Crucial, determinative, calculated, opportunistic, vital, imperative, decisive and lastly DIPLOMATIC!

The concept to diplomat something is one acting as a liaison on behalf of another to address a need.

So my question to you for as you look at the vision that the Lord has given you… “Where is the need and how will you help aid in the need?”

Strategic planning is your plan of His plan. It is your plan to stretch the revelation that God has placed before you to act on. Strategic planning is a systematic structure to ensure that you will not get off course.

The purpose of Strategic Planning

1. To accomplish goals
2. Where to focus your initiatives
3. Why you do what you do?
4. Whom will you partner with to help aid in your goals?

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not to your own understanding: In all your ways acknowledge Him and he will make your paths straight…do not be wise in your own eyes: fear the Lord and shun evil. This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones”- Prov 3:5-8

In comparison, your ministry is like health to your body and the vision is  nourishment to your bones!

The Word of God says that without a vision the people perish. There is nothing like being apart of something where there is no direction, purpose or goals. Also in Hab 2:2 it tells us to “Write the vision…make it plain….so those who will see it..will run with it.  For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay.”

????? We know that we are called as ministers of dance, right? How many of us know our mandate? To whom and to where?  Oftentimes, once we hear the call and answer it, we stop right there and never ask God about our mandate. Then we find ourselves walking every path, trying to minister everywhere and find ourselves burned out. It’s like a journeyman without a compass! Around and around we go…wandering. By the grace of God, some were impacted by our ministries but how many more could have been impacted if we strategically planned our journey ahead. 

Oh Lord, order our steps so that our zeal will not consume us…

Ok Holy Spirit, Let’s Plan (What is God saying?):

• Must have a vision. Define Vision? A glimpse, picture or revelation of things to come,  what’s now and what’s already came.
• Determine goals. Immediate goals (now up to 6 months), Short-term goals (6-12 months), Long term (over a year & more)
• Know your targeted population Who are you to dance to, preach to, and outreach to? Teens, adults, kids, the unfortunate, urban areas, prisons, nursing homes, or also a particular dance genre such as hip hop, prophetic dancers, African dance, etc.- DIRECT MINISTRY FOCUS!
• Know your demographic strongholds – What are the spirits that are oppressing your targeted area that keeps the people blinded or uneducated ignorant? Know them-identify them by name. Intercede that those strongholds will be pulled down.What resource do you have to offer? What are the practical needs before you can minister a spiritual need? First natural then spiritual. 
• What is your demographic function? In house church ministry (for the needs of the local church use only), Translocal (community/ abroad), statewide, nationally, and internationally?  Which demographic function area are you more unction (pulling towards) and natural for you, to not only minister but also be a resource and to find resources?  Everyone desires to be on the bandwagon of national and international stamina.   May I say, it’s okay to be an In-house or Translocal Ministry! My heart is translocal but i submit to all areas..in house, nationally and international depending on my mandated endeavor initiating.

But by the grace (the unmerited favor and blessing) of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not [found to be] for nothing (fruitless and without effect). In fact, I worked harder than all of them [the apostles], though it was not really I, but the grace (the unmerited favor and blessing) of God which was with me. So, whether then it was I or they, this is what we preach and this is what you believed [what you adhered to, trusted in, and relied on]. – 1 Corinthians 15:10-11

• If you are going to be independent, co-dependent or in partnership with others of the same interest? It is good to select a model ministry that vision is similar to yours; it aids in your ministry development. Look for those who vision is bigger than yours and start there.
• What is your staff makeup? Know those who are among you! Assistants, Intercessors, Finance people….Kings and Priest in your community. The Kings don’t necessarily have to have a big cross on them to identify them. However, they are the one who know how to aid to direct or find finances for the ministry. Use them in their skills. Theirs a King in the them! Get committed people who serve the vision that God has placed before you.  Set agendas and give assignments.

Remember God’s plans are bigger than you!

References of Strategic Planning:

Heb 11:7 Building of the Ark by Faith

Neh 5:14-16 Commitment to building the wall

Prov 13:16 Planning Ahead

Luke 14:28-30  Estimate Cost for Construction

Be Blessed,

Yak

This article is a topic that can be sensitive in natural even taboo in some conservative cultures. As a woman and especially a movement artist (dancer), good hygiene habits are essential for good health and peer relations.

From toddler age, one should have begun some form of learned habits to reduce harm or sickness that maybe caused from germs and bacteria. Such may include baths, brushing of teeth, the washing of hands prior to eating, leaving the restroom, touching dirty areas and frequently trafficking areas. However, there are a small percentage of people who was never taught proper hygiene practices.

In the dance world, I have dealt with conflicts among us. Here are some of the concerns that have been addressed that you may have already experienced or know of someone who have experienced this:

Quotes….

“It’s difficult to dance along with her because she smells really bad”

“I know I’ve bathed twice today already, why do I still feel and smell yucky..what’s going on?”

“She sweated in my leotard. And what is that stain?!..Ughh!”

“What is that smell when she walks by me? I smell it every time we together.”

Okay! Maybe you were the concerned friend or the one that had the issue. Or just maybe you just heard of such a situation. Lucky you! However, the above statements should never intend to bring embarrassment or accusation to another with compassion and concerned, handle each situation with delicacy; Hopefully this topic study is embracing and helpful for the unlearned and guide to aid in teaching others.

There are several orders that I categorize in 4 families.

1. Human Digestive odors Gas, feces, bad breath and sneezes
2. Musty odors-natural perspiration of the body typically following physical activity that causes sweat and unpleasant aromas; but not limited to not bathing daily or often
3. Environment odors-usually caused by a spirit of substance abuse such as smoking, drunkenness, drug intoxication, and even hazardous products (near paper plants, etc) and certain communities were fresh air is not breathable. Go Green!
4. Culture odors

• Home scents – practices in your home
• Walking scents-odors that seems to never go away. Hormonal imbalance that may need to be chemically treated.
• Country-hygiene customs/traditions

Hygiene Tips

• Shower daily at a minimum or as often as your body cause for it.
• Use deodorants that are antiperspirants. Many deodorants now in the U.S. are already antiperspirants.
• Keep toiletries on hand to refresh areas that perspirate. Bring them to your dance rehearsal and classes.
• Brush teeth and TONGUE regularly after eating; Remember to floss to reduce gum disease and cavities.  Use mouth wash. Chew sugarless gum.  Recommend Biotene Dry Mouth Gum- Very delicious, never dry, and cavity free!
• Don’t utilize worn leotards, palazzos, tights after use. Neither yours or another’s.
• When garments are shared, especially pants, ensure you wear tights underneath. Oftentimes ministry garments that stay at the church or a centralized location are not washed after each use.
• If you wear dance shoes, use foot spray to deodorized and kill fungi
• Avoid walking on tile floors or showering in public restrooms bare footed. Use shower shoes. Can someone say “No Gangrene in the feet!”
• Reduce or eliminate underarm and pubic hair. Use razors that are active cream releasers. A great one would be Venus Breeze Spa!
• Underwear that are dye-free and cotton in the seat helps with perspiration and aid in reducing female vaginal problems.
• Know your body. Check for swollen lymph nodes which often detect a sickness or an abnormality in your body or female organs such as yeast infection, vaginitis, etc.
• Do not wear tight clothing for long periods. Such as your leotard to bed after wearing all day.
• Use mildly and with care duchess and feminine products.
• (Females) After urinating, always wipe front to back. Reduces UTI (Urinary Tract Infections).
• Females schedule annual paps and males schedule annual prostate exams with your personal doctor and do self-examinations of breast.  Note-Guys too with the self-examinations of breast.

Scriptures you can reference in the bible about Hygiene

Deut 23:12-13

1 Cor 6:20

Ex 30:18

Be Blessed,

Yakeisha

“ADMINisters” are those who are bestowed with the gift of administrations. These are they who support personnel in ministry that profiles the ministry either being one of excellence, mediocre or below standard. They are the people that created the slogan “A picture speaks louder than words”.
It is okay with them, to judge their book by its cover because excellence is their status quo…LOL

“Skilled in one’s work”
Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will serve before Kings, he will serve before obscure men – Prov. 22:29

ADMINisters makeup several genres that are needful for the Body Of Christ, they are:

• Administrators/ Administrative Assistants/ Secretaries/ Clerical Associates
• Accountants/ Bookkeepers/ Financial Planners
• Marketing/ Advertising/ Promoters
• Event Planners/ Organizers
• Writers/Bloggers/ Educators
• Executives, Board Members/ Advisors

Each roles:
Administrative Assistants
Biblical Simile:
Romans 16:22 Tertius took dictation for Paul

1. Supportive of vision (love to assist)
2. Detailed-oriented
3. Set standards
4. Clerical inclined (typing, letter composition, mass communication)

Finance (Kings)
Biblical Simile: King Solomon
1 Kings 1 – 11 and 2 Chronicles 1 – 9

1. Creative ways to finance the Kingdom
2. Manage funds/ budget
3. Accurate, persuasive, and detailed-oriented

Marketing/ Advertising/ Promoters/ Networking
Biblical Simile:
Matt 15:26 The Signboard at the Cruxifixion “The King of the Jews” (Advertising)
Deut 27:2-8 Children of Israel made an altar with stones after crossing the Jordan River; Plaster the stones and wrote on them as a remembrance of what God had done (Advertising)
Joseph reminded the cupbearer to mention him before Pharoah (Networking)

1. Visual ideas to aid in advancing the vision via mass communication
2. Strategic thinkers
3. Hospitable
4. Resourceful in product(s) creations

Event Planners/ Organizers
Biblical Simile:
John 2:1-11 Mary (Jesus’s Mother) aided in gathering wine at the wedding in Cana.

1. Delegate tasks
2. Punctual, well-organized, multi-tasked
3. Set goals and achieve them
4. Logistics in travel, proper protocols, hospitable and possess professional mannerism

Writers/Bloggers/ Educators
Biblical Simile: Scribes, Moses, Paul
Esther 8:9, Ezra 7:10-11

1. Knowledgeable of writing composition
2. Great with encouraging with words
3. Easy Note takers; Prompt to write or record
4. Document history & timelines

Executive Team, Ministry Advisors, Board Members
Biblical Simile: Paul unto Timothy, Jesus as unto his disciples, Naomi unto Ruth;
Exodus 18:13-24 Jethro gave counsel to Moses to delegate others to aid him

1. Godly Wisdom
2. Give Accountability
3. Make decisions to benefit the whole or organization not individual interest
4. Support financially if needed
5. Set standard and order