Orlando International Christian Church is developing a rockin’ AMS Ministry! Anthony and Elizabeth Eckels have great vision for the AMS, since Anthony was a professional dancer when converted in the Daytime Ministry for Performers in NYC and Elizabeth was in the AMS when she worked as an Artistic Director in NYC. They led a Sector in the the AMS that grew from five (1 artist, 1 designer, 1 dancer, 1 actress, and 1 musician) to 75 talented disciples in a short year and a half! Later, they led the AMS in Florida that grew to almost 200! Orlando is beginning to multiply in the same way! Our awesome band began with Melanie Coyle, a talented singer and flutist, who was joined by Brittany Miller, a vibrant singer.
In less than a year, we have added Calvin Pichardo, our talented guitarist, Joseph Kaile, our amazing pianist, Jon Fretwell, our dedicated bass player and sound man. Most recently the band has welcomed Kristine Bates, our awesome drummer and trumpet player and Steve Coyle, our saxophonist! Additionally, we also have a talented dancer, Chayna Douglas! God, the creator of all talent, desires for his people to use their talents to glorify him! There are numerous examples of this in God’s Word!
Worship through Song and Music!
During times of great victories and sorrows, God’s people used song and music to express themselves to God. This is a form of prayer that is far from silent! The sighted scripture in Nehemiah is an example of worship in celebration of the victory of completion of the wall of Jerusalem. In Exodus the Israelites rejoiced in song at the great victory of crossing the sea and their enemies being destroyed. Likewise, we need to celebrate the victories in God’s Kingdom and express joy through song and music!
Nehemiah 12:27 – At the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem, the Levites were sought out from where they lived and were brought to Jerusalem to celebrate joyfully the dedication with songs of thanksgiving and with the music of cymbals, harps and lyres.
Exodus 15:1 – Then Moses and the Israelites sang this song to the LORD: “I will sing to the LORD, for he is highly exalted. Both horse and driver he has hurled into the sea.
Worship Through Dance!
After God saved the Israelites from their enemy and parted the sea for them to cross, Miriam, Mose’s sister began to dance in jubilance, zeal and worship to God for his miracle! In the same way we can express our joy for God’s miracles in our own lives and for our salvation! How blessed we are!
Exodus 15:19-21 – When Pharaoh’s horses, chariots and horsemen went into the sea, the LORD brought the waters of the sea back over them, but the Israelites walked through the sea on dry ground. Then Miriam the prophet, Aaron’s sister, took a timbrel in her hand, and all the women followed her, with timbrels and dancing. Miriam sang to them:
“Sing to the LORD,
for he is highly exalted.
Both horse and driver
he has hurled into the sea.”
Worship Through Visual Art!
Many examples in the scriptures show craftsman and sculptors using their talents to visually please the Lord. Bezalel made the ark that encased God’s precious commandments and most holy objects. He used his skill to create a beautiful ark and sculpted winged cherubim at each end. In the same way art was valued in the Bible, we can create art to visually draw others to God and his spiritually realms. The process of creating for God’s glory is also an act of worship!
Exodus 37:1-10 – Bezalel made the ark of acacia wood—two and a half cubits long, a cubit and a half wide, and a cubit and a half high. He overlaid it with pure gold, both inside and out, and made a gold molding around it. He cast four gold rings for it and fastened them to its four feet, with two rings on one side and two rings on the other. Then he made poles of acacia wood and overlaid them with gold. And he inserted the poles into the rings on the sides of the ark to carry it. He made the atonement cover of pure gold—two and a half cubits long and a cubit and a half wide. Then he made two cherubim out of hammered gold at the ends of the cover. He made one cherub on one end and the second cherub on the other; at the two ends he made them of one piece with the cover. The cherubim had their wings spread upward, overshadowing the cover with them. The cherubim faced each other, looking toward the cover.
As we go through our week as disciples, let us look for new ways to worship the Lord whether through: song, dance, visual art, creative writing or other forms of creativity! God deserves to be glorified!