Today is the 200th day of David’s Tent DC running 24/7 on the National mall.*
The St Rose Convent in La Crosse, Wisconsin who have been praying 24/7 for 137 years would have every right to smirk a little, but for us in DC, this is a huge victory and to be celebrated greatly! Hundreds of worship teams and thousands of people have come to worship and pray at David’s Tent DC since the kickoff Sept 11 of last year. Thank you all to have participated, prayed, given financially or have been a part in any way!
As I reflect on the 200 day benchmark, I’ve been struck by one thing. The gratitude for our 40 full-time staff. Many of them don’t have a cent to their name, and aren’t even able to pay their housing fee to stay here, incurring debt to be faithful as a priest. Yet not one of them is expendable. We are in desperate need of more staff, like the desert needs the rain. If even 2 or 3 of them would leave, we could not continue.
These staff are the most selfless servant hearts I’ve ever had the honor to lead. The community of people that make David’s Tent possible for our nation are, in my estimation, holding the line of true intercession (standing in the gap) as sacrificial as any community of believers I know or have ever known. They are true intercessors that have laid down their lives, pride, comfort, futures, and ambition to be united as a team to intercede 24/7 for America to be awakened in Christ. They live together in discipleship houses of 10 people each, in bunk beds. It’s the only way to for us to economically exist in this city. I have so much hope for America because of these 40 dedicated men and women who have created a platform for the thousands of others that have each taken their watch before the Lord.
As I rejoice in David’s Tent DC’s 200th day, I don’t take one day for granted. I know it could end tomorrow. It’s only the bond of unity in Christ that our community of full-time staff have with one another that keeps this intercessory song going up to the Worthy One. Unity is so fragile, with the devil roaring like a lion to divide.
I know the reality. All it takes is for one person to have a morale failure of some sort (something simple like continuously not honoring authority) and then all the others judgement on how the leadership is to be handling that to be different. No matter how the leadership deals with it or doesn’t do anything, people could leave offended. David’s Tent ends, for lack of full time staff needed.
Unity is as fragile as a child’s bubble coasting gently in the breeze. It can be popped so easily. It must be fought for and protected BY ALL!
The bond of love must cover us in moments like that. We must forgive, let go of our judgments, choose to trust and keep our eyes back on the prize of the One Thing of gazing on His Beauty. (Psalm 27:4)
This is my conclusion: David’s Tent DC is riding solely on the bond of love, in Christ, that our community has with one another. But it’s bigger than that. This is a small parable for the whole of America.
Revival in all of America – the church of America rising victorious in this hour, is also hanging so precariously on this same bond. We must choose love, for the sake of Christ, and keep going forward bringing His wonderful kingdom…. Or? I wince to think of what happens to our country if the church does not unite in this hour.
“This is my commandment, that you love one another. That your joy would be full.”
By His Grace we will race into day 201, riding bareback on the bond of love, in and for Christ Jesus our Lord. I pray that Jesus would give us the strength to hang on and not fall off this racehorse called: The Bond of Love.
“’Bond of Love is in the lead, coming into the final stretch! It’s a win for ‘Bond of Love’!!!”
You can bet on that horse. If the jockey, the bride of Christ, can simply hang on.
He is Worthy of a Unified Bride,
Jason Hershey
*For journalistic integrity there were 7 days during winter storm Jonas that we moved inside to a prayer room on Capital Hill, but the song never stopped.
