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.