Sunday, November 13, 2016

2016 NYAC VIM Ghana Dance Mission: Proclaiming God with Words. Dance, and Hospitality



O, give praise to God; praise God in His Sanctuary!

Our journey to Ghana is almost at an end. We have been blessed by the gracious hospitality of the Methodist Church--most recently in Kumasi Diocese, Freeman Society, as well as by the Ghanaian family of Rev. Dr. Leslie Duroseau. We were given an inside view to the community and culture from a local perspective.

As we prepare to minister Liturgical Dance along with the local youth groups, we are mindful of our Omnipresent God, adored here and everywhere the same, His presence felt so strongly in the litany of worship.

This Sunday morning began with a wonderful worship experience at the historic Wesley College at about 6.30am. it was attended by more than 1,000 students. Rev. Ewoodzie was invited to preach. The title of his sermon was "We are the witnesses of the Goodness of God."

Before the establishment of seminaries in Ghana, Wesley College was where all Methodist ministers, including Joseph's father received their training and experience.

At the Freeman  Chapel, Pastor Ekow Essel MacForson prrached a Word that God will always take what you have to bring you what you need. The law of the harvest is to reap more than you sow. Anytime God demands a seed from you,  it means He has a harvest in mind.

One of the pieces that we ministered today,  "More of you, Jesus," was choreographed and taught to us by Eva, a liturgical dance leader from GMHSU in Accra. We pray that our ministry of sacred, liturgical dance will reap a harvest that cannot be numbered in every region of Ghana and in the world. God will transform our small efforts into something that will astound the masses.

Be faithful! The blessing is always in the breaking. Amen.




Friday, November 11, 2016

2016 NYAC VIM Ghana Dance Mission: Becoming a Different Person in God

This is the day that the Lord has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it!

We are hopeful and feel more revived after our reflection of the events of the past week.

We are focused on the movement of the Holy Spirit, what that Spirit calls us to do and we are encouraged by the collaboration with the Kumasi Diocesan Methodist Church in Ghana.

We discussed the various techniques used in dancing  - whether they are derived from the culture or from some formal training.

Bishop Andam's vision for the dance is to make it an integral part of the liturgy so that it becomes a seamless part of worship will involve education and creating room in worship service. Just as music and the spoken Word inform the worship, so should liturgical dance. It is communion with God by and of itself. It involves a posture of humility and sacrifice before the throne of God.

One of the youth leaders, Samson Kwaku Boafo, said that whenever he puts on a liturgical dance costume, he becomes a different person and God becomes more real to him. Then the Spirit of God takes over and he receives more than he gives.

Another, Akua Frema, expresses that for her it is a joy and a privelege to stand before the Lord in praise. It is her prayer before each time she dances that God empties her out and fill her with his Spirit and power.

Lord, we feel your presence, your Glory, your Power all over us--in our hands, in our feet, in our hearts--moving down in our souls!
 
Thank you Blessed Savior! Amen.






Wednesday, November 9, 2016

2016 NYAC VIM Ghana Dance Mission: Dancing Deep in the Kingdom of Gold [VIDEO]


Praise be to God, we have arrived in Kumasi, home of the Ashanti Kingdom, where the Asante people originated!

Most of what is present-day Ghana was known as the Kingdom of gold. Development in Ghana started from the coastal areas inward from the Portuguese to the Dutch to the British.

The Ashanti fought valiantly to maintain their rich culture.

Bishop Christopher Andam met with us at the Freeman Methodist Center to welcome us, provide an orientation to Kumasi and to share our vision for liturgical dance ministry.

Although we were unable to begin our dance sessions the first night, that actually was a blessing as it provided us an opportunity to refresh our bodies and minds. Most of us woke up in the wee hours to follow the progress of the 2016 Presidential Election. With this on our hearts, our morning reflection and prayers were focused on our country and world. Click here, here, here, and here for dance videos on Facebook.

We visited the Manhyia Palace Museum and the Kumasi Cultural Center. This was very informative. One of our members, Leslie Duroseau, met family members for the first time whileft in Kumasi .  Her young cousin, Mohammed Abdul Samad is an entrepreneur and world traveler. He shared so many interesting experiences about working in New York, Los Angeles, Morocco and other places. He was so highly motivated and determined to make smart decisions about his life and how he conducts his personal affairs.

After an eventful travel experience from Accra to Kumasi, Rev. Joseph Ewoodzie, with the team, joined the Bishop and Rev. Alex Yawith Boateng at the Kumasi Diocesan office.

As we entered, we heard  the Kumasi Singing Band in practice .  It was as if the gates of Heaven were open and the angels were singing high praise to God! I wanted to dance in the Spirit for the rest of the evening.

We were introduced to the Kumasi dance teams--Vessels of Honor, Temple of Praise, Zoe Theatre, Pearls of Honor and Swich and their leaders.

They danced praise to God and thanks to God for his saving grace.

Tomorrow, God willing,  we will collaborate to blend our cultural styles into one for our one God. Amen.

Sunday, November 6, 2016

2016 NYAC VIM Ghana Dance Mission: How Great is Our God - How Great is Our Joy!


 "How great is our God ;  sing with me ,  how great is our God; and all will see how great, how great is our God!"

What a glorious day this has been. We were blessed in a most magnificent way by the youth of the Methodist Church, Wesley Cathedral , Cape Coast, Ghana and Theare groups! They are evangelizing in amazing ways through Liturgical Dance. They are praising God with every fiber of their being and yes, they are winning souls for Christ!

Not knowing what to expect, it was refreshing to see how progressive the youth were. Our hope is this collaboration will move the concept of dance from 'performance ' to ministry and to educate the Church as a whole.

Attached is the picture from the Elmina Castle in memory. The visit to the castle pressed heavy on our hearts.  The stench of blood and death is still entrenched in the stone on which our ancestors laid.

There is video of the youth ministering in dance, which we will post later.

Job said with assurance, "For I know my Redeemer lives." Can you say, "I know that my Redeemer lives!"

And, oh, by the way, He will turn our mourning into dancing!

And dance we did! All day into the late evening, the dance team from New York led warm up exercises ,  demonstrated basic ballet steps and movement, then taught praise dance to the gospel song, "I Feel the Spirit," by Hezekiah Walker, first to the young children, then to tweens and teens then to the older University youth.

After dinner, we returned to dialogue about praise and worship and what it means to live as unto God. The youth each shared about why theyou danced, how they fulfill their calling by ministering in this way as outreach as well as to honor their Spiritual being.

We then continued the dance. This time, the youth led choreography and taught us to dance to "More of You, Jesus," by the group, Pocketfull of Rocks. The Pastor, Very Reverend Richardson Ababa Wilson, joined us in this dance.  What glorious praise!

And better yet, Sunday morning...aah, Sunday morning !  Three services are celebrated at the Wesley Cathedral Methodist Church, at 5:30am, 7:00am and 9:00am. Believe it or not, the first service draws the highest attendance--more than 500!

We joined in the second and third services and we brought on the dance--in partnership with the GHMSU - Wesleyan Theatre. The parishioners received the dance offering with enthusiasm and joy.

The Very Rev. Richardson explained Choreography and the Azonto was seen as secular, now we minister together offering Sacred, liturgical dance in praise to our God.

Alleluia , I know that my Redeemer lives! Say it with me, "I know that my Redeemer lives!









Friday, November 4, 2016

2016 NYAC VIM Ghana Dance Mission: The Journey of Dreams Begins

For me, the journey of my dreams begin...Lord, for traveling mercies we pray...Delta non-stop to Accra.. Here we come! Traveling with Rev. Joseph Ewoodzie, Rev. Sheila Beckford, Rev. Leslie Deroseau, Troy and Rev. Tisha Branch and me, Rosemarie Walker.
Landed at 7:33 AM Wednesday, November 2, 2016
Daniel and Emanuel met us at the airport. They will be our drivers.
Ghana feels like home! Tropical, fruit trees, very warm temperatures.
Stopped and freshened up at the Ghana Methodist Church Ghana Headquarters where we met some clergy and staff , the immediate past resident Bishop and current resident Bishop Titus Awotwe-Pratt.
Lunch by the seaside including fresh snapper, Joloff rice, yam chips...yummy!
We were humbled by the story of one great leader, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, the first President of Ghana, who envisioned a unified Africa with a fierce determination that all would be accepted fully as equal beings with dignity and pride of African origin.
Some challenges on our first night due to power outages. However, this was soon sorted out and we had a restful night.
Thursday morning dawned bright and fair. After a light breakfast, we paid tribute to our past as we. traveled to Assin Manso where captive Africans were made to bathe in readiness for auction in thdance ketplace.
After lunch, we prepared for our meeting and time for collaboration with the leadership of the Wesleyan Methodist Church and the youth and children dancers. We are encouraged by the movement of the Spirit in building up the Kingdom of God through Liturgical dance. The youth welcomed us with dance and drew us into the circle of their ministry. Their mission - to bring disciples to Christ , using dance as a means to new, wholesome, revived communion with God.
This place has rekindled our souls, begging us to be open to the divine movement of God. Our Spirit for social justice was rekindled, Our passion for joyful worship given new vibrancy. Touching the water in the river of the last bath, helped solidify our deep connection to these hallowed grounds. me of our past with the current syate. The youth at Wesley Methodist Church rekindled our souls with the joy they expressed in communicating Christ.
We are blessed indeed and pray to be a blessing to all we will encounter on this mission.

Liturgical Dancers on a Mission Journey to Ghana


The Spirit Builders Praise Dance Team of the The United Methodist Church New York Annual Conference is on a mission journey to Ghana.  Their mission is to strengthen the partnership relationship between the New York Conference and the Methodist Church of Ghana.  The relationship between the Methodist Church Ghana and the New York Conference continues to grow in various ways.  Since the past decade many mission teams including Youth Ambassadors in Mission teams, medical teams, construction teams, and other leadership teams have collaborated with brothers and sisters of the Methodist Church Ghana in mission work.  This Liturgical Dance Team’s visit to Ghana is a game changer.  It is breaking away from the traditional work project oriented mission trip, with a very different approach.

Unlike the traditional mission teams such as medical teams, construction teams, For the first time a liturgical dance team will engage in a dance ministry with their African partners to  introduce liturgical dance as a ministry to Methodist Ghanans. The skills and deep faith leadership available in the liturgical dance team raises the relationship between American and Ghanan Methodists to a new partnership level.  The Spirit Builders Praise Dance Team will be in the building business like most mission teams, however they will build something far different from any other - they will be building new ways to communicate our faith!

Mission involves the encounter of different cultures, different national histories, different political systems and practices, different levels of wealth and power, different mission histories, and different spiritual and faith understandings. Please support our efforts with your prayers and best wishes - and by sharing the joy of this mission with others through raising awareness of our mission. Gye Nyame!

Thursday, October 20, 2016

Salama po Panginoon

By Rev. Wongee Joh
NOW UMChurches
Thank you to Rev. Suhee Kim and Ohyeun Lee for their assistance in translation into Korean!

성령강림절 22번째 주일에 태풍이 필리핀을 지나가고 있었다. 우리는 먹구름과 쏟아지는 빗속을 20 정도 차를 타고 갔다. 교통체증은 없었지만, 여정이 20분이 걸릴지 시간이 걸릴지 아무도 모르는 상황이었다. 나는 진흙탕을 걷게 때를 대비해서 여분의 신발을  챙겼다가, 마지막 순간 그냥 신고 있는 그대로 가기로 했다. 여행 전에 우리 여행의 리더, 조셉 목사님이 어떤 신발을 신고 예배에 참석했었는지, 길은 어땠는지 그리고 얼마나 걸어서 예배장소에 도착했는지 들었기 때문이다.

다리를 건너서 항구에 도착하자 바다가 우리를 맞이했다. 우리 뒤로는 마닐라의 도시 전경이 펼쳐졌다. 오른편에는 밝은 하늘색 페인트로 칠해진 커다란 성당 건물과 정원이  "Inglesia de Christo" 라는 간판을 달은 철문 뒤에 있었다.
교회는 천주교에서 발단이 되었지만, 기독교 교단의 인준을 받지 않은 독립된 영지주의 성향의 교회라고 들었다 교회가 현재 빠르게 성장하고 있는 교회이고, 교회의 창립자의 아들들이 개의 교회를 운영하고 있으며, 교회마다 다른 색깔의 페인트로 칠해져있다고 들었다 교회 바로 맞은 , 그리고 교회 주변은 빈민가였다. Parola 라는 말은 문자 그대로 쓰레기 폐기장으로 쓰였던 곳으로연기 나는 으로도 불리었다. 곳에서 많은 사람들이 쓰레기 더미를 뒤졌다. Parola 연합감리교회는 항구 도시에 위치하고 있어서 교인들 대다수가 항구에서 일하는 노역자였다. 작년에  Parola 연합감리교회 앞길쪽과 뒤쪽에 불이 났었는데, 지역 주민들사이에 항구에 관련된 사업을 확장하고 싶어하는 상업주의자들이 불을 냈다는 루머도 돌았다.
버스에서 내린 우리는 많은 , 소형 트럭들이 항구를 빠져나와 지나가는 것을 보았다. 좁은 길을 걸어 내려가며 빨래를 하는 많은 여인들을 지나갔다.  시장에는 바나나와 각종 야채, 고기들이 덥고 습한 공기아래 빼곡이 진열되어 있었고, 겨우 몸집이 작은 사람만이 지나다닐 있을 만한 밖에는 없었다. 우리가 도착한 교회의 문은 사람들의 집들과 시장을 연결하는 길들과 모두 연결되어 있었다.   여인은 교회 중간에 틈새와 계단에서 물건을 팔고 있었다.
교회를 들어서면서 우리는 환영을 받고 서로 인사를 나누었다.
나는 기도를 하려고 앉았다가, 흐르는 눈물을 참을 수가 없었다.
하나님이 여기 계셨기 때문이다.
우리는 얼마되지 않은 단칸방에서 예배와 찬송을 드리며 시장에 있는 사람들도 우리의 목소리를 들을 있도록 확성기를 썼다.
우리가 기도와 찬송으로 성령님을 불렀을 , 나는 번도 느껴보지 못한 고요함을 느꼈다.
첫번째 찬송가 내내 고개 숙이고 울었던 나는 양을 먹이라라는 말씀을 들었다. 내가 눈을 뜨자 앞에 앉아 있던 다섯 명의 아이들이 나를 지켜 보고 있었다.
나는 아직도 내가 보았던 아이들의 눈망울을 어떻게 말로 옮겨야 할지 모르겠다. 예배 가운데 번째 찬송가의 가사 였던, “주여 뜻대로 나를 이끄소서 마음에 계속 울림으로 남았다.
우리팀원 중에 사람이었던 평신도, Denise, 말씀을 전했다. 데니스의 설교를 들으면서 나는 나라면 내가 번도 경험해 없는 이런 상황에서 어떤 말씀을 전할 있었을까 생각했다데니스는 용기있게 말씀을 전했다. 나는 데니스가 설교 중에 강조했던 에베소서 5:18-21 말씀을 적었다.
취하지 말라 이는 방탕한 것이니 오직 성령으로 충만함을 받으라
시와 찬송과 신령한 노래들로 서로 화답하며
너희의 마음으로 주께 노래하며 찬송하며
범사에 우리 예수 그리스도의 이름으로 항상 아버지 하나님께 감사하며
그리스도를 경외함으로 피차 복종하라
평신도 지도자들을 통해 나는 많은 영감을 받았다.

봉헌 바로 직전에, 나는 바로 옆에 앉은 소년을 내려다 보았다.
사실 예배가 시작할 , 나와 옆에 앉아 있던 사람 사이에는 작은 공간이 있었다. 서른 다섯명 되는 사람들이 들어찬 작은 예배당에서 누군가 나에게 자리에 끼어 앉을 것이라고는 생각하지 못했다. 그런데 뒤에 엄마 무릎에 앉아 있던 어린 소년이 옆에 앉아 있는 것이었다.
아이는 손에는 5 페소가 쥐어져 있었다. 봉헌을 미리 준비한 것이었다. 나는 나름대로 선교 여행을 위해서 준비했다고 분주해 했던 나를 돌아보면서 자신이 부끄럽게 느껴졌다.  봉헌을 미리 준비하고 있는 아이 앞에서, 나의 수고는 아무것도 아니었다. 나는 아이와 같은 마음으로 우리의 헌금을 하나님께서 받아주시기를 기도했다.
제단에 나아가서 헌금을 넣을 , 찬양팀이 “Give Thanks (거룩하신 하나님)” 인도했다. “가난할 우리를 부요케 하신 나의 감사…”  다른 환경이지만 하나님의 사람으로 하나되어 찬송을 부를 나는 영이 새롭게 되는 것을 경험했다.
예배 가운데 계속 반복 되었던, "Salama po Panginoon,”주님 감사합니다라는 말을 배울 있었다.
예배가 끝나고 돌아오는 길에서 나는 바다를 바라보았다. 그리고 연기나는 마닐라의 전경을 보면서, 나는 미약한 나이지만 감히주의 복음이 항구에 와서 당신의 백성들을 구원하소서라고  기도했다.

Parola 연합감리교회와 함께 했던 예배, 영을 새롭게 주었던 여정, 극진했던 환대와, 머물렀던 성소들을 떠올리며 마음은 "Salama po Panginoon,”주님 감사합니다라고 찬양했다.