Our Leaders

Shayla Gamble is a dance minister who has been devoted to teaching and participating in praise dance and mime ministry for 22 years. Shayla joined The Word in Motion as a student in 2010, where she studied the biblical history of dance, dance choreography, flags and dancing in the prophetic. After taking these classes her ministry reached new heights and she gives all honor and glory to God. In 2014, she was given an opportunity to teach at The Word in Motion dance school as a mime instructor. Even through that opportunity, God allowed her to extend her gift of teaching in other areas such as ballet, flags, and praise dance. She was fortunate and blessed to attend The Word in Motion’s first Liturgical Dance Teacher Course, where she graduated as a licensed and certified dance instructor and served as the class valedictorian in September 2015.

Shayla has been blessed to travel throughout the country with The Word in Motion conducting conferences and workshops as well as ministering through dance and mime. She has ministered at the National Day of Prayer at the White House, as well as opened with Ricky Dillard for the Eagle of Excellence Awards, which was televised on TBN. She has been featured in the Body Wrappers Worship Catalog and offered an opportunity to be a distributor of their garments. Along with many other accomplishments, Shayla was appointed as the dance leader and coordinator of Jersey Shore Worship, an event to gather the body of Christ in unity. However, her biggest accomplishment was the start of her dance school, iPraise Dance Company, in January 2020. Since starting her dance company, Shayla has had the opportunity to work with several dance and mime ministries and organizations, where she is able to teach the Word of God through motion based on biblical principles. She encourages dancers to use their gifts as a tool of evangelism that will bring healing, deliverance and encouragement to the body of Christ.

Shayla currently serves at Bethel Community Church Int’l in Tinton Falls under the leadership of Bishop TL Blacknall as the Event Coordinator and Head Leader of the dance and mime ministry, as well as many other areas in the ministry. Dance is an intricate part of Shayla’s ministry and life. Every time she gets a chance to minister or teach, she gets excited because it is another opportunity for God to use her as a willing vessel that desires to do God’s will. She truly has a heart for dance and looks forward to what God has in store for her ministry.

Ronda is a Native New Yorker. She began dancing at the age of five. Her training began with Ms. Eleanor’s School of Dance, Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration Dance Company, Bernice Johnson School of Dance, and Progressive Movement School of Dance. Ronda has a BA in Drama Theater and Dance (CUNY Queens College) and an MS in Education (Hofstra University). Ronda’s career in the secular dance arena ended when she gave her heart to the Lord at the age of 16. The more she fell in love with the Lord, the more she wanted to utilize her gift of dance for Him. Ronda was a member of Bethel Gospel Tabernacle Fellowship International, Jamaica, N.Y., and was an active participant in the arts from 1983-1996. She later transferred her membership to Westbury Gospel Tabernacle under the Bethel Gospel Tabernacle Fellowship International umbrella. It was at Westbury Gospel Tabernacle where she found her passion for Liturgical Dance. Ronda birthed the J.O.Y. Dancers (Jesus Over You) in 1997. This ministry grew from six little girls to nine sub-divisions in a span of five years, serving all ages, male and female. Ronda attended several dance conferences to enhance her craft. She has gleaned from several pioneers in the dance industry: Dr. Kathleen Turner (ALDM), Aimee Verduzco-Kovacs (author of Dancing Into the Anointing), Lynn Hayden (Dancing For Him Ministries), Rev. Eyesha Marable (National Liturgical Dance Network), and Pastor Chanda Thornton (The Word In Motion).

She is a Licensed Liturgical Dance Instructor with The Word In Motion Dance Company, where she graduated Valedictorian in 2017. She earned an Advanced Certification in Prophecy in Motion through The Word In Motion Dance Company, class of 2020. She is presently an active member of The Word In Motion Dance Company and has traveled extensively in and out of state with the group. Recent endeavors are the National Regional’s Congressional Prayer Day at the Capitol in Washington D.C. and the Eagles Awards opening for Ricky Dillard. Ronda is currently a Dance Educator for the New York City Board of Education and an Adjunct Professor for CUNY York College. At present, Ronda is a Doctoral student at South West Bible College and Seminary pursuing a degree in Counseling Psychology. Ronda will merge her gift of dance to serve those in need through the medium of Dance Psychotherapy via her personal practice, “The Strong Foundation”. Throughout her tenure as a dancer, she has performed at the following venues: Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, New Amsterdam Theater, Apollo Theater, Circle in the Square Theater, Madison Square Garden, Radio City, Circle in the Square Theatre on Broadway, Tilles Center Concert Hall, Queens Theatre in the Park, New Jersey Performing Arts Center, York College Performing Arts Center and the Kupferberg Center for the Arts Queens College. Ronda is a Member of Perfecting Faith Church, Freeport, New York, where she is the Branch Leader of the Fine Arts Department. Her favorite scripture is “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” Philippians 4:13 NKJV.

Elder Karen Green is a native of Tabor City, NC. Karen resides in Weaver, AL and worships at New Destiny Christian Church in Gadsden, AL. She has served her country in the capacity of public service for twenty years and is a United States Army Retiree. Although Karen retired from the United States Army and is a combat veteran, she remains a soldier in the army of the Lord. Karen was called to teach and to preach the good news of the Gospel in December 1997. She was then licensed as a minister and travelled preaching the Word of God. Her faithfulness and obedience to God’s calling came with a promotion of being ordained in 2001. After a brief illness in 2011 there was a change of season in her life. God called her to dance for Him. She had no desire, nor technical dance skills, nor knowledge about praising God in a dance. As the Holy Spirit had showed her in a vision, she stepped out on faith and obedience to the command of God. The Holy Spirit was her teacher. Liturgical Dancing is a gift she received from God. This gifting has opened many doors and brought her before great men and women. God opened a broader range of ministerial opportunities that resulted in Karen traveling and ministering abroad: Kansas, MO; New York; New Jersey; Virginia; North Carolina; South Carolina; Washington DC and Hawaii. Also internationally to Germany in 2015.

After attending a Sister Encouraging Sister conference in October 2016, the Lord laid upon her to get certified as a liturgical dance teacher. Karen enrolled in an online dance program, The Word In Motion Liturgical teacher’s certification course, under the mentorship of Pastor Chanda Thornton. Karen completed her studies in April of 2017. In May 2017 she was selected to dance for the National Regional’s Congressional Prayer Day at the Capitol in Washington DC. She has danced for conferences, weddings, funerals, church programs and other occasions. Karen ministers through dance with interpretation and some sign language and has ministered at the Deaf and Blind school of Talladega, AL. In August 2018 she opened at a program teaching the biblical aspect and history of praise dancing. In 2021 she received 2 awards, the best worship dancer and the worship/prophetic dancer, at the 1st Annual Praise Dance Awards. Karen’s dance journey has allowed her to fully understand the manifestation of God and she is a testimony that God is a God of season: as long as the earth remains, there will be planting and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night. Be not weary in well doing, for in due season we shall reap if we faint not.

Krystal grew up in Salisbury, Maryland where she started dancing at the age of 6. She took ballet, jazz and tap classes. She also danced with the youth praise dance ministry at her home church. Years later she lost interest in dance and took a break around 9th grade. The Lord brought her back into dance after college, after attending a women’s conference in Florida where she was enlightened by a prophetic dancer. At the conference she purchased her first symbolic dance instrument, a streamer. God began to grow her faith as she grew her relationship in Him. She began to gain more confidence to flow freely in her dance. As time went on, she was introduced to new dance instruments like flags, billows, scarves, veils and other things. Her love for dance soon began to change and she realized that this was more than just dance but a call upon her life. She had a strong desire to dance for the Kingdom. God led her to get more education about Liturgical dance as she began to flow in her spiritual gifts.

Krystal has a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing from the University of Maryland and a Master of Education in School Counseling from Wilmington University, with over 15 years of experience working with children and teens in therapy and mental health settings. Krystal has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to helping young individuals navigate their emotional well-being. Krystal graduated from “The Word in Motion” dance school as valedictorian of her class, where she was certified as a Liturgical Dance Teacher. Presently, Krystal is leading the flag ministry at her local church. She is also certified as a Health Coach through the Health Coach Institute.

God gave Krystal a vision that is now called “Hearts Healing Hearts LLC.” It is a faith-based business where she includes dance, health, and wellness to facilitate physical and emotional healing. With a heartfelt desire to nurture, encourage, empower, and equip women of all ages to embrace their true identities, Krystal is dedicated to fostering a holistic kingdom-driven lifestyle. By addressing mental, physical, spiritual, and emotional health, she aspires to guide women towards complete well-being.

Krystal is an ambassador for Christ who uses the Word of God to cultivate healthy habits and foster a positive mindset. Despite battling many traumatic life-altering events, she has found solace and healing through dance and the transformative power of God’s Word. Her motto is “My dance is my weapon!” Krystal’s passion for dance, health, and wellness has driven her in the journey of helping others. Her mission is to help women heal from emotional pain/wounds and get out of the “STUCK” mindset so they can be free and walk into their God-given purpose.