Lake City Lights Ministry
Lake City Lights Online Songwriter Circle
Watch this silent video or see the photos of info below…
Taking Steps of obedience to follow what God has been asking you to do is more fulfilling than you can imagine. He created you with abilities and gave you spiritual gifts as well at the moment of your salvation. Learn how to use these. Study Songwriting from the Grammy Winners’ Playbooks with a ministry perspective and fellowship with other creatives, or just expand your circle of writers/artists and become accountable to write often! It’s time to step into your calling and become confident in Christ. God’s Got You and He’s Got This!
Joy Dame-founder of Lake City Lights in 2021
“If you want to be brave in writes, feel confident in any room, finish songs, learn how to get songwriting cuts, get feedback on your songs, meet new writers and artists, find a safe community without competition or partiality, learn Grammy and Dove-winning songwriting tips, be encouraged and cheered on as an indie artist and maybe become one if you aren’t already, humbly grow in your craft to new levels and encourage others too, serve God with excellence and reach more with His truths.. you have found your fast family! We are praying you take a step of faith to find your circle online and in-person at retreats as well. ”
Joy Dame’s songs have been pitched and on hold with grammy-winning artists, won and been nominated for several songwriting awards with various organizations ( see Spotify bio), and currently she has 24 songwriting cuts Streaming on Spotify and YouTube along with 5 more of her own releases. Several more cuts are set to release in May and later this year as well as Pop Worship, CCM, and Worship co-releases of her own.
A multi-genre songwriter, she enjoys Worship Writing, CCM, Christian Pop, pop, Christian Country ,Christian R&B and rap, Pop Worship, Singer-Songwriter, Christian rock, and even a bit of country. Always a student of the craft, she continues studying songwriting and teaching it as well. She has encouraged, mentored, song-critiqued, and/or cowritten with several small and large artists since 2020- one was even signed . She is a missionary with Nashville’s “ACT- Artists in Christian Testimony” She serves as a worship leader at her church’s 3 campuses and teaches piano. She loves leading worship and spending time with her husband and 3 boys.
Although she’s written with some of the best in Nashville and continues to do so, her heart is to give confidence to songwriters who have the same Holy Spirit leading them in their lyrics, melodies, etc. and get the gospel out in song along with edifying believers. Read more on her bio.
The Lake City Lights staff team and any retreat co-leaders and special guests are hand-picked and some of the best in their fields of strengths , capabilities and talents. This is what makes the staff team so special. God brought them into the family and blessed the ministry because of them! Teamwork and a lot of fun is the best way to write songs. Joy believes that if the grammy-winners do it.. then we should too. She sees the importance of the primary goal of songwriting being to please Jesus and draw closer to Him- not win awards and get song cuts.. that’s just a bonus when it happens. Obedience has only brought blessings in her life and she believes God works through her in spite of her not because of her.
Lake City Lights is a non-profit ministry under Nashville's Artists in Christian Testimony "ACT" We are an artist collective holding Worship Nights around the country unifying believers and sharing the gospel and we hold Christian Retreats for songwriters who desire to make amazing music together. It's for those committed to follow God's calling on their lives as a songwriter and/or artist. We also have mentorship and are starting a few new things with recording. Whether you are a seasoned songwriter or just starting out, you will completely enjoy these days of being poured into.. and pouring yourself into the craft of songwriting in an encouraging environment. There's nothing like being with like- minded writers creating together and learning from each other! We love the 2 Timothy 2 concept and encourage different ages at our retreats and each retreat has at least 1 pastor attending.. usually a few plus several worship leaders.
No matter your genre or style, age or experience, writers will be able to choose what genres they'd like to write in their rooms but generally they decide on worship, ccm, singer/ songwriter. If you are a professional or seasoned writer accustomed to writing for larger artists online or in Nashville, we have special PRO tracks for you!
Writers in the past wrote a lot of Worship Music for their churches and CCM of all niches for the artists. Each writer will leave the retreat with several great songs they got to write with a group of great friends, and great contacts for future writes. All retreaters will also have the opportunity to have their releases that were written at the event, promoted by Lake City Lights in the future. Evenings will consist of song sharing, co-writes, relaxing, worship, and sometimes demo-making and most retreats now include a ministry concert(not required to participate). The family atmosphere is amazing and so much fun! We keep each retreat small purposely!
Retreaters can apply for the Lake City Lights Mentorship which involves monthly songwriting critiques ( each person guaranteed -no waiting lists), monthly gatherings, and courses combining 5 yrs of courses/tips condensed from over 5 different grammy winners. Partial scholarships and discounts are given to retreat members.
Make a donation.
We appreciate any and all donations and want you to know how thankful we are that you would like to give to the ministry! Every little bit helps to keep us going and provide travel expenses for events and ministry.
Apply here for any confirmed retreat in 2025 & early 2026 .. and keep an eye out for updates on social media and this website for new ones! You don’t want to miss the special guests/locations this year!
UPCOMING EVENTS
TEXAS Retreat. Wooded Lakeside Oasis- Streetman , TX 80 min S. of Dallas.
May 1-4/5th ( Thursday am-Sunday pm) except for those flying in —ask for wed pm and sun 5th pm housing and airport transfers
UP TO 5day/4 night ALL-INCLUSIVE INCLUDING ALL MEALS!! Lakefront Cabin -2025 RETREAT cover cost is $650( or ask for airbed rates if available) $400 off-campus. ( ask about artist off- campus rates w/ producer packages or couple rates)
-Special guests include Artist Josh Bissell (-JOINING US THURS, FRI AND SAT) -Josh is a worship leader with Tauren Wells, Pro-producer Michael Scherer, Worship Artist and writer Charity Abbott(see tiktok), and full- time songwriter, artist , & Tampa worship leader Joy Dame.
Dinners are conveniently right in town and we can enjoy lunch and dinner together at a variety of choices! We want to spend as much time together as possible so we will meet up for lunch/reunion/meet and greet earlier on the 9th for those arriving early- some may need to arrive later at 4pm when the VRBO opens or that evening due to flights.
What is included? -ALL activities of a LAKE CITY LIGHTS RETREAT (worship times, songshares, cowrites, crazy fun fellowship and prayer, songshares,and any work tapes made by the groups during retreat) Pro-demos will be available to purchase with artist/producer partners like Josh and/or Michael. On-site producer(s) in writes as well. Perhaps you don’t need a demo because you will be recording your own for your next song!
ALL RETREATERS WILL RECEIVE discount access to Lake City Lights Online Teaching Events(using Grammy Tips from over 5 years of courses) or Mentorship(songcritiques/classes/online write parties) discounts.
Grand Rapids, MI (AREA)
MICHIGAN SUMMER RETREAT
July 10-13th THURS-SUN.(come and go as needed
Special guests include Pro-producer Michael Scherer, Christian Radio DJ and artist/songwriter Zach Garrett, Rising artist, songwriter and full-time worship leader Tyler Phillip Ratcliffe, and full- time songwriter, artist , and Tampa worship leader Joy Dame.
4 day/3 night Retreat with OPTIONAL experienced writer track(writing for rising artists) and and special pro tip sessions/ COVER COST is $550 early bird rate before April 30th- $600 after April 30th( ask for airbed rates if available) $400 off-campus entire retreat, $250 off-campus Friday 5pm-Sat 10pm
Lakeside and Lakeview home(s) /ALL -INCLUSIVE OR OFF-CAMPUS
Dinners are conveniently right in town and we can enjoy lunch and /or dinner together at a variety of choices! We want to spend as much time together as possible so we will meet up for lunch/reunion/meet and greet earlier on the 10th for those arriving early- some may need to arrive later at 4pm when the VRBO opens or that evening due to flights.
This retreat INCLUDES A CONCERT TBC where we will be sharing LCL original songs at a local venue. Retreaters are welcome to participate on or off stage if desired and usually it’s their favorite night because of the ministry!
What is included? -ALL activities of a LAKE CITY LIGHTS RETREAT (worship times, songshares, cowrites, crazy fun fellowship and prayer, songshares,and any work tapes made by the groups during retreat) PLUS bonus.. 2-3 short sessions (20 min each) to challenge your songwriting or artistry taught by select songwriters,artists,or professional producers in the industry. Pro-demos will be available with several producer partners. On-site producer in writes for artists as well.
Bonus.. EXPERIENCED WRITER TRACK ( for those writing towards other artist’s releases) Closest large airport is Grand Rapids, MI ( GRR)
ALL RETREATERS WILL RECEIVE discount access to Lake City Lights Online Teaching Events(using Grammy Tips from over 5 years of courses) or Mentorship(songcritiques/classes/online write parties) discounts.
St. Augustine, FL
FEBRUARY 25-28th (Wednesday-Saturday)
2026 limited spaces
( historic waterfront /oldest city in the U.S.A
3 -4 DAY ALL-INCLUSIVE* OCEAN RETREAT cover cost is $670( or ask for airbed rates if available) $499 off-campus: Resort-style Housing across the street from OR ON the beach, entire retreat activities (breakfast, lunch, and all but 2 meals out)
We want to spend as much time together as possible so open Check in is Feb 26 at 4 pm - some may need to arrive later but all are welcome as soon as 4pm when the rented venue home opens!.
This retreat includes a concert where we will be sharing LCL original songs with a local church. Retreaters are welcome to participate if desired and usually it’s their favorite night!
What is included? -ALL activities of a LAKE CITY LIGHTS RETREAT (worship times, songshares, cowrites, crazy fun fellowship and prayer, songshares,any work tapes and several meals) PLUS bonus.. 1-2 short sessions (20 min each) to challenge your songwriting or artistry taught by select songwriters,artists,or professional producers in the industry.
Rent a car, uber, or ride-share with others coming from Jacksonville Airport.
ALL RETREATERS WILL RECEIVE discount access to Lake City Lights Online Writing Circle And/Or Teaching Events(using Grammy Tips from over 5 years of courses) or Mentorship(songcritiques/classes/online write parties) discounts.
