Yesterday afternoon we were evacuated to the sidewalk of Constitution Avenue for close to 5 hours as a result of a car chase that started at the White House and ended at the Capitol Building yesterday afternoon. We had been evacuated before, but never for that long. I really want to honor the worshippers and the worship leaders that we were scheduled for those time slots. We got evacuated halfway through a worship set being led by a team of deaf worshippers. They were signing their way through the Psalms of praise and it was absolutely glorious when we were told that we’d need to leave. My husband Ryan grabbed a guitar and led us all to the sidewalk of Constitution Ave. where we continued to worship. Kari Olney from California continued to lead us in worshipping through the Psalms for the last hour of her watch right there on the sidewalk. It was absolutely beautiful how in the midst of the chaos, the blaring sirens and the tension of those moments the song of worship and praise was rising to Jesus the entire time. It was a place of peace and adoration of Jesus in the whirlpool of the heart of the city. I filmed a short video of Kari leading worship right as we got evacuated and if you watch it you’ll see exactly what I’m talking about.
After Kari and the team led worship, some of our staff continued the worship until John Amodea, a local worship leader, came to take
his set. He was scheduled for an amplified worship set under the tent and he was so flexible to change plans that quickly! He brought a large band and they were so gracious to change plans and lead worship on the sidewalk like that. They were scheduled for the 5-7 pm slot and we weren’t able to get back onto the Ellipse until 6:30 pm so most of their set was acoustic and on the side of the road. What flexibility! What love for Jesus that they would be so willing to change all their plans and worship the Lord on the side of Constitution Avenue! They were such a blessing to us and to the heart of Jesus too!
We’re back on the Ellipse now and worship has resumed as normal. Tonight we have a local band, Awaken Wells, leading worship for our corporate 7-9 pm set. We have been so blessed by the local community and how they’ve so supported David’s Tent and blessed us with their encouragement, prayers and worship teams. Although teams come from all over the nation to lead worship, at least 50% of the slots that are filled are filled by the local Washington, DC area churches and ministries. David’s Tent is truly an event that’s been put supported and initiated by ministries and churches all across DC and all across the nation.
Come out and join us as we continue to worship Jesus on the White House Ellipse. We’re currently on day 10 of our 1,000 hour love song. We’ll be on the Ellipse through November 5th day and night so join us anytime and bring your worship team to to lead worship with us! If you’d like to sign up for a worship set you can email: worship@davidstentdc.org. Thanks again for all your prayers, they make a difference!
Rebecca Montgomery
What Psalm was she signing on this video?
I’m not quite sure at this exact moment, but during this time she was going through the Psalms of Ascents.
Kari was actually signing Psm 139 during the video! Just a couple psalms after the Songs of Ascents, which she did worship through. She is signing Psm 139: 11 – 12, If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me”, even the darkness will not be dark to you, the night will shine like day, for darkness is as light to you. And then the video moves to other people and the last part goes back to Kari and she is signing verse 14, I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. It was an amazing 2 hours set of worshiping Jesus through the Psalms in the tent and on the sidewalk!