ICDF Founder MARY JONES

In 1978 the Christian Dance Fellowship of Australia (CDFA) was established by Mary Jones, and flourished over the next few years providing support and fellowship to many people – not just within Australia, but from all over the world. In 1987, Mary received the vision to work towards an international organisation.

In 1988, at an international conference organised by CDFA, and held in Bathurst, Australia, the ICDF Foundation Meeting was held with ten nations represented. Mary Jones was elected as the International Coordinator of the new fellowship whose purpose was to network among its international members and to help establish new Christian Dance Fellowships around the world. Two more nations began CDFs in 1988, and at the first ICDF Conference – "Preparing the Way" – held in Israel in 1991, sixteen countries were represented.

Focus Networks were begun in 1991. These are specialised interest groups which give opportunities for individuals interested in particular areas of creative movement to communicate internationally, sharing their knowledge of resources, events, and common goals. Regular newsletters are produced, the first one on Therapy and Healing being published in 1992. By 2001, 14 different Focus Networks interest groups had been established, including Dance Therapy and Healing, Mime, Ballroom dance, Flags & Banners, Deaf Signing, Men in Dance, Intercession and Prophecy, and Messianic Dance. In 2003 the name was changed to ICDF Networks and in 2006 it was decided to have Joint Coordinators for each of the now 7 functioning Networks and to publish email newsletters.

ICDF continues to grow, and at the end of 2006 there are 12 active National Chartered CDFs, 9 Pre-Charter CDFs in formation and individual supporters and representatives in several other countries including Brazil, France, Italy, Nigeria, Qatar and Spain. International conferences have been held in Jerusalem, Israel ("Preparing the Way" - 1991), York, England ("Touching the Kingdom" – 1994), Pretoria, South Africa ("Building the Temple" – 1997) and Mittagong, Australia ("The Spirit Moves" – 2000), Texas, USA ("Every Tribe and Tongue" - 2003), and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia ("Into all the World" - 2006).

During the 1997 ICDF Conference in South Africa, Lucy Andrew-Park Jarasius was elected International Coordinator, as Mary Jones changed roles to become the Formation Coordinator, and spent more time focused on the formation of new CDFs around the world. At the 2000 Conference in Australia, Lucy Andrew-Park Jarasius was re-elected as International Coordinator, and Mary Jones decided to step down from her formal Committee responsibilities. In 2006 when Lucy Jarasius decided to step down as Coordinator, the Steering Committee of ICDF, responsible for the day to day running of ICDF, became more fully international. Mary Jones came back as a Joint Coordinator together with Johanna Cardinal, Coordinator of CDF Canada. Other members of the Committee come from Britain, Sweden, Qatar, Malaysia and Australia