by Jason Hershey | May 20, 2016 | 24/7 worship, community, house of prayer, jason, News Update
Yesterday was day 250 since we kicked off David’s Tent DC on September 11, 2015. It’s also day 250 of a community of staff that lived in communal housing growing up together in the love of Jesus. I want to draw this blogs attention to the latter.
I sense the Father’s watchful, hopeful eyes on this group of full-time staff that have created a backbone that the 350+ other worship teams could build upon in the last 250 days.
It’s been very clear from the beginning that our primary motivator for doing David’s Tent is simply the worthiness of Jesus, as an offering to Him. We have fought hard (sometimes losing) to mobilize without using the common candies of the “significance of thisone,” popularity of men, desperation of America, or promise of blessing as the reasons for mobilizing our nation to this perpetual gathering in DC. The driving question has been, “Will America respond to simply the worth of God?”
And yet, I do believe, that if our motives are right, 24/7 worship and prayer in our Capital will release a great spiritual breakthrough in the United States, a great blessing to give back to the Lord. America is in fact in need of that! Day and night worship and prayer is a spiritual weapon (bombs away!) that does in fact demolish strongholds that set themselves up against the knowledge of God.
Meanwhile, in the inner city of Washington, behind the scenes of David’s Tent DC, there is another spiritual uranium beginning to be enriched each day, radiating the authentic glory of Jesus. The full time staff live in 4 community houses of 8-10 staff in each house. Each house has a married couple as the house leaders, with a bunch of singles. The community/discipleship house model was adopted to house the staff primarily out of economic reasons. How do a bunch of unemployed full-time volunteer missionaries live in a city that’s so expensive?
What I’m finding, is that we unintentionally stumbled upon a treasure!
“Yoooooooooooooooooooooooooooo! What’s this?!”
The Kingdom is advancing in these united communities. I will dare to say that I’m witnessing a bond of friendship and love growing that few truly taste in the western church that so treasures our personal space at the expense of real heart connection. We bring in a teacher one week per month to impart into us to keep us from getting isolated as a whole community and keep us growing. We are all being fashioned into children worthy of the Father’s call. It’s been glorious!
I don’t want to make the impression that it’s all roses and no thorns though. Community living should not be over-romanticized, nor should it be avoided like the plague. Like any cross, it leads to true rewards. God is at work in the lives of our staff. I’m watching all of us being changed day by day, more into the likeness of Jesus. In the rubbings, testings and real workings out of personality conflicts is coming a community that is becoming truly one in real fellowship with one another that care deeply about each other’s heart status.
This stokes my jets equally as much at the 24/7 worship tent downtown. Let me tell you why.
Ephesians 3:10 says “His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms.”
When the true church arises in real fellowship with one another, as one unified body of Christ, having laid hold of the gift of an unoffendable heart, and loving one another with agape love birthed from The Holy Spirit… Look out! The church becomes the teacher and the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms become the students. We get to make known to them the manifold wisdom of God. That’s spiritual breakthrough!
So the song goes on.
But so does the community.
Love God.
Love your Brother.
Love your Neighbor.
Above all these things, put on love. (Col 3:14)
Love conquers all. Boom!
For His Glory, Always,
by Rebecca Montgomery | May 18, 2016 | 24/7 worship, community
One of my favorite parts of staffing David’s Tent is the opportunity to spend time with our incredible staff community. Each staff member has laid down their life to come and lift up the name of Jesus 24/7 in our capital city. They just might be the most surrendered, joy-filled and devoted people I know. Getting to know each of them truly is a joy and an honor! Right now we have about 40 full-time staff living in community houses all over the city and serving in shifts at David’s Tent. My husband Ryan and I have the privilege of leading one of these community houses–our house covers the 3 am-9:30 am watch. In our home we have a total of 11 people: 7 adult staff, our wild and joyful 18 month old son Jethro, our yet-to-be-born baby due in November, and Ryan and I.
The Montgomery family
As a mom, my role in staffing David’s Tent looks a little different from many of the other staff. Even though my son often puts me a nightwatch schedule of his own (if you know what I mean), my time is spent mostly at home, not at the tent. Having been heavily involved in David’s Tent since the kick-off in 2012, this transition into motherhood and staying at home was very different for me. Not bad, just different.
These days my role is focused more on building community within our home and smoothly running our house rather than leading worship and booking worship teams. Both are absolutely necessary and important! In this season of my life I’m gaining a new perspective on true fellowship and the beauty of community, even in day to day life and the seemingly mundane.
Acts 2:46-47 says “Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.” (NIV).
What I love about this passage is that it paints a picture of what daily life looked life in the early church, but that picture isn’t just worship and seeing people get saved. A key part of the early church was spending time together in their homes and eating together. As David’s Tent staff I love that we gather and worship at the tent daily, but we also come back to our homes to fellowship and break bread together.
One of several Community houses at DavidsTentDC
Just as I know the Lord is pleased when he looks at David’s Tent and sees our offering of praise, I’m convinced that he is just as pleased when he looks down and sees the unity and love of our community houses. This isn’t to say that our community is perfect or glorious all the time. Not at all! Honestly, there’s a lot of messiness that comes along with living in Christian community. There’s a lot of “iron sharpening iron” and that’s not always pretty at the time. God is using our community to refine us, sharpen us, transform us more and more into his image, and teach us how to love. There is a real transformation happening in each and every one of our staff members, including myself and my family! Often this transformation occurs in the seemingly mundane parts of life. It happens at the lunch table as we share our stories and dreams with one another, as we are real and vulnerable with one another and ask for prayer, in those moments where someone gets on your nerves and you have to decide how to respond, or even as we serve through cooking and cleaning. It’s in moments like these where the rubber meets the road and God has a chance to move in our lives to heal, refine, redeem and transform. Although community life definitely has its challenges, it is also filled with beauty.
This season of staying at home and focusing on building community, being a mom and a wife, planning meals, and leading small groups has given me a new and beautiful perspective on just how valuable community is. I am thankful that every day we get to travel to a little white tent on the National Mall and sing our hearts out to Jesus day and night along with worshipers from all over the United States and the world. I’m also deeply thankful that in the midst of this God has placed us in community, in homes all over the city where every day He brings transformation and healing to our lives. Community is messy, community is glorious and community is beautiful. I wouldn’t trade it for the world!
Becca Montgomery
P.S. If you want to join our community of full-time staff, email staff@davidstentdc.org to apply!
by Ryan Montgomery | May 11, 2016 | 24/7 worship, News Update
“Why here?” they ask me.
It’s one of the most common questions I get at David’s Tent from curious passers-by. Why worship in a little white vinyl tent through rain, snow, storms, wind, dust, mud, freezing cold, blazing heat, and all kinds of logistical difficulties when there are dozens of beautiful, climate controlled, and convenient churches in Washington DC to choose from? Why worship in congested downtown Washington DC at all? Wouldn’t somewhere with easier access work just fine? Why go through the hardship and expense of holding this event on the National Mall? Isn’t the worship we give Him from our bedroom or bathtub just as valuable?
I answer with a smile. It’s all about making Jesus central! Yes, the worship we give Him in private blesses His heart just as much. But there is something unique about this public, national expression of David’s Tent.
In my mind, worshipping on the National Mall is significant for three key reasons (though I’m sure we could think of more). We worship here to give Him the place of highest honor, to present a public witness of Jesus, and to foster unity among the Body of Christ. These reasons have so captured my heart that I’ve dedicated my life, my family, my time, and my finances to facilitating this 24/7 love song. Nothing else could motivate me to leave career by the wayside and live by faith, with my pregnant wife and baby boy sharing a community staff house with seven other adults, spending my days singing praises to God in a simple white tent. I am utterly convinced that Jesus truly is worthy of all our devotion, right here on The Mall in Washington DC!
The Place of Honor
The capital city of any nation is usually best known as the seat of governmental power. The capital is a place of dignity, authority, power, and honor. Lobbyists, charities, businesses, and organizations often choose to place a major office in the capital in order to gain national influence. Wouldn’t it make sense that if we want Jesus to transform our nation on a national scale we should set up a hosting place for His presence in Washington DC?
Though it’s true, and it sounds good, that’s not the whole picture! Jason Hershey teaches that the primary identity of a capital city is as a center for national worship first, even before national influence.
Psalm 122:3-5 says:
“Jerusalem—built as a city that is bound firmly together,
to which the tribes go up, the tribes of the LORD,
as was decreed for Israel, to give thanks to the name of the LORD.
There thrones for judgment were set, the thrones of the house of David.” (ESV)
We see here that before Jerusalem was known as the place of David’s throne, it was known as the gathering place for the tribes to come and worship. In no way are we saying that Washington DC replaces Jerusalem. However, the model David set up with his tabernacle of worship in Jerusalem brought blessing upon his government and nation, and we can still follow that pattern in our nation today!
Right now, America has it backwards. Our city of highest honor, Washington DC, is best known as a place where politicians struggle for power to push their own prominence or agenda. Shouldn’t this city first be known as a city that honors God? Doesn’t all the power belong to Jesus anyway? He doesn’t need our weak human politics to accomplish anything. He is the King of all Kings and the Lord of all Lords! He can move anywhere, anytime, and use anyone to complete His will.
It’s time to turn things around to how they’re meant to be! When we enthrone Jesus on our praises in Washington DC, we reclaim the identity of our capital city as a place of honor for Him first. Our nation will be most blessed when we build from that foundation. When we go through the challenges of acquiring permitting or fighting through weather challenges to host 24/7 worship outdoors, we are declaring that He is worthy of a lavish offering of national praise! Our intentionality to make Him central in our capital city, whatever the cost, brings Him a degree of honor we can’t give Him any other way. That’s why I’m here. In my mind, the worth of Jesus obligates us as a nation to pour out this “alabaster jar” of worship. I’ve felt the call to dedicate my life to see this happen. This is why we host David’s Tent, simply because He’s worthy!
In my next blog I’ll be continuing on this theme of “Why Here?” and sharing why I believe the public witness of David’s Tent is so critical. My heart has been forever marked by this vision. I look forward to having the opportunity to share with you soon! In the meantime, I challenge you to look at your own life and see where and how you can give Jesus the place of highest honor personally, wherever you are. Let’s respond to the worth of Jesus and make Him central in every area of our lives!
Abundant blessings,
Ryan Montgomery
P.S. To be completely honest, a lot of what I’m writing in this blog is heavily influenced by Jason Hershey’s book “David’s Tent: Jesus is Worthy of a Nation’s Praise.” I’d strongly encourage you to pick up a copy at www.davidstentdc.org if you’re interested in reading more. It’s changed my life, and I know it will change yours too!
by Derek Packard | Mar 30, 2016 | News Update, 24/7 worship, jason
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.
by Derek Packard | Mar 24, 2016 | Uncategorized
CLICK HERE to watch the webcast
![New #iamdavidstent Video]()
by Derek Packard | Aug 28, 2015 | 24/7 worship, house of prayer, News Update
David’s Tent is a single, unending song of love to Jesus Christ. Thousands of worshippers will descend on Washington, DC to bring their offering of praise. Will you be one? Check out our latest #iamdavidstent video!
by Jason Hershey | Aug 10, 2015 | 24/7 worship, jason, News Update, Uncategorized
This week our core team in DC has launched a new hashtag: #iamDavidsTent. Currently we are gathering the volunteer army to make David’s Tent DC a reality. We are inviting the ones that are filled with passion for Jesus and valor enough to lay their lives down for 14 months, in order to set the table for this lavish 10,000 hour offering and to see America changed.
This past week, we released a video of Karl Hammonds. Karl has already responded to the call and is here in DC with us helping build the structures that will make this all work. The video ends with Karl declaring, “I am David’s Tent.”
This declaration is one that we want to see blasted across our generation. We know from scripture that the main purpose of King David’s tent in Jerusalem was to host the Presence of God (The ark of the covenant – 1 Chronicles 16:1).
In the new covenant that Jesus gave us, we know that our individual lives are to have the same purpose— to be a temple – a dwelling for the Holy Spirit, the Presence of God. (1 Corinthians 6:19). We also know together as the body of Christ we corporately have the same purpose, being built together as a spiritual house as priests to Him. (1 Peter 2:5)
You are David’s Tent.
I am David’s Tent.
We are David’s Tent.
Jason Hershey
by Derek Packard | Aug 6, 2015 | News Update
New content on its way! Be sure to stay tuned!
by Jason Hershey | Apr 23, 2015 | 24/7 worship
Tonight I met a woman named Eleni. She grew up in DC but has been living in Charleston, NC. One day the Lord spoke to her and told her she was being called back to Washington DC. She knew she had heard His voice and so she bought a plane ticket and flew here. Waiting for further direction Eleni ended up spending her first night here in the airport. The next morning the Lord spoke and told her to go prayer walk around the White House. After praying around it He told her to walk towards the Washington Monument, and as she began to walk towards the monument she started to hear music. She said Holy Spirit turned her and walked her directly into David’s Tent. Eleni connected with our team, and has now been here at David’s Tent for four days. Hearing her story has challenged my faith tremendously and my willingness to follow the Spirit wherever he leads no matter what He asks me to do. Her testimony of radical obedience to the voice of God is just one of many stories showing that as we lift high the name of Jesus, He will draw people unto him.
Watch Eleni share her story here:
https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=721930421226592&set=vb.323236311096007&type=2&theater
by Jason Hershey | Oct 25, 2014 | DT-blog
Hi Everyone!
Praise God! There are so many testimonies of the Lord’s goodness from this past week! The tent is cruising along wonderfully. People are being radically encountered by the love of Jesus and I am just so blessed that I get to be a part of this historic event.
A few nights ago, myself and three friends, who are here staffing the tent for the first time, felt led by the Holy Spirit to go and pray for people in the Emergency Room at one of the hospitals here in town. So, after the corporate set that night at the tent, we all jumped in a taxi and headed to the hospital not knowing what God had in store. To start off the divine encounters that night, our taxi driver was a believer who had escaped from Afghanistan. As he drove, we were able to bless him and pray that God would bring peace to his country.
It was pouring down rain, as we pulled up to the ER entrance. The four of us huddled under the entrance unsure of what to do next, so we asked the Lord for guidance, that His will would be done that night. As we said “Amen”, immediately we found an elderly woman leaning against the stair rail, clutching her heart and gasping for breath. Her face was contorted and as we rushed to help she gasped that she was “having a stroke”. Laying hands on her, we all started to pray. Claiming healing in Jesus name, immediately her symptoms disappeared and her face returned to normal. As we continued to pray in tongues, she began to praise and bless the Lord, and we all thanked Him for His goodness. It seemed the Lord had one divine encounter after another planned for us that night.
It was so incredible the amount of favor we were shown by the security officers, doctors, and nurses. Coming in the door we told the security officer at the front desk that we were Christians who had come to pray for whoever wanted to receive prayer. We were then greeted by the nurse in charge and she told us to actually go right ahead back into the rooms where patients were staying. As security unlocked the door for us, we headed past several rooms to the nurses station. One of them greeted us and as we explained what we were doing there, we asked if there was a specific patient we should start with. He said “Yes absolutely, you should head to room number 7 first.” We walked around the corner and drew back the curtain. There was an elderly woman laying in the bed looking like she was in a lot of pain. We introduced ourselves and she looked back at us curiously. “Are you born again?” she asked. We laughed and said yes. She smiled and then introduced herself to us. She said her name was Evelyn and she was not only a fellow believer, but a traveling evangelist and minister of the gospel. She was having heart trouble and tremendous pain and cramping in her legs so she couldn’t walk. As we prayed, her pain immediately left and her body relaxed. We talked with Evelyn for a long time; she told us testimonies of how she had seen God move over the years, healing many and raising people from the dead as she ministered in South Africa.
It was like this for every person we prayed for that night. One after the other, headaches leaving, spotty and blurred vision clearing, chest pain disappearing, swollen legs recovering. But it wasn’t just the healing that amazed me that night. Even more than that, it just felt so good to bless people. I found so much joy loving on complete strangers. This..this felt so right. Presenting Jesus in such-a-tangible-way. And we weren’t afraid! We were so calm and filled with boldness and fresh faith to see God move in each and every situation. He is always with us as we step out in faith.
As I was praying more about what happened that night, the Lord continued to speak to me. He brought me back to John chapter 14 (one of my favorite passages in the bible), where Jesus is addressing His disciples before He’s arrested. He makes them a promise- John 14:12-14 “Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. 13 And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.” That’s a promise directly from Jesus to us. We need only have the faith to stand on his unfailing word, and he will prove himself true. Every time.
Blessings,
Bailey
by Derek Packard | Oct 14, 2014 | Uncategorized
Check out tonight’s webcast with Jon Thurlow from IHOP.
We are blessed to have him with us !
https://new.livestream.com/DerekPackard/events/3428387
