David’s Tent is caught between two competing, but both valuable, visions for the National Mall, and Capital City. King David’s vision for His Capital City: A place for all Israel to gather, worship and give thanks to the Lord! (Psalms 122)
Thank you all that have been praying for David’s Tent DC’s new location. We consider every prayer part of our worship and declaration that Jesus is Worthy of the highest, centermost places of our lives and culture. Through this all, we’re still singing at the Tent!
Thank you for so many that have put their efforts together to contact members in Congress too. Your efforts opened up a great dialogue with the National Park Service (NPS) yesterday. They didn’t give us an option, but there was a discussion about the possibility of an option.
The possibility of the option floated, would have us stay where we are at Constitutions Gardens Plaza, but be coexisting with the construction trailers and equipment for the restoration project of the lock-keepers house on the corner. They warned us that we have to measure it out to see if we’d all fit there and there would be much noise throughout the day, but it’s a possibility of an option for us. (This would only be to buy us time, not a long term solution. Eventually a restaurant will be build on our spot.) This will be further explored as we walk the site all together next Wednesday afternoon, making measurements to see if we’d even all fit there. It’s a tight squeeze for sure.
In my guts, I’m skeptical this is “it.” But we will be considering it in the meantime. Let’s contend for His best in faith, prayer and action! Yesterday’s meeting was bountifully productive though. We were honored to have a great candid dialogue with those that we are working with at the NPS permits office.
The NPS permits office wasn’t notified until recently that this reconstruction project of Constitution Gardens is starting. It was planned for a long time, but on hold. Suddenly the funding came in and triggered the quick beginning, The notified us as soon as it was handed to them. The permits office hasn’t been given a solid start date yet, just a commission to not permit anybody there after our current permit runs out March 10.
The NPS permits office is bound to the constraints put on them from higher up. They explained their conundrum with us. Several years ago, congress gave them the mandate to make the mall area beautiful and fulfill the vision of George Washington to have the Capitol in the midst of rolling green hill spaces. The NPS just in the last couple years put 8 million dollars into the reconstruction of the sod on the main stretch of the mall. Next is Washington Monument Grounds, as piece by piece, they are redoing the turf. Which is why the new turf regulations were enacted last year, and our tent can’t be on grass any more than 5 days at a time now.
So why not just make more hardscape places? With each new monument, museum or restaurant, that vision of a Capitol surrounded by rolling green spaces is being chipped away. The NPS was mandated by congress to defend that vision and get the mall area looking beautiful.
On the other hand, the NPS is also to be permitting 1st amendment demonstrations on those same areas. These two visions, beautify the National Mall and make room for 1st Amendment demonstration, conflict greatly, at great cost and stress for all involved.
This is why your calls and letters to congress were and are so important. Keep them rolling! I want to be clear: I do not think the NPS is being malicious toward us. I would say the opposite. I really trust they are trying to find a solution, but their hands are tied. We need Congress or the Executive Branch to act. What is OUR GENERATIONS vision for our Capital City? Will 24/7 worship and Praise, and Jesus Himself, be part of our vision for the Capital going forward?
We’ve come full circle back to the vision of David’s Tent DC! King David made the Lord the central vision in his administration. With a 24/7 worship tent employing 4288 musicians and singers adjacent to his palace, David wanted to be sure God knew, that he had enthroned God over his administration. Will the David hearts arise!?
So far, from the response that I’m getting. I’m encouraged! There is a remnant in congress, and around America, that loves Jesus with all their hearts and not only do they know that He’s the Lord, but have also made Him their Lord.
SCROLL DOWN FOR Updates #1 Feb 25th & #2 March 1st
Feb. 20, 2017
The plug may be pulled on the longest running outdoor Christian worship event in our nation’s history due to a bureaucratic snafu!
DavidsTentDC (DTDC) is a Jesus centered worship and prayer vigil that has been running 24/7 continuously on the National Mall over 500 days since the kickoff September 11, 2015. Currently it is located at Constitution Gardens Plaza, 1700 Constitution Ave NW Washington DC. With a theme of “Jesus is Worthy” over 500 worship teams from around the nation have participated in this worship and prayer vigil, signing up in two hour segments.
DTDC was notified Feb 9, 2017 by the National Park Service (NPS) that their next permit application will not be granted for Constitution Gardens Plaza due to a reconstruction project. When DTDC sought the NPS permits office for help in relocating to a different place, it was confirmed Feb 15th, that due to newly (March 2016) instituted turf protection regulations, there was no place for DTDC, effectively putting DTDC on the brink of being shuttered, March 10 2017, when their current permit ends. DTDC does not think this is religiously malicious in any way, but simply the result of over regulation.
The conviction of DTDC is that now is the time to stoke the fires of worship and prayer, not put them out. DTDC is based off of the Biblical King David that put a worship tent right beside his palace and hired 4288 musicians and singers to minister to God 24/7 for 33 years, until Solomon built the temple. It’s notable that those were the golden years of Israel’s History.
DTDC is currently seeking help to contact your Senators and Representatives in Congress to help keep this vigil alive. Possible actions could be:
Congressional inquiries to the NPS, or higher in the Dept of Interior, to see if they’d give us a turf exemption, and take the responsibility to relocate us. Congress has jurisdiction over the Capitol Grounds. Union Square, just east of the Capitol would be a great location for DTDC to move, but would take congressional action to over-ride some of regulations of the Capitol police. Upper Senate Park could also work.
Find and Contact your representatives Here:
U.S. Senators – Get contact information for your Senators.
The other option would be for someone in the executive branch to act, to over-ride the actions of the NPS that led DTDC to a dead end. The NPS is part of the Department of Interior. Rep. Ryan Zinke, the sole representative from Montana in the House, is the President’s nominee to be Secretary of Interior, part of the executive cabinet.
“Beyond all things”, David’s Tent founder Jason Hershey requests, “Let’s pray. God will open a door! And let’s not let anything hinder our joy in the Lord and our praise of his Name forever!”
_________________________________________________
Here are the longer details of DTDC’s permitting journey:
DTDC is legally permitted as a 1st Amendment activity (Prayer vigil) on the National Mall.
DTDC’s first permit was granted for 40 days on the Whitehouse Ellipse, the fall of 2012. Over 150 worship teams came that fall. DTDC’s second permit was the following fall of 2013 for 42 days. The third permit was the fall of 2014, for 50 days. It was then that DTDC asked two key questions of the NPS.
What is the maximum time limit for a permitted activity on the Mall, on one permit? The answer was 120 days, four months. Is there any regulation against putting permit applications in one after the next? The answer is that there is nothing hindering from doing that.
At that point DTDC began putting in permit applications a year in advance every 120 days, this time for the NW quadrant of the Washington Monument grounds, preparing, a year in advance, for 14 months of constant vigil from Sept 11, 2015 – November 8, 2016 (Election Day). Permits are given for particular plots of ground for events on the mall on a first come, first serve basis, but the rule is that one can’t put in an application earlier than one year out from the first day of the proposed permit date.
Everything was set for DTDC’s kickoff. In one of the logistics meetings with the NPS previous to kickoff, it was acknowledged by all the intent of DTDC. The representative from the Park Police inquired for understanding, “So with multiple permits in a row, we are talking about a permanent structure on the mall for over a year?” “Yes,” Jason Hershey clearly replied. Everyone shook their heads and acknowledged that was understood.
It was also understood from the beginning that DTDC would be paying up to $10,000 to the NPS for the restoration of the grass under the footprint of the tent that would be killed while we there for such an extended time. DTDC agreed to that, with total understanding.
DTDC kicked off Sept 11 2015, on the Washington Monument grounds fully with the understanding that their permit applications were valid and had no reason to be denied in the future. One permit expired and the next one was given as planned. All was well, except for a short hick up due to security for the Papal Parade.
Suddenly, late March of 2016, 6 months in, DTDC was summoned to a meeting with the NPS and told that their next permit starting April 12, would not be granted for the Washington Monument grounds, because the were on grass. The NPS had just changed the regulations that no event can be on the turf more than 5 days total due to protecting the grass. They offered us Constitution Gardens Plaza as the only “hardscape” solution for us.
Interestingly, they disclosed in the same meeting that they had just received three congressional phone calls complaining about DTDC. This also came just as DTDC started to put in permit applications for past November 8, 2016 proposing an unending perpetual vigil for years to come, with the explanation “Jesus is Worthy, not just on election years!”
Left with no other option, on April 12, 2016 DTDC moved to Constitution Garden’s Plaza, where it currently is. DTDC did have to move to John Marshal Park, for May 10 – July 10 2016 due to previously planned events by the NPS on the plaza. DTDC was billed for over $4000 by the NPS for grass restoration at the Washington Monument grounds. As understood, DTDC paid the bill, but the grass was never restored.
In April 2016, DTDC inquired if they could be “grandfathered” and given more time at Washington Monument grounds, as they were given just a couple weeks notice. The NPS response was a clear “no” citing the need for securing the grounds immediately to begin restoring the grass. As of Feb 21, 2017 nothing has ever been done to footprint of DTDC by the Washington Monument grounds. DTDC paid for it. NPS was very clear that restoration had to begin immediately, but no action was ever taken.
Things have worked well for DTDC at Constitution Gardens, though the location was not as central on the mall as at the Washington Monument grounds. When DTDC was informed Feb 9, 2017, that they would not be granted their next four month permit due to a reconstruction project, DTDC knew immediately that they had few options.
There are a couple other hardscape, gravel, non-grass, walkways on the main stretch of the mall by the Smithsonian Museum that would be suitable for DTDC, but since DTDC’s applications, put in a year in advance, were for Constitution Gardens Plaza (amended from Washington Monument grounds), at a different location, DTDC would now be at the back of the line. With only 4 weeks to find another location, those other hardscape places have all been reserved by other groups making it impossible for DTDC to relocate there for the next 8 months at least.
Feb 10 2017 it was acknowledged by the NPS that DTDC didn’t have any options. However, the NPS asked for more time, for someone to get back from an extended weekend off. It was then confirmed Feb 15th 2017, that their were no options for DTDC on the mall, but affirming us to go ahead and seek congressional approval for Union Square, on the Capitol Grounds, or any other option.
In summary, DTDC does not think that the NPS has been malicious. But circumstances, regulations and timing has put DTDC on the brink of being shuttered, March 10, when their current permit runs out. DTDC is seeking any help in finding a place to relocate.
Why not just get a church? DTDC is based off of the Biblical King David that put a tent up by his palace, hired 4288 musicians and singers to minister to God’s heart 24/7 for up to 33 years, until Solomon, his son, built the temple. It was a key part of the vigil that Jesus would be given a central, significant place, on federal soil, just like David made the Lord central in His governmental administration. The very location has been part of the non articulated prayer. In essence saying, “Jesus we want you to be central in hearts of America.”
For interviews or more information contact Jason Hershey via info@davidstentdc.org.
UPDATE 1 FEB 25TH
Dreaming of the New Jerusalem
David’s Tent is caught between two competing, but both valuable, visions for the National Mall, and Capital City. King David’s vision for His Capital City: A place for all Israel to gather, worship and give thanks to the Lord! (Psalms 122)
Thank you all that have been praying for David’s Tent DC’s new location. We consider every prayer part of our worship and declaration that Jesus is Worthy of the highest, centermost places of our lives and culture. Through this all, we’re still singing at the Tent!
Thank you for so many that have put their efforts together to contact members in Congress too. Your efforts opened up a great dialogue with the National Park Service (NPS) yesterday. They didn’t give us an option, but there was a discussion about the possibility of an option.
The possibility of the option floated, would have us stay where we are at Constitutions Gardens Plaza, but be coexisting with the construction trailers and equipment for the restoration project of the lock-keepers house on the corner. They warned us that we have to measure it out to see if we’d all fit there and there would be much noise throughout the day, but it’s a possibility of an option for us. (This would only be to buy us time, not a long term solution. Eventually a restaurant will be build on our spot.) This will be further explored as we walk the site all together next Wednesday afternoon, making measurements to see if we’d even all fit there. It’s a tight squeeze for sure.
In my guts, I’m skeptical this is “it.” But we will be considering it in the meantime. Let’s contend for His best in faith, prayer and action! Yesterday’s meeting was bountifully productive though. We were honored to have a great candid dialogue with those that we are working with at the NPS permits office.
The NPS permits office wasn’t notified until recently that this reconstruction project of Constitution Gardens is starting. It was planned for a long time, but on hold. Suddenly the funding came in and triggered the quick beginning, The notified us as soon as it was handed to them. The permits office hasn’t been given a solid start date yet, just a commission to not permit anybody there after our current permit runs out March 10.
The NPS permits office is bound to the constraints put on them from higher up. They explained their conundrum with us. Several years ago, congress gave them the mandate to make the mall area beautiful and fulfill the vision of George Washington to have the Capitol in the midst of rolling green hill spaces. The NPS just in the last couple years put 8 million dollars into the reconstruction of the sod on the main stretch of the mall. Next is Washington Monument Grounds, as piece by piece, they are redoing the turf. Which is why the new turf regulations were enacted last year, and our tent can’t be on grass any more than 5 days at a time now.
So why not just make more hardscape places? With each new monument, museum or restaurant, that vision of a Capitol surrounded by rolling green spaces is being chipped away. The NPS was mandated by congress to defend that vision and get the mall area looking beautiful.
On the other hand, the NPS is also to be permitting 1st amendment demonstrations on those same areas. These two visions, beautify the National Mall and make room for 1st Amendment demonstration, conflict greatly, at great cost and stress for all involved.
This is why your calls and letters to congress were and are so important. Keep them rolling! I want to be clear: I do not think the NPS is being malicious toward us. I would say the opposite. I really trust they are trying to find a solution, but their hands are tied. We need Congress or the Executive Branch to act. What is OUR GENERATIONS vision for our Capital City? Will 24/7 worship and Praise, and Jesus Himself, be part of our vision for the Capital going forward?
We’ve come full circle back to the vision of David’s Tent DC! King David made the Lord the central vision in his administration. With a 24/7 worship tent employing 4288 musicians and singers adjacent to his palace, David wanted to be sure God knew, that he had enthroned God over his administration. Will the David hearts arise!?
So far, from the response that I’m getting. I’m encouraged! There is a remnant in congress, and around America, that loves Jesus with all their hearts and not only do they know that He’s the Lord, but have also made Him their Lord.
And that Remnant… is only getting bigger.
Stay tuned… We will update you as we know more.
Dreaming of the New Jerusalem!
UPDATE 2 MARCH 1ST
Score!
Daniels wisdom is that he asked for more time! (Daniel 2:14-16) Today we learned from the NPS that we have 12 more days! We don’t need to move now, until March 22, when the load in for the reconstruction of our park actually begins!
They are working on two options for us past March 22, that they will formally present to us next Monday:
Be part of the construction site at Constitution Gardens Plaza, where we are now. The issue with this is safety and crowd size. With construction vehicles wheeling around the tent, it would no longer be a place I’d want to take my children for sure. We would not be able to accommodate more than 60-80 people. There would be no overflow room from our 40 ft. square tent.
Moving back to John Marshall Park. If you recall, that was where they made us go without amplification for 6 weeks last summer, due to complaints from the neighboring Court of Appeals. I was clear that we’d want our sound system back if we were going to move back there. The attorney for NPS is looking into that issue.
Though we appreciate the efforts of the NPS to offer us what they can, both of these options don’t sit well for me. In both areas, we would have neighboring interests that would not appreciate our presence. We may have the right to be there, but it would be an uncomfortable existence for us.
Currently we have one additional option:
A living room on Capitol Hill. We have been offered a living room in a private residence across the street from the back side of the Supreme court, just two blocks from the Capital dome. The tone, tenor and posture of this vigil would change dramatically to move it inside, from public land to a private residence, and into a room that can hold a limited amount of people. However it would be a bit of a respite for our long term, full-time staff, to be out of the public eye.
This may be quite uncomfortable too though. The whole idea of a “church worship team” would have to give way to more of a living room perpetual worship time.
All that to say: Let’s keep praying! So far a clear, “This is the way forward!” has not appeared. Please pray for me and our leaders that we would know what to do. We gained 12 more days! Extra time saved Daniels neck!
Pray that all of this wouldn’t distract us from Jesus, the purpose of it all, and the real intercessory prayers that need to be prayed every day.
This video of the Moravians is a “must watch.” We must know our history! I was trained as a young man in missions under the tutelage of Youth With A Mission (YWAM). From a missions perspective I was gripped at the Moravian Model of 24/7 prayer leading to the birthing of the modern day missions movement. The story of the Moravians caused me to dream of a fresh wave of prayer and missions in my generation!
That’s how long David’s Tent has been running and our American Sign Language (ASL) team has been serving with the tent. It is quite hard to believe how quickly time flies. It is truly amazing how something so simple like going to the tent every day to worship from our hearts can become one of the greatest and deepest lessons that we will ever learn in life. I am so grateful for the people I have encountered such as the people who were simply passing by the tent, to the regular attendees, to the people who were just visiting for a few hours, and to our faithful David’s Tent staff. Whether the conversation between a person and I was just for a minute or for an hour, I still felt each person I met made a difference. It is not David’s Tent that brought each person to the tent, but God.
I am humbled and honored that the leaders for David’s Tent were open to having the American Sign Language aspect of worship in the tent. Having this opportunity to serve this team with ASL has broken many barriers and opened new doors for Deaf people like myself and for the Deaf community as whole. I personally already love worship, but with this experience, I have gained a new insight on how to worship and fell deeper in love with Jesus.
It is a bittersweet feeling as the ASL team will complete our commitment with David’s Tent on November 8th even when David’s Tent will continue indefinitely. However, it does not mean that we will not take what we have learned from God through David’s Tent and be able to share our stories with other people in the Deaf community. It is a marvelous thing to witness when the diversity in God’s kingdom is brought together to worship only one person: Jesus Christ. I know for a fact that David’s Tent has shifted some grounds for His kingdom come. I am looking forward to see the harvest that has been planted for this past year with each of us: Deaf and hearing alike.
One of the lessons that I would like to share for what God has taught me for this past year is “morning glory.” I am not a morning person. I do not think I ever will be a morning person. I have tried hard to train myself to be a morning person, but I think I have finally come to accept the terms that I am just simply not a morning person.
In the beginning, our ASL team was assigned for a morning shift starting at 7am. I was mortified because this means I have to get up early! Maybe for some of you 7am is not early, but it is early for me! I was trying to think of how I would be able to have energy before the sun comes out! It was a rough start and I really felt it would be impossible for me to continue for a whole year with this time shift! Well, I definitely made it. Our time shift did change throughout the year, but it always remained in the morning.
Over time, my heart began to change. I started to see the wonderful things about the morning. At David’s Tent, I get to see plenty of flocks of beautiful birds flying around the National Mall.
I get to see the sun rising up slowly to kiss the sky. I get to see the morning mist that sleeps on the grass. I get to see life in the city before it becomes alive. Most of all, I get to experience God’s love, first thing in the morning, before anything else. Proverbs 3:9 come in mind for this. We talk about honoring the Lord with our finances, but what about our time too? That moment when dawn breaks, before we even bother getting out of bed, do we honor the Lord with our time? Spend our quiet time first thing in the morning? Just something to think about.
No, I have not transformed into a giddy morning person, but I am a lot more grateful for the beauty of getting up early in the morning. I am grateful for being able to worship through sign language. I am grateful that I had the opportunity to serve Jesus with David’s Tent. Most of all, I am grateful for God has taught me about His original morning glory that just constantly overwhelms me in every way possible.
As David’s Tent DC (DTDC) and America continue past election day, we are rallying together a band of joyfully surrendered intercessors that will pray together (fasting suggested) for 40 days, November 10 – December 20, in addition to being doorkeepers (volunteer staff) and worship leaders at the tent. Would you prayerfully consider joining us in DC for those 40 days? The time is short to rally this team to pray the next step of America’s destiny into being. This is an “At once they left their nets” moment. (Matt 4:20)
Every step of DTDC has been forged out of seasons of prayer and fasting. An accurate historical account of America wonderfully reveals the same is true of the birth and sustenance of our country. I believe one the next biggest steps towards America’s destiny is to pray the tent on the mall into perpetuity, maturity, and the fullness of what it is to be for our nation before the Lord. This tent and America must keep roaring, like a blazing fire, as a city on a hill, a light to the nations, permanently. I’ve even wondered if the tent on mall and the future of America aren’t somehow inextricably linked in the spiritual realm, like Ezekiel’s infamous side-laying was linked to his nations future.
Our prayer target for those 40 days will be the Good News (Gospel) running swiftly, with power, throughout America. Jesus being enthroned on the hearts of men is where all breakthrough, even nationally, begins. The grace of the New Covenant, where God’s law is written on our hearts and minds, is activated only through faith in the Cross/Resurrection of Jesus and the confession of His rightful leadership in our lives.
The discipleship of nations begins with this confession that activates that writing on the canvas of our lives. We must pray to see America come to Jesus in 10’s of millions! Let’s truly pray that the Gospel of Jesus Christ with birth a “New Day” to America in all spheres of influence.
Currently, from now until Nov. 8, our David’s Tent Staff Community is on a 21 day fast, where we are praying along these lines. In addition to staffing the tent in watches 24/7, we are meeting all together corporately, (about 35 of us) 7-9am, 5 days a week Tuesday – Friday to pray. These morning meetings have been breakthrough times.
As Walter Wink explained, “History Belongs to the Intercessors.” I beckon you, please consider laying down your life as an intercessor and move to DC with us for those 40 days to Make History for America and birth David’s Tent DC into indefinite perpetuity. For more information email volunteer@davidstentdc.org.
Thank you all that have been a part of this journey so far, sacrificing so much for Jesus. Jesus is Worthy… Forever! To sign up worship teams, give financially, or get staff information on how to staff, click on the links in this email.
For His Glory, Always, Jason Hershey, Founder, DavidsTentDC
We love it when worship teams from around America come and join the 10,000 hour love song at David’s Tent! The staff is always refreshed during the time when these teams come. We have wonderful stories of worshippers from all over the United States. There was the team that drove from Nebraska, led two hours, and drove right back. We have had people fly in and back from California or Florida with no other agenda than to stay for three days leading worship and praying for our country. In addition, we have had intercession teams that came, encouraged us, and prayed for America alongside us here in Washington DC. Every team or person who comes to serve is such a blessing! This month is a complete year, 365 days, that God has received continual worship in DC! In light of this, I’m going to share one of my favorite testimonies that happened within the year.
During the spring, when we were still at the Washington Monument, we had a team of not just adults, but families, from San Diego, California that was in for a week to lead worship two hours every day. Their team alone was so large that they filled the tent! Since they had a full band, many people were drawn to the tent during their worship sets. We were delighted to be able to get to know this team well because they were scheduled to lead worship during our morning watch.
On Saturday of that week, David’s Tent also had a youth group from North Carolina that was scheduled to lead worship right after the CA group. They had led at the Tent before, so we knew that they were a very lively African-American youth group who worshipped God joyfully.
Here at David’s Tent we actually try to have smooth transitions from one team to another so the song continues. Before any team leads worship, we ask them to come to the Tent at least an hour early. In that way, they can enjoy worship and connect with God before they’re leading others into worship. Sometimes it works out well; sometimes it does not. Fortunately, this time both of the groups transitioned so well. As requested, the North Carolina team was there for about an hour of the California group’s worship. Both teams were very large so together they filled the tent to overflowing. During that one hour, the NC team’s bass player came up and joined in because the CA group didn’t have a bass player that day.
As it reached the last half hour before group transitions, the North Carolina team members joined in exuberant worship with the San Diego team. The tent was filled with joy! And then, when the time came to do the full transition, the San Diego group stayed in the tent and worshipped with the North Carolina team! Even though this was my day off, my teammates came home and shared about this crazy- awesome transition between two completely different worship teams from different places in America. We all rejoiced how God was glorified through their unity.
On Sunday I actually was scheduled to staff during our watch. About an hour before their scheduled worship time of 9 – 11 AM, which would be their last time to lead before going home, the San Diego team showed up. A few minutes later the North Carolina team showed up stating that they were scheduled to lead worship during the 9-11 set. As watch leader, my husband, Dan, followed the protocol of asking both groups to show him their confirmation emails. Most of the time, when a scheduling problem has occurred, one of the teams had read their designated time wrong. Therefore, it’s easy to dissipate the confusion and explain to one of the groups that they had read the email incorrectly. However, as Dan scanned the emails on this day, he realized that both teams had in fact been scheduled for the exact same time: 9 to 11 AM. This time, it was our fault as David’s Tent staff. As my husband tried to negotiate a compromise that was agreeable to both teams, it was clear that both groups had a strong desire to lead two hours of worship. It was suggested and reluctantly accepted that both teams would only have one hour to lead worship.
While I watched this process, my heart started racing as I remembered the testimony of our staff from yesterday about the unity that happened as these two teams made their transition. With Holy Spirit leading, I approached the large group made up of both teams and said, “Guys, I think that God is doing something big here within the body of Christ related to unity!” Everyone paused to listen as I shared how I had heard about their set transition yesterday. It was such an amazing time that drew many people into the tent. My spirit was sure that God had big plans for today as well! By each team sacrificing their own desires, they were bringing unity on earth just as Jesus prayed in his last prayer before he went to the cross. As I spoke, I could feel the Spirit welling up within me. God’s Spirit was on the move! I was getting really, really excited about what God wanted to do in the body of Christ. As the Spirit swept through the group, everyone was in agreement. ”Amens!” were shouted out as I began to pray for the teams.
The next two hours were glorious; probably one of my favorite sets at the tent. You see, both teams were there for the whole two hours, and both teams were worshiping together! No division! No grumbling! It was a beautiful day outside and there was many people on the national mall that were drawn to the music. Our staff was overwhelmed greeting people who wanted to know what was happening. David’s Tent was overflowing with people! At the end of the two hour set, both team’s members were so excited that they ended up just mingling and talking. The conversations grew so loud, in fact, that one of our staff had to ask the groups to continue talking outside as we wanted to honor the next person that was leading worship.
Outside the Tent, I approached both groups and apologized again for the scheduling error. The North Carolina team leader said, “No worries! Honestly it was God’s plan. The San Diego team has invited our youth group team to join them for a worship event this summer, and our youth group is so excited about going.”
It’s not often that we double- book at David’s Tent. We have an amazing scheduling team that coordinates with all the worship teams that come to David’s Tent, and they are diligent to make sure that there isn’t a double booking. Honestly, in the 10 months that I’ve been serving at David’s Tent, it’s happened only once or twice. However, God had His own master plan that day!! Out of the scheduling misunderstanding, God called forth unity in the body of Christ. Master scheduler that He is, Father united two teams for a day so He would be glorified.
Many on the National Mall that day gave witness to the worship produced through the joint team’s unity. However, God’s plan was so much bigger than that. On the foundation of obedience, as the two teams laid down their own desires and chose unity, God built up a continual relationship with the body of Christ between youth in North Carolina and an older family team from San Diego, California.
Thank you all that have been praying for David’s Tent DC’s new location. We consider every prayer part of our worship and declaration that Jesus is Worthy of the highest, centermost places of our lives and culture. Through this all, we’re still singing at the Tent!
14 months.
In the beginning, our ASL team was assigned for a morning shift starting at 7am. I was mortified because this means I have to get up early! Maybe for some of you 7am is not early, but it is early for me! I was trying to think of how I would be able to have energy before the sun comes out! It was a rough start and I really felt it would be impossible for me to continue for a whole year with this time shift! Well, I definitely made it. Our time shift did change throughout the year, but it always remained in the morning.
