Justice 2

Praise the Lord!

I wanted to update you on the Justice Project last week.  I know many people were in prayer, and your support was needed and felt.  While on Capitol grounds it was obvious that God was doing things both seen and unseen.

My first realization on the grounds was that I had nothing to fear but fear itself.  God gave usvery pleasant police officers to work with; they were courteous, and even thanked us for our working with them some conscienciously.   The sergeant came by and informed us that we could handout all our information, but if I dipped my hands in the red paint then people might complain, and kick us off grounds.  I thought about it and decided we would be more effective with a long-term presence, than offending our audience beyond reception.  This turned out to be correct.

Over the three days we, myself and my mom (who accompanied me the whole time), talked to 2 Senators, 2 Representatives, and many more Legislative staffers walking between the Legislative Office Building and the Capitol.  One asked me straight out what I wanted him to do about abortion.  We had additional volunteer presences most of the three days, and did lots of praying.  People commented on our sensitive display, and thanked us for our peaceful demonstration, and sensitivity in presenting such a controversial topic.  Many pro-life supporters stopped by and thanked us as well, and were able to use the handouts in their offices.  One of the Reps commented that "everyone" was talking about me.  A Capitol news blog posted a picture and a link to the Justice for All website www.JFAweb.org .  One person commented in 20 years at the Capitol he's never seen anything with such a unique presentation as this.

We were also on the hill the same week as National Lobbyist Day (who knew), and a CT tea party.

One last observation, that I suspected might happen, was that by presenting so constantly, for three consecutive days, we were able to earn the respect of some of the more aloof passers-by.  Maybe it’s an American thing.  But the first, sometimes, 20 times certain people walked by on business, they would not even look at the statue.  But finally they would start to peak at it; then examine; and many finally took brochures in the end.

I would invite you to continue to pray for this issue.  We planted many seeds, and will probably never see the full effect of this project.  But as evidenced by the abortion doctor shooting last week, there’s a very real need to godly Christians to make positive impact on their culture, to win people.  Not to exacerbate violence with violence.  We need to let love and grace accompany truth, and win people with the winsomeness of Christ.

Thank you.

Project Justice

For those who have been following, we are in the middle of Project Justice.  It's a three day event up at Connecticut's State Capitol, May 26-28, from 10am-1pm.

Project Justice is all about justice for ALL humans, even the unborn.  Abortion is not a question of Women's Rights, but a question of Human Rights.  The same living baby that can be saved by surgery, respond to a surgeon's hand, has an eye color, hair, feelings, awareness, and more, can be brutally ripped from its mother's womb, either whole or in pieces and discarded as though sub-human.  This is not right.  (check out more details at www.JFAweb.org)

That's why Ambassador Ministries, LLC has stepped up to raise awareness at our state capitol.  Come and join us if you have time tomorrow.  We've been having some great opportunities.  I've been blessed to already have discussions with Senators, and Representatives, and my volunteers have talked with these and more.  We're handing out all kinds of great literature and really planting seeds of new thought into these wonderful people who influence our laws and culture.  God has given us favor.

God has also favored us with the weather.  Though it was supposed to rain today, we enjoyed a dry morning and afternoon.  One skeptical suit passing by said, "Better get an umbrella."  My mom was helping out and heard him.  She said, "It won't rain 'til we're done."  As he kept moving I watched the man suddenly check the sky, wondering how she knew what the weather would do!  But she was right...  Thank you Lord!

Please pray that the ripples of this simple demonstration will effect the whole Capitol, and the nation.  My own district's senator passed by, and told us that the people in the buildings, "all talking about you."  This could be a turning point.  Pray for our nation.  Thank you.

Dan

Project Dance/Ad Deum Connecticut

Last weekend represented the culmination of several months of planning.  Not just for Ambassador...  Saturday was the 8th annual Project Dance, NY: dancers bringing hope, blessing, and life to the city in a free, all day, outdoor dance concert.  PDNY blocks off 44th Street right on Times Square (and Broadway), and brings there message of encouragement to this cultural hub of the world in its own language: dance!  (www.projectdance.com)

Of course, they let a mime in...  I have to say, its been a year or two since I've been to PDNY, and its so much fun.  We had beautiful weather, and there's few stage experiences I enjoy more than miming in the open air, with God's wind greeting my face.  This year was a milestone for Connecticut too, as for the first time ever about 16 dancers came from the Constitution State to represent!  A thing unhead of!  Who had heard of CT just three years prior at my first time there???  God is truly doing a work in CT's artists.

I performed two mimes, one of them the popular new duet about two quarrelling siblings, called Get Along.  My partner is the ever-expressive Katherine Sarris, and the reviews were rave once again.  Apparently we've all been a quarrelling sibling at some time--people relate.  But I also got to perform Mighty Spirit, by Randall Flinn, and that was my true pleasure.  Though a perfectly square stage (uncommon) it went very well, and many were blessed.  I confess to being nervous, performing for some many dancers, but once I took the stage I felt the fears melt away, and really sensed the presence of God carrying me through the dance.  See photo below.

My Texas friends and collegues Dance Ad Deum were also present, and they astounded the crowd with their breathtaking performances.  Below the troupe performs former Martha Graham Principal Dancer Steve Rooks' piece, Prophets.

The following day we bundled all ten Ad Deum dancers, and Randy Flinn, into vans to cart them off to Connecticut for the CT pemiere of their show Libera!  It was a particularly special event for me, since it was a chance for so many of my friends, family, and supporters to meet Ad Deum live, and in person.  The event was held at Living Rock Church of Killingworth.  We rolled in around 2pm, cleared the stage, taped down the marley (with many helping hands), marked the show, and then it was LIGHTS UP!

I cannot explain to you the blessing that was poured out that night.  The audience seemed to drink in the performance.  The dancers danced with a vigor, grace, and annointing that was beautiful to behold.  The whole evening seemed saturated with joy, and all who came seemed reluctant to leave.  Though we had to get the dancers back to NYC that night, many stayed late to talk, and share, and pray with the dancers.  But the pleasure was ours.  It was a seed sowing moment, I think, and I look forward to seeing the fruit that comes of it.  But after everyone had gone (around 10pm) we finally ate our nutritious dinner (mmmm, chili) and loaded everyone back in the vans for the trek back.

Thanks to everyone who came, and/or made this event possible!  It was truly blessed, and a blessing!

(Concert photos provided by Annalise Nielson)

Opportunities

More travels, more adventures.  My latest stint abroad was to a place that will soon be called home.  A combination teaching opportunity and scouting trip for my relocation to Houston, TX had me working with professional modern dance group Dance Ad Deum once again.  The artistic director Randall Flinn brought me in to teach mime at their spring intensive.  “And if you can stay another week,” he said, “you can perform with us in the prelude to the Alvin Ailey Company.”

Like I was going to turn that down!

So I went.  I taught mime to an extremely talented group of dancers, who picked up the mime with a deftness I don’t often get to see.  They turned it into a ministry performance in just a few short days for the workshop’s student showcase.  I borrowed my college roommate Chris Hobart’s classic choreography once again from his work entitled Everywhere, to bring the story of Jesus’ interactions with certain women of the Bible to life.  A powerful story of how Jesus heals and forgives the broken and sinful.  After a fantastic week of intense classes, and several sore muscles (and floor burns), we began to shift focus towards the Alvin Ailey performance.

The Ailey Company was on the road with their 50^th anniversary celebratory tour, including a new work by Ailey dancer Hope Boykin, and Alvin’s own classic 1960 work Revelations.  Ad Deum had been asked to provide the prelude performance.  A task they were very happy to undertake.

Bonus upon bonuses, Randall Flinn knows Hope Boykin (she’s set choreography on Ad Deum before), so we got to take a master class with the talented Ailey company member, and then have a private brush-up rehearsal for her piece, called Long Journey Home (which you’ll be able to see in CT April 19^th, call 860-870-5432 for ticket info…).  I even got to have lunch with Randall, Hope, and Ailey principal dancer Matthew Rushing—a privilege in and of itself, compounded but wonderful conversation, and some great insight into the workings of Ailey, and cool things that God is doing in and through the Christian members of the team.  It was a very encouraging meal!

That weekend Ad Deum performed for the prelude as planned, and Randall asked me to do my signature piece Cookie: Impossible.  The responses were very positive.  And as a reward, we all got complimentary tickets to watch Ailey’s performance twice (I saw it three times, but who’s counting)!  And Hope actually brought us in to meet more of the company, and do a private showing for them.

So after two weeks in Houston, I’d rubbed shoulders with several dance legends, and had opportunities few people get.  And that’s not mentioning the performances we did at the United States largest arts festival (Bayou City), or a chance to teach at the fourth most prestigious ballet in the nation as well (Houston Ballet).  You’ll have to ask to get those!

So if you want to see this incredible group from Texas, and you’re in the CT area, come check out their show Libera, April 19^th at

Living Rock Church, 138 Route 81, Killingworth, CT 06419

April 19th, 7pm

For tickets call: 860.870.5432

Tickets $12 in advance, $16 at the door…

Questions: Daniel@AmbassadorArts.org

For general info visit

www.DanceAdDeum.com

I pulled some strings so you could enjoy them too!

Good Choices!

Choices 09, the show, was a great success!  Thanks to all you who came from near and far to join us for what is probably the last big Ambassador Arts event in CT.  (Ambassador is moving to TX. See subsequent posts for more info).  But last or not, there is no denying the night rocked.  God's blessing was on the whole thing from start to finish.  Even the refreshment-time afterwards was better attended and extended than ever before (in fact we had to throw a few patrons out towards the end, because we had cleaned, and packed, and they were still hanging out and chatting.)  People really enjoyed.  And that was our prayer--that God would bless every aspect, and people would be touched.

The show itself was great.  We opened with the crowd favorite Curio's Hands, an exploration of the many choices we have simply within the ability of our hands.

Master Storyteller George Sarris related many stories from the Bible, including Belshazzar the Druken King of Babylon, Elijah and the Prophets of Baal, and Jonah.

Dan Cossette and Kathy Sarris reprised their popular Get Along mime, about two children learning the value of doing just that (special thanks to Bruce & Bev Lindemann, and Charlie Whitehead for the music!).

Kathy Sarris supplied a number of beautiful and throughful dances, filling the stage with expression, questions, and passion.

Plus the Ambasssador stage premeir of The Apprentice Juggler, by David and Karen Maines.  This wonderful story follows the inner struggle and doubt of a young juggler trying to find his place within the Juggler's Troupe, to juggler for the King.  But his own inner timing keeps him from truly blending in.  Finally a begger tells him to trust his inner timing, and the juggler's clowning instinct comes out!  Rather than lose his spot in the Troupe, the juggler finds his own honored place.  Then to his surprise he discovers the begger is the King!  Being himself was always the key to finding fulfillment.

Ambassador's guest artist for the evening was Angie Settlemire, mime from PA.  She brought the truth of the cross's substitution for our sins close to our hearts.

And we closed the evening with Randall Flinn's choreography of Might Spirit, danced by Dan Cossette--a powerful close to the question: what will you choose to do with the cross?  Invite the mighty God closer...

Thanks again to all who attended.  I'm sure you all have your own personal favorite pieces, and it was a privilege to have you.  Stay tuned for more updates.  There's much more to tell you....!