Our History
Take Back Ministries was birthed through Jemina Richardson on the campus of Old Dominion University. It all began on November 1, 2007, when God gave her the vision for a choreography project with which she was struggling. The piece entitled The Take Back, was choreographed to Tye Tribbett’s I want it all back, with 15 dancers including Mia Danniels, Courtney Shivers, Shanele Jones, Toni Jones and Tedrick Green. The group met not only for rehearsals, but also for prayer sessions and Bible studies. It served for many members as a support and accountability group, where they encouraged each other to depend on God and do His will.
During the project, Jemina continuously told the members the vision was bigger than the project, as God was beginning to show her His plans for what He desired her to do with her life. She began to write the vision for the ministry in the arts, which was to include all art forms, such as dance, drama, writing, music, visual and media arts, as well as a performing arts school
In the fall of 2008, Jemina created the ministry’s second project called Seeds based on Matthew 13 about the state of a man’s heart toward the things of God. A year later in December she met with Courtney Shivers, Shonda Holimon and John Hunter, who formed the first Executive Team for the ministry, to formalize plans for an official start of the organized ministry. The first project, Divine Purpose Dance Company (DP) began in January 2010, with Courtney, Mia and Jemina from the project, along with Shonda, LyRic Mines, Jaquez Robinson, Ashlee Staton and Shoumoura Chandler. The same year Purposed for Excellence Performing Arts School began. The school sponsored the first Moving With Purpose Bermuda Dance Retreat and Affair in the month of August. It was during the retreat, the International Company was formed, by adding Lauren DeVera from Ashburn, Va., Dionne Greene and Rosanne Roberts both from Bermuda, and later that month Shanele’ returned. Divine Purpose Dance Company International (DPI) had grown to a total of 17 members from Hampton, Newport News, Ashburn, Northern Va., Florida and Bermuda.
Fulfilling the mission of “Taking Back the arts and lives for Christ,” the ministry is about reaching out to the lives of the youth and young adults, using the vehicle of the arts. We encourage our members to seek God for their purpose, give their best to God by being disciplined and committed. Most important that is God who should be at the center of their lives, the Holy Spirit who leads and guides according to the will of the Father and that salvation through Jesus Christ is imperative to have everlasting life and be a Kingdom citizen. In addition to rehearsals, we also have Bible study and prayer with our members. As a ministry, we have also sponsored events for the community like Take Back Freestyles, a dance party for teens 13-17. In June of 2011, Divine Purpose presented its first ever concert, entitled Promised Land, held at the Downing-Gross Cultural Arts Center in the Ella Fitzgerald Theater.
In April of this year, after a two year hiatus, we started Divine Purpose Dance Company again, along with our newest dance team, Destined Youth Dance Team. Our members range in age between 3 and 30 with a total of about 20 dancers and growing. In addition to our dance ministry endeavors, we also have partnered with our Chief Operating Officer, rap minister, Lasean Knight to bring New Breeze Records under our music department. We have also started a publishing company, called Vision Publishing Company who will be publishing its first book, entitled "Top Model Virtuous Woman Status" as a project with the dance ministry as their first fundraiser.
We believe that it is important to allow God to use the youth and their talents to spread the message of salvation and Kingdom of God principles. It is our responsibility as leaders to afford them the opportunities, teaching and venues to let this happen, as the Word says, “train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old he will not depart from it.” With this understanding, we look forward to offering more opportunities in various arts and projects in the future.
Take Back Ministries is covered by the A Desire so Strong Ministries. It is not about one church, but unifying the Kingdom of God. We have members from various churches, as we serve as a supplement and an avenue for striving artist and those interested in learning more about the arts. We offer workshops and classes through our school, and open membership to our various projects.
