TOGETHER 2016
Resetting the Gathered Church
by Terrence Clark
Sharing the grounds with the well-known national monuments were tents—erected for prayer, information, and refreshments. Cooling buses (air condition public service vehicles) were stationed just outside the fences. Lines stretched towards the cold water, water ice, ice cream carts. Other stood waiting for dogs and burgers. Others sustained themselves with pizza. I didn’t see any fish and loaves for this multitudes. Free warm water, in bottles, was given out to anyone who desired—which was a lot. Other than Jesus, the conference theme, and unity—keeping hydrated and cool was preached
The theme—Reset. With this assembled church being encouraged to have their lives reset by prayer. The prayer points of reset were—Faith, Plans, Self-Image, Relationships, Purity, Habits, Affections, and the Generations.
The music was diverse with well-known representatives from Gospel genres of worship, country, hip hop, contemporary and others engaging the crowd. Throughout, the music and ministry was interrupted by opportunities to pray. From the stage, the congregation was encouraged to pray for each other, and they did. Circles of Christians, holding hands, throughout praying for families, street, needs and the nations.
The theme—Reset. With this assembled church being encouraged to have their lives reset by prayer. The prayer points of reset were—Faith, Plans, Self-Image, Relationships, Purity, Habits, Affections, and the Generations.
The music was diverse with well-known representatives from Gospel genres of worship, country, hip hop, contemporary and others engaging the crowd. Throughout, the music and ministry was interrupted by opportunities to pray. From the stage, the congregation was encouraged to pray for each other, and they did. Circles of Christians, holding hands, throughout praying for families, street, needs and the nations.
And yet, all in all, it was still not entirely a unified church in showing. The preaching wasn’t just within the chain linked metal barrier, which guided the comers to and through a baggage check. On the outside of the mall—megaphones, and amplifiers amplified the voice of other believers shouting out their interpretation of scripture. Some in agreement with what was transpiring on the other side of the fence—most not. From the sidewalk preachers, some cried out causes that shared scripture, moral, and political foundation such as abortion. Others challenging Christians to walk in holiness—and separation from the world
“Everybody is here,” I shouted to one of the guys handing out literature. I took it.
“Everybody is here,” I shouted to one of the guys handing out literature. I took it.
When I settled, on the mall, seated on a wall, leading to the stage, Peter, what I named him, (his real name LJ—maybe) approached me handing out literature—a booklet his own. He had traveled from not too far away--Gaithersburg MD. He was here passing out gospel tracts, not representing any religious group, cult, or church. He was freelancing, just reaching out to souls following the Great Commission. His goal to encourage believers.
He agreed with the ministry message of just some of the stage ministry performers. He had a good heart—Good focus. We shared. We connected in the crowd agreeing on Jesus as our Savior and of the world.
He agreed with the ministry message of just some of the stage ministry performers. He had a good heart—Good focus. We shared. We connected in the crowd agreeing on Jesus as our Savior and of the world.
Peter wasn’t necessarily moved by the number people in attendance either. He thought some of the people might have come because of entertainment. He was praying that the Holy Spirit would still minister through the others. His prayer also that even if people came with the wrong motivation, the Holy Spirit would use the opportunity. He could identify that even in his life, he hasn’t always gone to church with the right motivate. Still, he knows the Holy Spirit has still been working in his life.
Tommy Lee from also from Maryland was excited about what transpired on the way to DC. He was on the train and met someone named Michael. They began to pray unashamed—aloud— for various things. The train car they were on became quiet he said, yielding to their prayers. On the streets of Baltimore, Tommy is used to praying for people one on one, but this new openness of praying in public was a first. He believed it was in connection to coming to Together 2016.
“Yes,” resounding in excitement, he acknowledging the move of God in his life. “There was this lady,” said Tommy, talking to me as if we were in the same cell group at the same church. He attends New Life Sanctuary in Essex MD. “She from Las Vegas, he continued, she works behind the scenes. She saw us praying and posted it on Facebook.” His obedience was going past the train.
Deanna Owens is from Sacramento California, was attending with her husband William, who ministers through the arts, like poetry. It was signs and witness of the Spirit of God that they had trekked to DC, putting a play production on hold.
William dropped his cell phone. His phone was cracked, but in the morning the crack was completely gone. That, and a rock shaped like California and Utah, was the sign they needed to get on the road.
Deanna says the 2016 events theme message was what her husband’s poem is about—Reset. Their takeaway is what they brought—allowing God to reset hearts to hope, love, and unity. They are trusting God for an RV to take the ministry on the road from the mall.
The event coordinators said the five hundred thousand count concert was never about coming to the mall but sending a generation from the mall.
Tommy Lee from also from Maryland was excited about what transpired on the way to DC. He was on the train and met someone named Michael. They began to pray unashamed—aloud— for various things. The train car they were on became quiet he said, yielding to their prayers. On the streets of Baltimore, Tommy is used to praying for people one on one, but this new openness of praying in public was a first. He believed it was in connection to coming to Together 2016.
“Yes,” resounding in excitement, he acknowledging the move of God in his life. “There was this lady,” said Tommy, talking to me as if we were in the same cell group at the same church. He attends New Life Sanctuary in Essex MD. “She from Las Vegas, he continued, she works behind the scenes. She saw us praying and posted it on Facebook.” His obedience was going past the train.
Deanna Owens is from Sacramento California, was attending with her husband William, who ministers through the arts, like poetry. It was signs and witness of the Spirit of God that they had trekked to DC, putting a play production on hold.
William dropped his cell phone. His phone was cracked, but in the morning the crack was completely gone. That, and a rock shaped like California and Utah, was the sign they needed to get on the road.
Deanna says the 2016 events theme message was what her husband’s poem is about—Reset. Their takeaway is what they brought—allowing God to reset hearts to hope, love, and unity. They are trusting God for an RV to take the ministry on the road from the mall.
The event coordinators said the five hundred thousand count concert was never about coming to the mall but sending a generation from the mall.
My wife attended the event with me. At one point we stood in line for lemon water ice and cold water. At her turn, she tried to get the guy to dig deep for the colder one, but he explained, and I knew, they were all the same.
We hid under our beach umbrella blocking the sun. I saw a cloud in the distance. I admit, I prayed Lord cover the sun. Minutes later the emcee had the crowd give thanks for the cloud. The event was closed early by the authorities concerned for public safety. The EMT’s were overworked tending to those affected by the heat. One opposing writer (ministry) challenged that the heat related issues were God’s judgment to a gathering of an apostate church.
We hid under our beach umbrella blocking the sun. I saw a cloud in the distance. I admit, I prayed Lord cover the sun. Minutes later the emcee had the crowd give thanks for the cloud. The event was closed early by the authorities concerned for public safety. The EMT’s were overworked tending to those affected by the heat. One opposing writer (ministry) challenged that the heat related issues were God’s judgment to a gathering of an apostate church.
Scheduled for 9 PM, the last mike ended around 5. I thought it was good. God’s will still done. The fact that the church gathered was a good thing.
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Jesus, in Scripture, Matthew 18:20, declared, “If two are three are gathered—Together in my name I will be in the midst of them”
It was a prophetic fulfillment as well—The Year of the Gathering (http://voicecnc.com/2016-the-year-of-the-gathering.html). I don’t know all the speakers or bands that ministered---July 16, 2016, at The DC Mall, neither their theology. But I do know the Lord Jesus and the power of His cross. Paul shares with the young pastor Timothy that in a great house there will always be vessels to honor and some to dishonor—and yes we are to purge ourself from these. The question may have been on what side of the fence you preached on July 16, 2016. I thought, some of the believers, on both sides of the metal link, believe they 're right. I loved the two men who separately walked through the gathered church carrying a cross, reminding us of the price the Lord paid. Perhaps, on either side, they should have been center stage----continually reminding that only there, in His cross, can lives be truly "reset" and begin anew. Rain started in around six. Thankfully, the crowd had dispersed, Psalms 68:9 a favorite of mine kicked in |
.9Thou, O God, didst send a plentiful rain, whereby thou didst confirm thine inheritance, when it was weary.
On the way out we talked to Sue Stoltz, Midwest National Leader National Day of Prayer Task Force. Her team was praying for people at Tent Five. She had a long day but was refreshed in her assignment. The California crew hosted tent Four. On a bench, off the mall, exchanges from Saints continued. It was like somehow we knew each other. One group—young guy & gals sporting tees that read Sons of Thunder stopped, talked and took pictures with us. They were, from Texas, a youth ministry reaching youth.
Our day would lead us back to Jersey. There was a light rain. Half way through we were entertained by a rainbow.
It meant something.
Our day would lead us back to Jersey. There was a light rain. Half way through we were entertained by a rainbow.
It meant something.