Last Friday, LBF packed the house for the Heart & Soul’s Valentine’s Dance. All ages came out to boogy and celebrate love for an evening that included dinner and fellowship. I interviewed Shauntel Raymond, one of the primary organizers of the event, to get a run-down on how it went.

Russ Parker, Pastor of Administration & Leadership Development: Where did the idea of holding a "heart and soul" Valentine’s dance come from?

Shauntel Raymond: The idea came from a few of us girls talking after our small group. We thought about how much fun it would be to do something to bring couples together in our church. Plus, we have happy feet sometimes and in today's world, the only place to go dancing is a bar and that's not where we feel comfortable.

Russ: A dance and church might seem like an odd pairing. What were the issues you had to consider when organizing a dance at church?

Shauntel: To make it an appropriate event, the music had to be just right. We also had to appeal to all ages with the music selection and theme.

Russ: What was your favorite part of the entire experience?

Shauntel: Planning and working together as a team and watching the couples and the joy on their faces as they danced together to their favorite songs.

Russ: You and your team put in endless hours planning, organizing, hosting, and tearing down this dance. Was it worth it?

Shauntel: It was completely worth it! We were tired, but when we saw that dance floor packed all night and hearing back from people about how much fun it was, we knew we did the right thing and all our work was worth it. We also had a great team of people who helped make the set up and tear down run really smoothly.

Russ: If we host a dance again next year, what would you say to someone who didn't attend this year to encourage them to come?