Despite suffering from rheumatoid arthritis, Judi Beard still teaches dancing.
FALL BRANCH, Tenn. -- There are days when Judi Beard struggles to find a balance between family, work, and life due to crippling rheumatoid arthritis. In fact, getting out of bed often becomes her toughest battle. Though painful, Beard doesn't give up teaching dance as a form of ministry in dramatic arts.
Diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis in 1980, Beard was told she would never dance again. "The doctors told me I would be in a wheelchair by the time I was 30," Beard said. Having celebrated her 40th birthday, Beard is dancing at LampLight Theatre this week, teaching the young and old alike how to use interpretive movement and puppetry as a different form of outreach ministry.
Beard and her husband formed Mustard Seeds & Co., a dramatic arts, clowning, and puppetry ministry 10 years ago through Harmony Baptist Church in Jonesborough, Tenn. Mustard Seeds & Co. recently partnered with director and playwright Billy Wayne Arrington to offer A.I.M. (Artists in Ministry), a dramatic arts conference to teach drama and interpretive movement, held at LampLight Theatre in Fall Branch, Tenn.
"Judi inspires people of all ages and teaches beyond her physical limitations," said Arrington, founder of LampLight Theatre. "This week people are learning how to incorporate various forms of arts in ministry to be used in their own environments and civic groups, or as they visit shut-ins in nursing homes and children's homes. It is our goal to offer new ideas and different forms of ministry as we share the gospel of Jesus Christ."
Various workshops are offered through LampLight Theatre; however, A.I.M. focuses specifically on techniques for drama and theatre with song interpretation. "I couldn't think of a better ministry to help with A.I.M. than Mustard Seeds & Company," Arrington said.
While dancing can sometimes be painful for Beard, she cannot imagine her life without dance. "I have struggled with this illness for many years but I know 'I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me,'" Beard said. "He gives me strength well beyond my abilities and I just want to give back what He has given me."
After watching Beard dance with Mustard Seeds & Co. this week, students were amazed to hear about her crippling arthritis. "If she can dance, then why can't I?" asked Nancy Fowler, A.I.M. participant. "She's just proof that through Jesus, anything is possible."
After a week of training, 40 participants will showcase what they've learned in a performance on Friday, July 27 at 7:00 p.m. -- free to the public. Arrington and Mustard Seeds & Co. will be featured in the program.
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