Youth at Restoration Christian Community Church dance to a higher beat

This story is part of a series created to elevate the voices of young people in collaboration with the Blue Water Area YMCA. These stories are based on listening sessions at the Y and are independently reported by The Keel with assistance from the YMCA.

“I enjoy doing spiritual dance at the church and helping the younger kids learn the moves,” says 15-year-old Dabricka Woods, a member of Restoration Christian Community Church’s (RC3) worship arts group.

Spiritual dance is the combination of dance and the worship of God. A worship arts group at Restoration Christian Community Church in Port Huron not only teaches dance but also other forms of the arts, such as music, sculpture, and painting. 

“Under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, worship arts are transforming the culture of the world through the arts, sharing love, joy, peace, and hope,” says Jennifer Williams, the senior arts director at the church for over ten years. She became active in the group after finding out her youngest had brain cancer and watching her express herself through dance and worship. Her three daughters are also involved in the spiritual dance troop.

There are 25 members in the group with ages ranging from eight to 75 years old, including Woods, who has been dancing for five years. 

“My cousin was dancing, and I wanted to do it,” she says. 

Performances are held every week at the church or churches outside of town. Woods also creates videos of the performances and takes pictures to post to social media.

“We are sharing outside of the walls of the church,” Williams says. “We will host at concerts, art exhibits, theatrical performances, and other events to share our talents and highlight the talents of the youth.” 

When Woods graduates from high school, she will leave the performing arts behind as she plans to attend college to become a doctor or a nurse, thanks to Williams and Diamond Wheeler, a certified nurse and one of the choreographers for the dance troop, who encouraged her to follow her dreams.

“It is more than dance during the Sunday service or entertaining at a recital. This ministry seeks to first transform the lives of its team members and develop future leaders who will expand and flourish,” Williams says.     

RC3 always welcomes new people interested in their congregation and the worship arts. The church has a community dance group that welcomes youth from outside the church. Those interested can contact Jennifer Williams at cavonna17@gmail.com.