Meet the Founder/CEO      


Lela Gardner is Founder and Chief Executive of Rhema International Dance Ministry and Rhema International Leadership, Mentoring, Development and Performing Arts Program. Lela holds a Bachelor and Master degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in Management. She attends Haven House City of Refuge Church under the Leadership of Pastor Michael and 1st Lady Phyllis Fulks. Lela has been a dance leader/director over several ministries since 1989.  Drama, Dance and Singing was birth of course from her heavenly father who gives us our gifts and talents.  She gives honor to her biological parents, Charlie and Mary Stagge who has stood by her and encouraged her throughout her life.  She also gives honor to the Late Elizabeth Williams who was her mentor, spiritual mother and who guided, pulled and stretched her to be all she can be for the Kingdom of God.  Elizabeth Williams introduce her to Praise dancing and drama.  She traveled abroad in many gospel plays and productions. She knew without a shadow of doubt she was called to the ministry of dance, but little did she know that shortly after starting a dance ministry, she would be writing her own drama and dance productions and starting a mentoring and performing arts program.



Lela Gardner has produced and written over twenty DVDs of Rhema Drama and Dance productions and concerts.  Her mothers, Mary and Elizabeth were great soul winners.  Their hearts has always been toward serving and witnessing to people by any means necessary.  She believes the torch was handed down to her to preach the word of God through drama, dance and mentoring.  Also to pass the torch down to the young people and other ministries Rhema mentor. She believes with all her heart that we should take the word of God to the streets or in locations where the people are searching for what they know not what.  She believes it's has been a great honor to minister at conferences, churches, conventions, etc., but when you are called to soul winning, you are drawn to where the people need it the most. She is so humbly honored that God has in-trusted her to carry out his plan.  She does not take the assignments lightly, it comes with great sacrifice, but she would not trade it for the world.


 Rhema under the direction of Lela Gardner, host at least two or more drama & dance workshop/ production  and concerts every year to service our communities, shelters, prisons, nursing, retirement, and children group homes and much more with outreach efforts. Since 2003 Rhema has served St. Louis and surrounding communities. All contributions goes toward supporting foreign missions and less fortunate families, back to school outreach, etc.,  to help our communities during hard times.   Our goal is to Impact the lives of the people we serve.  Rhema have ministered all over the world, if not all of us at one time, at least one have traveled abroad to Barbados, Jamaica, Israel, Africa, Texas, Chicago, Ohio, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Memphis, Vegas, Illinois  and Missouri just to name a few.  But our heart is to serve home first, which is St. Louis and the surrounding areas.



 

RHEMA'S BIO



Rhema International Drama, Dance, Leadership Mentoring Development and Performing Arts Program was birth  in the late 90’s under the leadership of Lela Gardner and has been moving forward ever since.  RHEMA - (The spoken, living active word of God, which has divine power to demolish any stronghold or sin that may be prevalent in your life.  It has the power to judge the thoughts and attitudes of the heart and reveal the truth that can set you free) it is the right now word for deliverance.  Rhema Ministry was created to bring life-enhancing ministry to the masses through the arts.  The Word of God says, "David danced before the Lord..." (2 Sam 6:14).  The Ministry embraces the privilege of leading people into the Lord’s transforming presence through drama and spontaneous and choreographed praise, warfare, travailing, celebration, and worship dance. The drama & dances are ministered as an outpouring of a personal and intimate relationship with the Lord.  The ministry Leadership Mentoring Development and Performing Arts Program is free to all, starting at age 4 to 100 years old.  Our target group is our children and teenagers.  We meet once a week and our curriculum is entitled Destiny and Purpose. Our covering church is Haven House City of Refuge under the Leadership of Pastor Michael and 1st Lady Phyllis Fulks of St. Louis MO.



The Rhema Mentoring Program along with the Drama & Dance Ministry has been anointed and appointed to set the captives free and to impact the lives we serve.  As ministry is going forth to the multitudes, deliverance, healing and praise are manifested.  The ministry is comprised of a close-knit family of believers with all lowliness and meekness, with long-suffering, forbearing one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace (Ephesians 4:2-3).

 

Rhema has served St. Louis and surrounding communities since 2003 with at least 2 or more drama and dance productions, workshops, outreach efforts, benefit concerts and a free Leadership Development Mentoring and Performing Arts Program.  Approximately $3000-$6000 each year is raised to support our summer and winter missions. The contributions goes toward supporting foreign missions, less fortunate families with food, clothing, utility payments and back to school supplies and whatever is needed to help our communities and partners during these hard times.  Rhema also serves and minister in the streets, prisons, nursing homes, retirement homes, shelters, children group homes, schools and much more. 


Rhema have ministered all over the world, if not all of us at one time, at least one have travelled abroad to Barbados, Jamaica, Israel, Africa, Texas, Virginia, Ohio, North Carolina, Memphis, Vegas Chicago, Springfield, Centralia, Mount Vernon,  Illinois and Missouri just to name a few.  But our heart is to serve home first, which is St. Louis and the surrounding areas.