The History of the Creative Expression Mime Ministry

Mrs. Donna Darwin Ilochi, a born-again Christian of Pittsburgh, PA, was lying on her bed one evening meditating upon a talent she could do for parent’s night at the Temple Christian Academy. While listening to a gospel tape by Larnell Harris and praying, she saw a vision of a person doing creative movements to a gospel song with a white painted face, flowing black clothing loosely fitting and white gloves. She also saw a spotlight shining upon the person.

This was the vision for the mime ministry; but not the same as Marcel Marcean, the founder of Miming. Instead, the Lord showed her a mixture of sign language and mime. It was similar to a Hawaiian dance, telling a story with your hands. It was acting out words to song giving the visual effect. We have been traditionally preached to and sung to so much, until she saw a need for a different way of communicating the gospel through miming.

After viewing Mrs. Ilochi’s performances during the year of 1982 at Christian Temple Church in Pittsburgh, Rev. John T. Davidson, Jr., who was the Youth Director of Christian Temple Church, caught the miming ministry as a tool of ministry for the members of his youth church. With the assistance of Marie Jones, Tracey Williams and Dorian Thomas, Rev. Davidson developed a mime ministry, which the later called The Creative Expression.

Before Rev. Davidson received the call to his present ministry, Calvary United Methodist Church, McKeesport, the Creative Mime Ministry of Christian Temple made several appearances including two television recordings.

In 1986, Rev. Davidson continued his vision for miming at his new ministry, Calvary. Dorian Thomas has resumed the mime ministry at Christian Temple.

It should be noted that the existing mime
Ministries, today, in the Black churches
In the Greater Pittsburgh community, came
From the above beginnings.

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It should be noted that the existing mime Ministries, today, in the Black churches In the Greater Pittsburgh community, came From the above beginnings.

It should be noted that the existing mime
Ministries, today, in the Black churches
In the Greater Pittsburgh community, came
From the above beginnings.