|
Meet
Paneh!
 Stephanie
Ford, co-founder of Paneh Praise Dance Ministry;
is a dedicated servant of God who wants to be
found doing the will of the Lord. She is married
to Fred Ford and has 5 beautiful daughters:
Sylest, Shalette, Whitney, Jasmine, and Teresa.
She is a member of New Life in Christ
Interdenominational Church in O’Fallon,
Illinois where her pastor is Dr. G. Vincent
Dudley, Sr. Stephanie is also an officer in the
United States Air Force. Currently Stephanie is
helping her husband start a trucking company
called LCT—Life Changer Trucking. They
envision the company providing an alternative to
unemployment and being a light for others in
this industry. God gave Fred the vision that the
company would change lives and is clearly
reflected in LCT’s motto, “Driven by
Christ!” She affords time to ministry
regardless of her busy schedule. She serves as a
mentor for Daughters of Promise and actively
serves in the Women of Virtue ministry at New
Life. The call to dance has been on
Stephanie’s heart for a long time. Ms Ruby
Mallard, friend and Paneh’s spiritual prayer
partner immediately had a discernment regarding
this and ministered and prayed for God to stir
up the Gift inside of her. Even though Stephanie
longed to minister in dance, she would not move
until the Lord released her to do so—this
release came in February 2005. As a chairman of
the Scott Air Force Base Gospel Explosion
committee Paneh (then Silent Praiz) was birthed.
She often reflects on Titus 2:1-5:
1 You must
teach what is in accord with sound doctrine. 2
Teach the older men to be temperate, worthy of
respect, self-controlled, and sound in faith, in
love and in endurance. 3 Likewise, teach the
older women to be reverent in the way they live,
not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine,
but to teach what is good. 4 Then they can train
the younger women to love their husbands and
children, 5 to be self-controlled and pure, to
be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject
to their husbands, so that no one will malign
the word of God.
She praises God for His
infallible word! She gives honor to her mother,
Ernestine Langford, who reared her up in the
word with a solid foundation. She has truly been
blessed and mentored by virtuous women such as
First Lady Glenda Dudley and Sister Suzy
Douglas, Ursula Santiago, Carole Higgins, and
Lakita Humber. She is a gifted choreographer and
her attention-to-detail along with the guidance
of the Holy Ghost ensures things are arranged in
decency and in order. As she ministers in dance
she carries a special message especially to
broken women. She gives thanks and honor to God
for entrusting her with the gift of dance and
spreading the gospel to His people.
 Sylest
Langford, founding member of Paneh Praise Dance
Ministry; is the oldest daughter of
Stephanie. Sylest has the heart of a worshipper
and is dedicated to serving the Lord through
ministry in dance. Sylest gave her life to
Christ at a very young age. She attends New Life
in Christ Interdenominational Church in O'Fallon,
IL where her pastor is Dr. G. Vincent Dudley,
Sr. She actively participates in the youth
ministry as a member of SUSEJ, SPLIFF, Choir,
and Drama. She is a junior at Mascoutah High
School in Illinois. She recently discovered her
calling to minister to other teenaged ladies
while attending New Life in Christ Women's
Retreat Daughters of Promise mentoring session.
When Sylest ministers in dance she pours all
that is within her unto the Lord. She first
ministered in dance in Febuary 2004 at the Scott
Air Force Base annual gospel fest. Her mime
interpretation of Yolanda Adams Battle is
the Lord's. Ushered in the very presence of
God. To God be the Glory! Sylest gives honor to
God and is excited to be called and used at her
young age.
 Lakita
Humber, co-founder of Paneh Praise Dance
Ministry; she has a servant's heart and
is dedicated to doing the work of the Lord.
Lakita was baptized at the age of 6 and filled
with the Holy Ghost at the age of 12. She serves
in her church as a member of the IOS ministry
(images on screen). She is also vice president
of the youth ministry at her church and serves
as the children's praise dance leader (JOYED
UP!). Lakita is also an officer in the United
States Air Force. She served as co-chair for the
Scott AFB gospel fest. Lakita was first
introduced to ministry in dance in January 2004
when she joined Voices of the Soul praise
dance ministry under the direction of Evangelist
Carole Higgins, president and spiritual
God-mother. It didn't take her long to realize
this is what she has been called to do. Lakita
is determined to dispel every stigma and
negative connotation associated with dance by
ministering unto the Lord and His people in a
way that is pleasing in His sight. When Lakita
ministers in dance she loses herself in the
song. She thanks God for continuing to develop
the her creativity and choeography. Lakita
strives to set an example for single women by
trusting and waiting on the Lord. Lakita gives
honor to God for her mother, Jessie Jacobs, who
taught her from an early age to "trust in
the Lord and lean not to thine own
understanding". She thanks God for her
pastor and first lady, Suffragan Bishop Gregory
Wells Sr. & First Lady Joyce Wells for there
wisdom, direction, and guidance; Carol Higgins
for her loving support and 'adoption' into her
family; fellow dance minister Stephanie for
being a friend and an encouragement; and Lela
Martin for her sound advice, example of a
virtuous woman and friend. She is humbled and
honored to be used by God to reach His people.
It is her prayer to see souls saved for the
Kingdom of God!
There you have it!
Paneh is a small group of
believers whose direction in life has brought
them together to minister to the lost, fallen
and broken. Paneh consists of a mother / wife, a
teenager, and a single young lady - each
distinctly different phase in life however
operating under a common goal. Military life has
brought us together in Illinios. Ironically
enough neither Stephanie nor Lakita were excited
about orders to move to Scott AFB, IL but the
divine plan of God had this orchestrated from
the beginning! We are all content abiding in the
call that we are in as according to 1 Cor 7:20.
As if getting stationed at the same base wasn't
enough, Lakita was eventually assigned to the
same unit as Stephanie - this is where their
friendship was formed. Ironically enough they
all attended Rhema's praise and mime workshop in
the summer of 2004 and didn't even know it!
Stephanie, Sylest and Lakita have crossed paths
in relation to dance serveral times in the pass!
We are excited about the new season that God is
ushering us into. Eventhough neither of them
have more than 2 years experience in dance
ministry they rely on divine direction from the
Holy Ghost to lead and guide them. They also
gain practical knowledge, teaching and
instruction through Rhema's founder, Ms. Lela
Martin who has graciously agreed to be Paneh's
advisor.
 Lela
Martin (Paneh's Advisor) is the founder
of the Rhema
International Dance Ministry. She is a
faithful servent of God who is committed to
winng souls through Drama and Dance. God stirred
up the gifts in Lela at an early age. She was
ushered into the ministry of Performing Arts
through the Late Elizabeth Williams where she
cast in serveral plays such as Here Comes
the Judge, A Better Way, and Don't Mess with
God. She has also ministered in dance with Juanita
Bynum Weapons of Power conference, Dr. Karen
Taylor Annual Conference in Jamaica and the Dr.
Martin Luther King Celebration at Paul Symphony
Hall. Lela has been a dance leader/director
since 1989. She incorporates drama, mime, praise
and worship through dancing. She embraces the
priveledge of leading the people of God into his
transforming presence through spontaneous and
choreographed praise, warfare, travailing,
celebration and worship dance. The dances are
ministered as an outpouring of her personal and
intimate relationship with the Lord. She gives
thanks to family and friends for all of their
support, and most of all she thanks God for
choosing her to fulfill this divine assignment.
|
