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.
Save the date… 9/11/16 – Be with us at David’s Tent DC on that day! A number of national prayer ministries are coming together to have a special time of prayer with us at the tent on Sept. 11th. We believe a new 9 11 is rising… a new 9 11 that is full of restoration, not destruction. Is it time for Amos 9:11 in our nation?
“In that day “I will restore David’s fallen shelter— I will repair its broken walls and restore its ruins— and will rebuild it as it used to be, Amos 9:11 NIV
Hope, Faith, and Peace in Jesus will overcome fear in America. The Lord will repair our nation’s broken walls and restore it’s ruins. Join in on site or via webcast for a special day at David’s Tent on Sept 11th this year. It’s an honor for David’s Tent DC to host this special prayer gathering on our anniversary no less. What a privilege to give God the Glory for the first year in our nation’s history that 24/7 worship and prayer has taken place continuously in our capital city of Washington DC. Hundreds of worship teams, prayer ministries and churches and thousands of individuals have kept the fire on the altar day and night for a full year as of 9/11/16.
“IfMyPeople2016” is the name of this very special event happening at David’sTent on 9 11. It’s based on a verse most know well from 2 Chron. 7:14. But the focus is on the “IF”. Let’s press in for fresh faith in the reality of His Word, still true in 2016… “He will heal our land.” Save the date… 9/11/16 to be with us at David’s Tent DC for an amazing one year anniversary celebration of 24/7 on the National Mall and a truly remarkable gathering of prayer ministries to help fuel our 24/7 fires.
Immediately following the IfMyPeople Event, David’sTent will have 90 minutes of full on celebratory worship that is the hallmark of DavidsTent, to usher in our second year. Watch and share the promo video below. Get more info at IfMyPeople2016.com
Dan & Carole McClelland, ASL Leaders at DavidsTentDC
God is a God that loves to partner with His children! He loves to invites us along as He touches hearts here on earth. “Going to work” with Dad, is one of my favorite things! I love how He gently nudges my heart toward a person or a group and softly whispers “Carole, I want to touch his heart today, will you join me?” At David’s Tent, I have the honor of going to work with Dad.
One Saturday, we had a team in from a Texas house of prayer. As they entered the tent, I knew that God wanted to touch hearts and he was inviting me to join Him. At David’s tent, we believe that as the worship team is completely focusing upward towards Jesus and ministering to His heart, God will be faithful and minister to the people in the tent and around the area. I knew that this worship team would vertically worship God and through their worship God would pour out Himself to His people today. On that day, as I was greeting people who came into the tent, a woman walked in, and she shared that she had passed this tent so many times but for various reasons never stopped in. Today, however, she just wanted to let our staff know how encouraged she was by the tent even though she wasn’t able to come in until now. She continued telling me that, like herself, there was many others that knew about David’s Tent in DC who didn’t always have the time to come in and worship. Still they were very encouraged and thankful for what we were giving up to make this happen. God was using her to touch my heart.
When this woman, Kristen, came into the tent with her infant son and sat down, we started talking. I learned she lived very close to the tent and was an active member of a local church in DC. I was just about to pray for her, as she and son had to leave, when an older gentleman around 60 came in. I greeted him saying, “Welcome to David’s Tent. Have you been here before?” I could see he had a scared look on his face. Suddenly he started crying, saying, “I’m terrified! I’m terrified! I’m terrified!” With as soft and sweet of a voice as I could manage, I said, “It’s okay. You can sit down. You’re welcome here.” Even though I was not completely sure what was going on inside of his heart, I knew that God wanted to do a healing work inside this man.
He then continued to explain that he had passed the tent many, many times but had never had the courage to come in. He was afraid that people would judge him because of the past sins that he’d done in his life. As we talked, he continued to interject into every other sentence, “I am terrified. I am terrified.” Kristen overheard what he was saying, and she approached him and said, “I said the exact same thing to this staff person about five minutes ago. God has really put you on my heart as I have listened. May I pray for you? “
The three of us (well four including the baby) went outside the tent so we could pray. I asked the man if he minded if we put our hands on him as we prayed. As he nodded his head yes, he started crying. Kristen prayed a very powerful prayer that brought more tears to the man’s eyes. He thanked her for praying and said, “The one thing that I would like to offer you is the only thing that I can. I will sing you a song.” Immediately he started singing Jesus Loves Me. As he lifted his beautiful voice in song, Kristen and I sang along with him.
Kristen said her goodbyes and said that she would come to the tent even if she only had 10 minutes. In response, I encouraged her to come; God wanted to use her in powerful ways no matter how short the time.
After she left, I introduced myself to the man, Terry. We decided to sit on a bench and talk. As we did, Terry started telling me that he never told anyone the things he was sharing because he felt like he was going to be rejected and judged. He continued that he hadn’t walked into a church for many years. However, today he felt that he had to come into the tent and tell someone. He shared for an hour-and–a-half. During this time, I mostly listened and gave some encouragement here and there. Towards the end of our discussion, Holy Spirit prompted me that I was to look him in the eye and say, “Terry, God wants you to know some things. The first is that He says to you what He said to Jesus during his baptism: ‘You are my son, Terry. I love you and I’m very proud of you.’ ” Again tears rolled down his eyes as I just hugged him. I continued and said, “God wants you to know that He forgives you for these things for which you have repented. You have taken a bold step in trusting Him today by coming into the tent.”
I finished by praying for continual boldness for him, by encouraging him to develop healthy relationships with other believers, and by giving him a sincere hug.
God had done so much in just one morning by pouring into people’s lives. Not only into other people’s lives, but Father was doing a huge work in me as I was able to partner with Him to bring healing to one of His sons, my brother in Christ.
When the Texas team was done with their two hour set, I knew I had to share the testimony of what God did during the morning. Our Heavenly Father had used them to draw people to His presence. As I shared, the team members also broke down in tears for the opportunity to partner with Father in His work. Through their worship and sincere hearts, God was continuing to do His mighty works at David’s Tent and throughout DC.
There are people who know how to mathematically come up with a generally accurate number as to crowd sizes at large events. I am not one of them. However I do suppose that several hundred thousand people gathered in DC in the name of Jesus for Together 2016.
It was a HUGE win for the Home Team!
Though it was super sad to see it end early due to an excruciatingly high heat index, it was at that very moment that I heard what I believe the Lord Jesus wanted to tell the Whole Church of America. The single greatest message of the day. It was the sermon on the Mount. Jesus speaking to His people through Nick Hall, straight out of Matthew7:24. Nick basically concluded that they didn’t gather people there to just stay there, but to send them out. And with that, Nick challenged everyone there to go out and actually spend time doing all that they were just charged to do.
If we the church would only actually do all that Jesus has instructed us! It’s in plain language written down clearly in a book for all to read! A house build on a rock, hears the Word and put’s it into practice!
Pastor Dave Owens at Embassy Church in NW Washington DC (One of my home churches) reflected with me on Sunday that as he walked away he was watching people minister to one another and to the lost on the streets all around the mall!
At David’s Tent we saw a ground swell at about 4:30 as people were exiting Together. People packed into the tent. It was full and overflowing. Then is started to rain. People packed even closer like sardines underneath the canopy of the tent and worshipped with all their heart, soul, mind and strength. As the clouds departed and the rain held it’s peace, four rainbows appeared at the same time over Washington DC! And a crowd of people encircled David’s Tent while holding hands and worshipping with all their voice.
It was a picture of Together. People that didn’t know each other before, holding hands in a unified circle, around the worship of Jesus Christ.
As the worship circle ran it’s course, a “fire tunnel” (Two rows of people facing each other pray for people as they walk down the center between them.) was born and for the next two hours people were getting prayed for, ministered to, and encouraged anew with the Holy Spirit. All of this happened spontaneously outside of the direction of any of the David’s Tent staff. I can say with certainty that many left Together and immediately began putting the Word into Practice.
When I left the tent at about 9:30pm there were still a remnant of worshippers filling the tent and the courts of the Lord with their worship.
Wow! What a day…
Four rainbows! I’ve never met a single human being that could do that…
I was running late. If I just don’t make eye contact with anyone, I can make it to Subway, quickly get in and out with some food, and make it to class on time. And then it came.
“Hello, can you spare some change?”
Hurriedly, I decided to keep my head down and walk past without acknowledging the plea. I was late, I reasoned to myself, and had a very good excuse to pass him by. Then, after walking about 100 yards from this homeless man on the street, God gripped my heart with compassion. I felt like He literally poured His heart for this man into mine; I could not keep walking.
I turned around and said, “I don’t have any change but I am going to Subway. May I buy you a sandwich?”
He replied, “Well, I have cataracts, and I really need a pair of sunglasses.”
“Okay. You go in the dollar store and choose your sunglasses. I will get the sandwiches, then come back to buy the glasses for you.”
After waiting in a long line at Subway, I got the sandwiches and came back. The man, whose name I later learned is Jeffery, had a surprised look on his face like he had the thought, “She came back!” I asked him if he had chosen a pair of glasses to which he responded, “ Yes, ma’am.” We walked back in the dollar store, and in the first counter, I saw a pair of discarded sunglasses that did not belong. Jeffrey was used to disappointment.
I turned to him, and made eye contact. Smiling, I said, “Hello. My name is Carole. How are you today?”
Let me take you back a few days in my life to put this story in context with God’s amazing, teaching moments. I am a full-time missionary here in Washington DC with David’s Tent. Once a month, for a week, all of David’s Tent staff gather together in the same room and receive teachings on different topics to challenge, encourage, inspire and allow Holy Spirit to fill us. This week, Jason Hershey, asked my husband and me to teach on “How to Study the Bible”. We decided to teach from Philemon. Each one of you should stop and read this book. It is literally just one page of the Bible, a short 25 verses, but it is packed with gems for us today!
Bible Study
We spent two days just diving into the book. The first day we focused on Observation: asking ourselves what does the book say? During this part of the study we ask questions like who, what, where, when and how. We also look for repeated themes and words in Philemon, such as love, beloved, and my heart. Other key words reveal how we are all family in the kingdom of God as Paul uses brother, sister, and my child. Overall the purpose of observation is to catch the overall atmosphere of the book.
On the second day, the class dove into Interpretation: asking ourselves what did the text mean to the original readers? We practiced removing the cultural filters in our minds that influence our interpretation and, instead, putting ourselves in the shoes of a 1st century believer in the house church of Philemon. What would this letter mean to them? Why did Paul write this letter? What was Onesimus thinking returning to his former Master? Would Philemon receive him as Paul is asking him to now that he is a believer? What would the Roman soldiers do if they find out that Philemon might not punish his slave for running away when legally, according to Roman law, the slave should be severely punished if not killed? On this teaching day, my husband focused on helping the David’s Tent staff think about what the people of this day, living in their culture, would be thinking and consequently, would be reacting.
On the third day, the day I met Jeffrey, I would be leading the class into Application: what does this mean to me and how can I apply it to my life? As a class, we were going to pull out universal truths that can be applied to anyone, in any culture, during any time period, and then talk about what that truth means to them and how they can apply it to their lives. I have personally studied and taught this book before, but God had more to teach me. The night before teaching application, God was convicting my heart for Kingdom truths to penetrate my soul and being. Truths like “In Christ, all believers are equal in value” and “as believers we have a choice and must choose to love”.
These were the truths that God had put before me as I walked past Jeffery on my way to teach class. I knew I had to stop. I had to allow the Word of God to bring LIFE CHANGE in me as that is the reason we study the Bible! We want the truths to change who we are and make us more and more like Jesus. That is why I turned around. Our Father moved on my heart for compassion, because God loves Jeffery just as much as He loves me and cared deeply for Jeffrey’s eyes to see some relief from the hot summer DC sun. In that same moment, my Father was demonstrating His love for me by teaching me to care about the things He cares about. My heavenly Dad was beside me, instructing me to apply what He was teaching me in Philemon: that all people, whether homeless or living in a mansion, are of equal value in God’s eyes. God cares for them all. He was showing me that right there I had the choice to love. I love this testimony because it happened on my way to one of the other David Tent’s community houses, a familiar road I travel. Now, every time I drive to this house, passing that Subway, I remember and pray for Jeffery. I thank God for the opportunity that I had to partner with Him in Jeffery’s life by buying Jeffrey a pair of sunglasses and praying for him that day. I am also grateful for how my life was changed. I grew in understanding the Father’s heart of compassion by studying the Word of God.
It was a warm Saturday afternoon, and the black gospel band on stage at David’s Tent was pumping praises to Jesus with exuberant energy and joy. I found myself irresistibly drawn to clap and sing along, and as I looked around I noticed dozens of people gathering to do the same. There was a group of Chinese tourists, a couple of DC locals on a bike ride, a Muslim family from somewhere in the middle-east, and many others. It was clear that most of the people at the tent were passers-by and not people who came to the National Mall with the intention of attending David’s Tent. But the sound of worship at the tent attracted them irresistibly and they stopped to listen, filled with curiosity and with smiles on their faces. Our staff warmly welcomed those who stopped by, and many stayed for long conversations about Jesus or received prayer. The good news of the gospel was shared over and over that afternoon, and I know that wouldn’t have happened without the draw of the worship. That afternoon sticks out in my mind as a perfect example of the power of public worship to present Jesus to the world.
In my last blog, (Why here? Part 1) I shared how we worship in Washington DC because it is the place of highest honor in our nation. I talked about the identity of a capital city as a center for worship, and how Jesus is worthy of a national offering of praise. Our desire above all things is to make Jesus central and bless His heart! Today, I’ll continue on this theme of “Why Here?” and share how making Jesus central is such a powerful avenue to sharing the gospel.
When you think of a city center you generally think of a bustling downtown filled with all kinds of people. Washington DC completely fits that description, and it’s not just filled with Americans. Every nation but four maintains an embassy in Washington DC (and two of those four still maintain diplomatic representation)—more than any other city on earth! Over 20 million visitors came to Washington in 2014, and almost 2 million of those were international. The nations truly gather in Washington, perhaps more so than anywhere else on earth.
In the midst of all this, David’s Tent proclaims the worth of Jesus round the clock in public song. Night and day, the sound of worship at David’s Tent never stops as we declare how beautiful, wonderful, and loving our Savior is. And this isn’t just to bless His heart, though that is the primary reason. Matthew 5:15-16 says:
You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
The worship at David’s Tent shines as a light pointing to Jesus, even as the worship draws His presence near. Jason Hershey says in his book: “This act of worship releases a Spirit of revelation so that even the lost get to see the beauty of Jesus.” And it’s true! The beauty of Jesus is captivating to every heart. And it’s not just who He is, but what He has done. Psalms 118:15 says: “Shouts of joy and victory resound in the tents of the righteous: “The Lord’s right hand has done mighty things!” This is such an attractive sound! The sound of joy and victory stands in sharp contrast to the sound of hopelessness so prevalent in the world.
Often, people attracted to the tent ask questions: Why do we sing? Why is Jesus worthy of this lavish devotion? How do we have such hope and joy in the midst of turbulent times? Questions like these give us the perfect opportunity to share the gospel with people eager to hear. Surprisingly often this may be the first time someone has heard the good news of Jesus in their entire life! Many of the curious who are drawn to the tent come from other nations where the gospel is not allowed to be shared openly. We’ve had the opportunity to share the message of salvation through the blood of Jesus with visitors from Saudi Arabia, Iran, China, Tibet, Somalia, and all over the world. And many have accepted Him as Savior and Lord!
Jesus says in John 12:32 “And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself.” He was speaking of His resurrection from the dead, but I believe the principle applies to public worship as well. When Jesus is lifted up on our praises and we declare His resurrection from the dead, I know that He will draw the nations to the new life found in Him.
I can think of few places busier and more bustling with people from around the world than the National Mall in summer. And this is where we have the privilege to host David’s Tent! In this central place among the nations, our humble white tent stands as a shining light and public witness to Jesus, 24/7. This is what it means to make Jesus central. Not only to give Him the place of highest honor, but to present Him to the world in all of His glorious beauty. Jesus deserves to be central in our cities, our churches, our lives, and in every soul. Hallelujah!
I recognize that not all of us can come stand as a witness to Jesus on the National Mall. So my encouragement to you is to stand as a public witness to Jesus wherever you are, with the sound of joy and victory bursting from your life! He has made us new, and He has made us glad! Let us boldly declare His worth and His beauty in line at the grocery store, at the swimming pool, at our workplace, when we’re waiting at the DMV, and in every area of life. The message of Jesus is good news to a lost and broken world!
In part 3 of this blog I’ll explore the third primary reason I believe we hold David’s Tent on the National Mall in Washington DC: unity among the church. Once again, I also highly recommend checking out Jason Hershey’s book “David’s Tent: Jesus is Worthy of a Nation’s Praise” for further reading. Thanks for reading, and I look forward to sharing with you again!
We are all grieved at the continuing deadly violence in our country. A nation is crying out! The other morning this Headline showed up on CNN, and very much grabbed my heart.
ONLY JESUS can heal America!
It won’t be the next President or even the hot evangelist. Nor the amazing mega church or innovative new inventions. Nor will it be the most popular worship band or strategy to reach our city. Though God does use and work through people, it will only be Jesus.
Jesus is the only One.
America, please please please turn to Him and be saved.
“If my people will humble themselves and pray and turn from their wicked ways and seek my face, I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin and heal their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:14.
There must be more prayer meetings than protests. If we as a nation are going to cry out, may we cry out to the One who is Mighty to save. He alone can save us.
We just celebrated July 4th, America’s birthday. 240 years! I’m grateful for this county and the liberty that we have to worship Jesus, even publicly, without persecution. Acts 17:26-27 tells us why God puts certain people in certain boundaries for particular times.
From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. 27 God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us. Acts 17:26-27 NIV
Verse 27 tells us why God made America and put us in it. “That (we) should seek God.”
Hey! Did you catch that?
“That we should seek God!”
“And He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward Him and find Him. Yet He is actually not far from each one of us.”
My Hershey family forefathers braved the seas to come to the “New World ” 299 years ago, in 1717. Their stated reason for the journey? They were fleeing persecution in Switzerland somewhat as religious refugees. It’s been passed down through the generations that they came to America so they could worship freely and express their love for Jesus as they desired. It’s my goal to keep that purpose of being here central in my generation. The first Hershey’s came to the New World for Jesus sake, not to make chocolate! That came later.
Hey family… If you’re a Hershey descendant… Let’s get together for a worship service next year for the 300th anniversary and renew our goal to seek Him and worship with all we got!
If your not a Hershey… Well… Let’s all seek God with all we got! One day every tribe and tongue will worship together.
For His glory, always,
Jason Hershey
(For the record, David’s Tent is not being funded by the chocolate- yet, at least!)
Divine Appointments are the best! Hello, my name is Carole McClelland and my husband, Daniel, and I lead the American Sign Language (ASL) house for David’s Tent.
Even though neither of us are Deaf, God placed a passion in our hearts and a calling on our life to make Him known within the Deaf population. Our staff, a mixture of hearing and Deaf who share this vision, all live in one house in NE Washington DC. The unique thing about our house, and our watch when we are at the tent, is that our common language in conversation and worship is ASL. Every day we serve at the tent for 3.5 hours, worshipping in ASL, and if there is a guest praise team scheduled during our watch, we always have an interpreter signing along with that team.
When we are not at the tent, our focus is knowing God and making God known in the Deaf community here in DC. Since our staff house is near Gallaudet University, the only all Deaf university in the world, our team has many opportunities to make God known in the Deaf community.
We can be found having lunch with a college student from Gallaudet University, attending Deaf social activities, building relationships one-on- one, encouraging the youth at a young adult Bible study in MD, or sharing at a Deaf church in VA. No matter what the activity, our heart is to see the Deaf grow in their personal relationship with Jesus. What a joy it is when we have the opportunity to partner with God in this way through a David’s Tent encounter.
I would like to share just one story to illustrate how God delights in setting up divine appointments for us as we follow Him. If we plug into Him, His networking system is amazing!
For this story, it all started with a sweatshirt. I often wear my David’s Tent sweatshirt when out in the community, but only once in nine months has a stranger come up to me when I wore it to tell me they knew about the Tent. On this one particular day, it was a couple, Miriam and Aaron. It turns out this family knows the Hershey family from their homeschooling group and were familiar with the 24/7 worship occurring at David’s Tent. After we talked for ten minutes and met each other’s children, this couple and I went our separate ways.
Later that day I texted Kimberlee Hershey sharing that I met her friends, Miriam and Aaron. In response, Kimberlee texted back saying how awesome that was since their youngest son was born Deaf. She added that the family had decided to learn ASL but were overwhelmed with it all. “What!” I thought to myself, “Their son is deaf, and it never came up in our conversation!” I always talk about the Deaf community, yet, on this day, Miriam, Aaron and I did not discuss sign language. Bummer!
It felt like a missed opportunity. However, our heavenly Dad was not finished with His incredible, divine appointments. The following day at David’s Tent, Aaron, the husband, walked into the Tent to take a break from his jog. Of course, it was during our watch! He approached me and said hello. Without hesitating I said, “Kimberlee Hershey told me your son is deaf.” I went on to tell him that Dan and I both know ASL and led a ministry in DC for young, deaf adults to know Jesus more. We talked for a while about the Deaf community and language. Encouraged, he shared the signs he knew and asked me to teach him a few more.
Before leaving the Tent, we exchanged emails. Since that day, we have been over to their house twice for dinner, and Dan has played basketball with Aaron and a Deaf man that Aaron randomly met. God has brought us alongside Aaron and Miriam to encourage them that they are amazing parents to Jesse, their youngest son, and to give them hope through our stories that God is reaching the Deaf.
You see, their greatest desire is for Jesse to know Jesus in a real and personal way. However, as they did research on Christianity in the Deaf culture, they were disheartened to learn what a low percentage of Deaf follow Jesus.
Then they met us. We could give testimony to God’s living hope that through their actions and through living out their faith, Jesse will grow up knowing Jesus.
Our amazing Father, who understands their parents’ hearts, did not just leave it with our assurances though. Through our contacts, we were able to connect Miriam with another hearing, Christian mother who went through the exact same thing 25 years ago when she learned that her son was Deaf. That Deaf boy grew to be an amazing man of God who pursues Jesus with his whole heart.
We had this connection because this young man, Caleb, serves full-time with us here at David’s Tent. He is boldly proclaiming that Jesus is worthy of worship and all praise everyday in his nation’s capital through ASL worship!
I love having the opportunity to work with our Dad to bring his kingdom here in Washington DC, and I love his divine appointments!
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.
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, 
It was a warm Saturday afternoon, and the black gospel band on stage at David’s Tent was pumping praises to Jesus with exuberant energy and joy. I found myself irresistibly drawn to clap and sing along, and as I looked around I noticed dozens of people gathering to do the same. There was a group of Chinese tourists, a couple of DC locals on a bike ride, a Muslim family from somewhere in the middle-east, and many others. It was clear that most of the people at the tent were passers-by and not people who came to the National Mall with the intention of attending David’s Tent. But the sound of worship at the tent attracted them irresistibly and they stopped to listen, filled with curiosity and with smiles on their faces. Our staff warmly welcomed those who stopped by, and many stayed for long conversations about Jesus or received prayer. The good news of the gospel was shared over and over that afternoon, and I know that wouldn’t have happened without the draw of the worship. That afternoon sticks out in my mind as a perfect example of the power of public worship to present Jesus to the world.
e continuing deadly violence in our country. A nation is crying out! The other morning this Headline showed up on CNN, and very much grabbed my heart.
