterward He appeared to the eleven themselves as they were reclining at the table; and He reproached them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they had not believed those who had seen Him after He had risen. 15And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.

In order to spread the Gospel of Christ we must understand that first and foremost we minister unto God, then to Believers, and then to Unbelievers.  As a minister of the performing arts we must understand that there is indeed ministry in our performance.  As we continually balance "playing a part" and being entertaining whether it is through a play, dancing on stage, writing a book...the ultimate goal is to win souls for Christ.

In the PERFORMING ARTS its important for our display to be entertaining but if we always hold God as the center of what we do He will be pleased and we will touch the heart of those watching us.

To summarize, Kirk Cameron's advise is a great guideline for those of us choosing the perfect song to sing or dance or the play we are going to write or perform in.
1.  Have convictions.
2.  Have standards, don’t let others set them for you. They will set the bar too low

What are your thoughts on what it means to Perform for an Audience of One?

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Want to know what it takes to break into the music industry as a Christian artist? On this podcast I was joined by Producer & Musician, Turkessa T. Harris as my co-host.  We interviewed Dr. Kenneth Love, Jazz Musician and Public Relations Expert about How to Break into the Music Industry as a Christian Artist.


* Importance of creating a brand
* How to fast track your brand
* Importance of having multiple streams of income
* What it takes to be successful in the music industry
* The hardest part about being an independent artist
* How Christian artists need to approach the industry differently than secular artists
* How to start a Christian Co-Op
* How to create a touring network
* Common Mistakes Christian Artists Make and
How to avoid them
* The Business Side of Ministry
* Should artists put out a single versus an album

Recording artist, Deitrick Haddon, has remade Usher's song, Climax.   The video was released on Youtube, September 28, 2012.  According to Haddon's account:

"Deitrick Haddon's version of Ushers Climax!!!! The Re-versed Mix tape coming soon for all the 25/8 Haddy fans. Get ready for- free downloads of more of your fav hits rev-ersed Haddy's way @ DeitrickHaddon.com!!"

In an on-air message with Elev8, Marvin Sapp spoke about prioritizing life as a single father, Pastor, and recording artist.


As ministers in the Arts it is important for us to also keep in mind that balance is important in all we do. Think about it, the Arts ministry, while a form of ministry it often provides entertainment as well. My husband and I try to balance life in ministry with our home church, our individual ministries when we are asked on programs outside of our home church, parenthood, and marriage. Sometimes it's difficult, but by keeping God first, we make it work.

Dancing for the Lord is more than just executing steps.  It is so important that when we dance for the Lord we change our mindset from "just dancing" or "performing," to saying that we are going "to minister."

When we think like this we then begin to position ourselves as worship leaders.  Again, we aren't "just dancing" we are actually leading worship by using dance a medium of communication.

When we dance the atmosphere should change, our movement should compel people to want to come to Christ and get to know him better.

So here are a few ways to implement this new thought into your dance ministry:

1. Lead a Life of Worship-  Daily reading, prayer, and mediation is a must so that when you dance, you will be truly dancing the Word.  Listen to a true gospel/Christian song...how many times have you heard a song that doesn't have some reference to scripture?  There aren't many. So understanding the

2. Dance with intention- Every arm movement should have a purpose, if your head moves a certain way, it should have a purpose.

3. Don't forget about your face.   Facial expression is necessary, it doesn't matter what people may say...it is important. We have all heard the lyrics, "If you're happy and you know it, then your FACE will surely SHOW it."  Your love of God should show in your face.  Pay attention to the lyrics and mood of the song in order to make sure your face displays the right emotion.  For example if you are dancing to a song that speaks about Christ going to the cross, you wouldn't be smiling unless it came to the part that speaks about Him being resurrected.   

4. When you dance, leave it all on the altar.  We should dance and minister from your feet to your hair follicles.  Think about it. The Bible says that the Earth is the Lord's...this means that everything in nature glorifies Him.  When the wind blows, don't ALL of the leaves on a tree sway? Yes, they do.  So when we dance, we should give ALL of ourselves to the Lord at that moment. 

What are your thoughts on this?  I'd love for you to leave a comment and start a dialogue about this.