Garments of Praise!

Jean Mabry encourages you to rise up and worship God with all your might regardless of age, size, color, or whatever gets in your way and stops you from praising the King of Glory. Dance is a powerful weapon of our warfare, as is singing, clapping, shouting, playing instruments, stamping, etc. We are all called to dance. (Ps. 149) We are not all called to be part of a dance team, even as we are not all called to be part of a choir, even though we all sing and know it is one of our powerful weapons (songs of deliverance). God has gifted each of us uniquely and placed us in the body for His glory. We are jointly fit together and each have a job to do.

 One of Jean's jobs has been to get folks up and moving (everyone from babes to 100 years old). She says to remember Miriam. She was probably at least 90 when she led the women in dance at the Red Sea. What a celebration they had that day! We have just as much to rejoice over. Do you know that God dances over us with whirling and shouting? We're also told to whirl and shout over Him, all you upright in heart (Ps. 32:11). Dance brings joy; especially, dancing in unison. As joy bursts forth, we become strong and courageous. The joy of the Lord is our strength! (Nehemiah 8)

In 1985, God birthed the dance team Benote Tzion (Daughters of Zion). The team is composed of dancers from many different churches. Their ages range from 4 to 60. Most are not trained as dancers but all are worshippers of the Most High God. Jean is the director of this company. She also teaches Praise Dance to about 100 home-school children each semester. The Little Praiser classes (ages 4-6) are a special joy to Jean. As she says, we all must become as one of these little ones in humility and unconditional love (Mt. 18). She choreographs most of the dances using her training in Israeli and international folk dance. At the end of each semester, Jean directs a full Concert of Praise. Also, She coordinates a beginning biblical Hebrew language class at various times throughout the year.

In 1991, God began a new work though Benote Tzion using silk banners. Dancing silks are so gentle and graceful that they have been a bridge into many churches that have been closed to dance and movement. They are very easy to use and can easily be danced with by children and grandmothers alike. The wind of the spirit is felt as the silks dance in various rhythms and movements. As they slip into a canopy, many people feel led to lay down under them and allow the billows to wash over them. There is a sense of entering into the Bridal Canopy. His banner over me is love.

Jean has written a small booklet on Dancing Silks, their beginning history, instructions for completing the moves, and photos of the movements.

As Jean saw a need for more modesty in dance wear, garments that would honor God and be less distraction to the flesh, she designed and developed a line of dance wear called Garments of Praise.