The first annual “Gospel Explosion” held on Friday, Nov. 13, was spearheaded by Revolution Dance Ministry.
RDM, the newest ministry on campus, was started by Junior Tiffany Adams. The group performs liturgical dance, which is when a dancer or dancers interpret the meaning of a song or passage through dance in a form of worship. While some people may be unfamiliar with liturgical dance, there have been multiple ministries at ENC that involved liturgical dance.
Adams began the ministry as a way to bring about diversity in the ministry, specifically where she saw a need: dance ministry. Adams saw that certain ministries on campus didn’t cater to those of other faiths who may be used to a more outgoing, loud, involved type of worship.
“Sometimes ENC lacks diversity in other areas. Yes, we may be one of the most diverse Christian colleges, but sometimes we lack the diversity within different organizations or groups on campus,” Adams said.
For some, the Anointing Revolution Dance Ministry is a taste of home. It is a way to feel like one is worshipping in his or her home church.
“Coming from a Pentecostal church, gospel explosion made it feel like I was at my home church and never left. It was a great experience,” Junior Sabrina St. Louis said.
With the various different kinds of worship on campus, the event was intended to care for a group whose worship may seem unconventional or different to others, and it was an opportunity, outside of chapel, for other members of the student body to see how their peers worship.
“I hope to open up the minds, hearts, and eyes of people on campus; that’s what I hope the dance ministry does by showing them that there are many different ways to dance, there are many different ways to worship,” said Adams.
Gospel Explosion had a variety of worship and performers. Performing with the Anointing Revolution Dance Ministry was ENC’s Gospel choir, Hiitten Glory, and Berklee College of Music’s Gospel Choir.
Additionally, there was a spoken word performance by ENC alumni Kia Jules. Spoken word performance is a rapidly growing form of worship.
“My greatest desire as I minister through the art of spoken word is that people would come to know, see, and appreciate a different perspective of both worship and art,” said Jules.
“The art of spoken word is a gift and it is a gift that is not so typically used because of the time and effort that it consumes. And also because…well, it’s poetry. But when God gives me a message, He also gives me a vision of how to deliver it through words and often helps me craft it in a ‘not so poetic’ structure. He does it in a way that even leaves me amazed after I’m done writing it. With the additional use of eloquence in speech and specific body language in delivery, I have seen the power and movement of God through words and how this has reached many people. That in itself is enough for me to never stop speaking words.”
The night was full of performances that had the intention of helping people realize that they are not defeated, and that there is a way for them to overcome whatever they are going through.
The MCs for the night were Sophomore Isaiah Clemons and Ellston Van Murchison. While this was the first Gospel Explosion put together by Adams, many people wish to see it happen again, and to see this event transform the ENC community.
Many people treat Gospel as a form of worship for people of color, or they find little things that they do not like and never give Gospel a chance. Having a Gospel explosion on our campus not only called for people to witness how their peers worship, but it called ENC to recognize a forgotten genre of worship that happens to be very influential for many members of the student body.
Along with bringing the community together and showing them how many members of the student body worship, Adam’s event helped to provide another way to fulfill the spiritual needs of ENC’s students.