Events | The Priceless Journey

Our 2020 EOY Celebration [Recap] From An Audience Perspective

November 19, 2020/0 Comments/in Events, Identity in Christ /by Ivory

Oh the anticipation, the night had finally arrived.

Me and my daughter, a 6-year-old aspiring dancer, and my date for the night, were so excited to be at the Dancing the Journey Overcoming the Darkness event for The Priceless Journey.

You see, I have a special place in my heart for the work they are doing because before a turn of crazy events, I was doing it right alongside Sarah and her amazing team. So the opportunity to celebrate what God has done through this ministry since my departure was such a joy.

We walked into the performance center and were met with smiling faces that handed us a lovely package with the original You are Priceless devotional, the new You are Priceless booklet, and a program with the night’s events. We were shown to our seats and couldn’t wait for what the night held for us.

Not long after we were seated, a special guest artist, Dr. Louis Claussen, serenaded all those in the auditorium with beautiful piano arrangements.

The program began with the national anthem and a brief welcome explaining how the night’s event proceeds would go to the production of the Spanish resources. So exciting!

Then… it began… dancers take their places and the night was off to a breathtaking start

They leaped, swayed and spun across the stage. Exhibiting a high level of skill, but also a grace that could only come from the throne room of heaven.

There were some fun upbeat numbers. My daughter’s favorite was the “Super Savior” piece performed by Karla Ledoux (the artistic director of the event) and Ryan Bogart.

She enjoyed it so much because they were dressed up like superheroes!

As the night went on Dr. Claussen took the stage and performed a beautiful rendition of How Great Thou Art.

Then the Vice President of TPJ, Candia Marie, took the stage.

She shared her incredible testimony of how God had redeemed what she wasn’t sure was redeemable. How He took what she thought was worthless in her story and has brought purpose to it- beauty from ashes. She shared how TPJ has helped her grow in embracing the fact that she is truly Priceless and what an honor it is to share that message, mission and theme with the people they serve and minister to.

Right after Candia shared, the dancers took the stage for one more performance before intermission. It was my favorite part of the night.

It was to the song “O My Soul” where they all started out with sashes that read things like worthless, unwanted, invaluable.

Midway through the segment, they freed themselves from those labels and revealed – worthy, wanted, and valuable.

It packed a punch and so spoke to what TPJ is all about.

We were left with that message and conversation filled the air during intermission.

There wasn’t a dry eye in the room as everyone reflected on the lies they bare and the truth that sets them free.

After a brief intermission, we were swept away by the dancers sharing their gifts and talents with us. They interpreted the story of the woman at the well in the gospels through dance.

Then Alan Wilkett, board member and a renowned human trafficking advocate, shared his heart

Alan shared the realities of so many hurting people and how TPJ is coming beside them to offer resources to help them find ultimate healing, freedom, and hope. Women who can embrace the reality that, they too are priceless. No matter their experience, what has been said about them, who they’ve been told they are, or who they think they are.

It was powerful and made me so excited to be a part of this night and help raise funds for the ones still needing the message of the gospel shared in TPJ’s resources.

The ballerinas took the stage for more dazzling performances, this time with a live vocalist.

One of my favorites, “Up and Overcome” was a beautifully, uplifting piece. It provided a perfect segway as we then heard from the Keynote Speaker and Founder of TPJ, Sarah.

Sarah passionately shared her heart about how God used her story and her experiences. How God prepared her to lead this non-profit. How the mission of the Priceless Journey is her heartbeat, who once was the girl that needed this message as well.

Sarah shared how we are each created with unimaginable value. God desires to help us all come to a place where we recognize ourselves as trophies of His grace no matter what has come to be known as our story.

She eloquently shared her heart and desires for TPJ. She was amazing!

Before we knew it we were ushered into 2 more dance pieces.

While the event seemed to fly by, I left encouraged, inspired, and thankful for this ministry and what they are accomplishing in the name of Christ.

I’m so glad I was able to attend and support this ministry that is reaching out to all God allows them to, so they can proclaim the name of Jesus.

They truly are equipping many to embrace the journey of freedom. It was a lovely night!

Thanks for going back through it with me!

I look forward to next year as God continues to use this ministry to help reach more with the message of hope that – You are Priceless!

If you missed it, I encourage you to get tickets to their next performance on April 18th.

It’s going to be amazing!

Unlock Hope for One More

November 11, 2019/0 Comments/in Events /by Sarah

So if the son sets you free, you will be free indeed. ~John 8:36

We recently had our end of year celebration and it went amazing. We announced that this next year we will focus on partnering with our law enforcement. We will do our best to create and provide resources that help our law enforcement be the bridge of hope to the victims they come in contact with. Every testimony throughout the night shared how the book is impacting lives and the difference it is making on a daily basis.

The evening started with our Board Member Natalie Southward. She did an amazing job welcoming everyone and setting a sweet atmosphere. Sharing how the book has made a difference in the clients she reaches at her practice.

Then we heard from the Chaplain on our board. David Pletincks did an awesome job sharing how the

book has made a difference to prisoners at Hernando Correctional Institution and the awesome Priceless Conferences we have been able to provide for them. Thank you Chaplain!

An amazing dinner was served with lots of sweet fellowship time. The salmon, beef, and vegetables were all donated by the Vault, the place that hosted our event. The food did not disappoint. It was fit for a King and many in attendance sang the praises of how delicious the food was!

A moment to stop and take pictures with some of the best board members, leaders, and speakers a

ministry could ever hope for. I’m not sure how we got the best on our team and we thank God daily for each one of them. They bring different strengths to the table and equip TPJ to operate at it’s best. Thank you to each one of you. TPJ is what it is because of you and your sacrificial service to it.

We are grateful for Dr. Raul Serrano (TPJ Board Member) who shared the impact the book has had on his life and why he feels it’s vital to get it in Spanish. He shared the staggering statistics of the spanish speaking community who need the book and we each left with a new fire to get it done.

Next, we were in awe of the beautiful performance of the ballerinas who shared their time and talent

with us. Each one donating their gift to the ministry so that the story of human trafficking could be better understood. Starting with a piece to the song “Does Anybody Hear Her?” by Casting Crowns. It moved us all and reminded us to keep our eyes open to those who are hurting around us. Not turn our noses up and walk away, but engage with the broken and invite them to healing with the You are Priceless book.

Corporal Alan Wilkett (TPJ Board Member) packed a punch with his message. He gave us the cold hard facts of trafficking and shared why it is essential for our law enforcement to have this in their vehicles. He talked about the impact the book has made on one victim named Skittles and how her life has been transformed since reading it. It was powerful and engaging! Many wanted to join the fight after hearing his message.

Aubrey came out to show how the book awakened her in the dance performed to the song “Rescue” by

Lauren Daigle. It was beautiful and reminded us that the book is a bridge for every victim and every woman who has ever felt marginalized, forgotten, and exploited by our society. May every woman come to life as she reads the book and remember that God is a God of restoration and redemption!

Our next speaker, Kim Squires, shared a powerful redemption story of her own life. Six years as a trafficked victim left her hopeless until God redeemed her story. She reminded the dads in the room to love their little girls and not let a trafficker be the first one to speak these three words to them…. “You are beautiful.” That was all it took for Kim’s trafficker to get her hooked and she now declares that doesn’t have to be the story for the next girl.

One last ballet performance to show the community around the one who had been trafficked. The ones

who rejected her in the first piece became the ones to accept her in the last piece. It was beautifully danced to the song “Priceless” by for King and Country. The dance left us breathless, reminding us that every woman is priceless.

Our keynote speaker and founder Sarah Malanowski was next. She shared from her heart and reminded us that every little girl dreams big. Sometimes life impacts that dream and buries you in a pile of rubble. Until you decide to arise as a warrior. Until you peel back the layers and become who you were destined to be. Showing up for the next battle. Fighting for the next one who doesn’t know how to fight for herself. It was memorable and moving, awakening those in the room to their own destiny within the fight against human trafficking. Every single one of us holds a key to unlock hope for someone. We make the choice to turn the key and set someone free. Until every man, woman, or child has had an opportunity to embrace the journey of freedom!

We want to thank Pastor Kevin Stamper for sharing with us the beautiful bridge illustration. Reminding

us that many are scarred to cross the bridge that leads to life. Some just need us to offer assistance and walk with them through their freedom journey. Our book You are Priceless is the bridge, offering women a new life and giving them hope to dream again.

Yes, it was quite a night. Amazing in every possible way. We are thrilled with the outcome and grateful for every person who chose to spend their evening with us. Thank you to our sponsors who made it possible for this event to be fully sponsored and to those who helped us pull it off. We couldn’t do this without all of you and your support. TPJ is honored to be aligned with you in this mission and purpose. May we move forward embracing the journey of freedom and unlocking hope for one more in this coming year!

If you want to help us unlock hope in 2020, you can click here. Every donation helps us carry on the work and rescue more women.

Dancing The Journey: Reflection

January 15, 2019/0 Comments/in Events /by Sarah

“Let them praise His name with dancing and make music to Him with timbres and harp.” ~ Psalm 149:3

I’m still in awe of what took place last Saturday. What a gift it was to have 10 ballerinas come together on one stage to worship our King and help us promote TPJ! As I sat watching how graceful they were and how they glided across the stage in perfect elegance, I thought to myself… “This is what we want every woman to experience in Christ.” We want her to know that she is free. That she can dance in the Lord and throw off every chain that would try to hold her bound.

Even in the darkest seasons of our lives, we serve a God who is at work

She is not defined by her past. She’s not defined by what’s been done to her or what she has done. Shame is not her motto. Her motto is that she is a trophy of God’s grace. He wants to do something incredible with her life. There is no one too far gone for Him. No brokenness that He cannot heal. No amount of ashes that He can’t bring beauty from.

We serve a God who is at work even in the darkest seasons of our lives. He is on the throne and He will be faithful through it all. Every song declared how God is someone who can be trusted even when life seems chaotic. Songs like, “Via Dolorosa, He’s Got the Best of my Love, and Breath of Heaven” revived our souls as we watched the ballerinas dance this with such elegance.

Ballet pieces sharing the lives of the 5 women in Jesus lineage, the full armor of God, and the woman at the well reminded us why we serve and who we are serving at TPJ. These beautiful displays of Scripture in dance left me in awe and breathless at the wonder of God. They were beautiful.

Then there was the finishing number that lit my spirit on fire. The one that ignited a deeper passion within me and gave me fresh fuel for the days ahead. That number was “Second Chances.” Oh, how beautiful it was to watch all 10 ballerinas on that stage show every woman that God is a God of restoration. He is a God of healing. He is a God who brings beauty from the ashes. He is a God of second chances!

Thank you to everyone who came out to support this event!

I loved every minute of this performance and was so pleased to hear the audience say that they hope we do this yearly. It was great to watch the people in the audience get revived and flourish in what God has for them. Thank you to everyone who came out to support this event! We look forward to doing this again and seeing your friends and family there.

We are excited to announce that we plan to provide one more opportunity for you to see this beautiful ballet performance. Stay tuned for more details. You won’t want to miss it!