Our Guest Worship Team led by Katrina Perez

The Arise Praise and Worship team comprises of a group of worshippers of different ages, cultures, and evangelical churches. What we do have in common is the perseverance to mature in Christ through obedience of the Holy Spirit to re-establish ourselves in God’s eternal purpose. We don’t take lightly the gifts given to each of us. When we play our instruments and sing, we do it only for the glory of God, our savior. If we don’t, He himself reveals it to us and we repent. We are aware that God can use whomever, do whatever, however, and whenever He wants. Therefore, we are humbly grateful that He is using us to sing praises to him.

MICHELLE SCHUMACHER  and her family now reside in Miami, FL.  Michelle is married to her wonderful husband Paul.  They have 5 amazing children.  Paul and Michelle have a heart to see people's lives transformed.  For a season they ministered through foster care, taking care of 30 children during that time. Eventually they adopted their  3 youngest.  Michelle has a special place in her heart for ministering to women who have been hurt,  beaten down by society and their own selves.  It is Michelle's desire to see women get set free and become on fire for God.  She believes that it takes everyone doing their part to change the world one life at a time.  Michelle ministers with tremendous passion and boldness.  She accredits this to being one who needed so much healing herself and gives God all the glory and honor.

SHELLY MCKNIGHT resides in Homestead, FL with her husband, and their two children.  She has been a member of Upper Room Assembly of God. Shelly is a passionate teacher of the Word of God. She enjoys being an intercessor and working closely with the youth. She summarizes what God is to her as follows: When I close my eyes, and I am alone with God, in all His magnificence, power, and glory, I am humbled. When I perceive His overwhelming love, His overwhelming grace, His overwhelming forgiveness, and His overwhelming long suffering with me, I fall to my knees. I am broken. For I know fully, that He is the Life in my body, He is the breath in my lungs, and He is the purpose of my every step.

OLIVE DAVIS is the mother of one lovely daughter, Michelle. As a Financial Analyst, she is a Vice President of Helping Build Wealth. Her role model was her Mom, who was the perfect example of what a woman of God ought to be and taught her children to hide the Word of God in their hearts. Her Mom went home to be with the Lord in 2007. Olive has been attending Upper Room Assembly of God since 1989 and is the Small Groups Director. She has a passion for missions and loves the Lord with all her heart. She is humbled, yet so proud, to be a part of this blessed ministry called SWORD.

LULU (Louise) RODRIGUEZ resides in West Kendall, Florida with her husband Osmundo. They are members of Upper Room Assembly of God. While she spent most of her life running from the Lord, it is now obvious to her that the Lord was with her every step of the way. Through all the ups & downs & all the chaos. She is now completely dedicated to the things of God & relies on Him for everything. She is involved in Global University's Berean Studies, NAME marriage ministry, & other outreach services. She believes in serving the Lord by serving His people. "As for me & my house, we will serve the Lord" Joshua 24:15.

CAROLYN Ruth WASHINGTON lives in Miami, Florida. A retired school Teacher and Coach with her daughter and grandchildren. An Intercessor, a credential Minister with the Assemblies of God and Sunday School Teacher for many years. A servant that serves tirelessly. Carolyn has been a Berean student for many years. Studying God's word with a passion and love to impart knowledge, wisdom and understanding. She is a Spiritual Advisor with the Kairos Prison Ministry, Bible Study teacher at Women Agape residential treatment center for women with addictions. Her Heart is intercession and restoring captives. Through supernatural intervention C.R.W. Ministries (Captives Restoration Warriors) was recently birth. God has called her to help the restored come into the awareness of who they are and what they are given to do. Training  through prophetic teaching, discipleship and returning the Hearts of the Fathers back to the Children Mentoring program. Developing warriors! "To go get to the captives, your people, tell them thus said the Lord, whether they hear or whether they believe" (Ezekiel 3: 11).

Harolyn has a passion for seeing individuals move towards healing and wholeness by helping them recognize and overcome the hurts and pains of their past so that they can live joyous, peaceful, and victorious lives.  She loves helping others expand their vision and maximize potential in their personal, professional and spiritual lives.

She offers dynamic workshops and seminars that equip and empower individuals with practical skills to overcome adversities, develop resiliency, improve relationships and live a life of excellence, integrity, peace and joy, all based on biblical principles.

 She enjoys spending time with her family and friends, exercising and reading. Harolyn was born in Liberia, West Africa and currently resides in the Miami, Florida with her family.

REBECCA PESINA, married to a wonderful man of God (Jessie Pesina) and a  proud mother of 3 beautiful girls. Kaylee, Korina and Kelsey. Rebecca is a faithful member of Upper Room Assembly of God Church, here is where I received Jesus into my heart and my amazing journey began.  Can not begin to share all the wonderful things that the Lord has done for me because it truly is never ending, but what I could tell you is that "JESUS CHRIST" is amazing.  I currently am involved in the Mpact  (Missionettes) program at Upper Room equipping young girls ages 10-12 in the ways of the Lord.  I have recently started a small connection group named B.L.U.S.H ( Beautiful Ladies Understanding Sacred and Holy) this is for an older age group 14 and  up,  which helps young teenage girls understand their beauty through God's eyes and not mans.  This leads me to S.W.O.R.D. wow...wow...wow..its seems evident that there is a passion to see women be raised up and healed.  Serving with these amazing women and blessed to be a part of  this ministry has been the most humbling experience yet the most rewarding feeling the Lord has allowed me to be a part of.  I am truly Blessed!!!  
Ladies, God created Eve so that Adam would not be alone...you were needed then and you are needed now. there is a plan and a purpose for life.

YVONNE ROMAN

I am originally from Chicago.  My family and I moved to Miami on June 01, 1991.  At first I wanted to go home.  But my roots began to dig deep in Miami, especially when I arrived at Upper Room in January 1997.  Miami became our permanent home.  My son has now blessed me with two handsome grandsons, Noah 6 and Jacob 1.  I expect my daughter to do the same in a short few years. 

I did not know the true concept of salvation until one day in 1994.  I was folding laundry in my room while watching TBN on a Sunday afternoon.  The message was so moving and impacting.  He called out to the viewers to receive the LORD JESUS CHRIST.  I received HIM and felt an immediate change, a difference, a renewing of my inner spirit.  WOW!!! 

I attend Upper Room A/G since January 1997.  I was invited to dance at the 1999 Christmas Cantata.  It was the beginning of a deep refreshing relationship with GOD the Father and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit.  I am now the leader of the “Exalt HIM Dance Ministry”.  I also serve in the Youth ministry as the “Chili” cook of the Youth Snack Shop on Friday nights. 

The S.W.O.R.D. Ministry grabbed me by surprise in 2009.  The liberation I received at the first conference was incomparable to any other conferences.  I am blessed beyond words to be serving in this awesome ministry.  The leaders are REAL and not artificial.  Their genuine love for other women is so extraordinary.  This Sisterhood of women ministering one to another is contagious.  I cannot stay away.  “GOD says…..freely you receive, freely you give”.  

Hi my name is Santa Melendez. I am the mother of a wonderful young man whose name is Joshua Nazario. I enjoy reading the word and being able to help other women or elderly people that are in need. My main desire is to serve the Lord in everything I could do in the greeters ministry of my church and the SWORD Ministry. I am a testimony of how God worked in me  through the SWORD ministry. I was finally freed from the hurt of my divorce. I am grateful for this wonderful ministry. I pray that all women that attend our conferences can be set free and leave renewed.