rem-i-nisce [rem-uh-nis]
âverb (used without object), -nisced, -niscâ ing.
to recall past experiences, events, etc.; indulge in reminiscence.
If ever there were an appropriate time, this is it! I have to say that I have had a lot of fun in the Tapestry over the years and I have done a lot of outreach events over the years, but Sunday took the cake! I just feel that I have to say something about it or I might burst today. I still may burst afterwards. Lord, please have mercy on my co-workers⦠HAHAHA!
KENYAâ¦
After being in Kenya and seeing what I have seen, I have sensed more than ever my local call to DC. This call has driven me to desire more for our DC metro area and after seeing what GOD wanted to do through us overseas, I found myself thinking, we have to do more at home!
It’s funny, the very thing that has driven me to trust, open up and desire more for our church is the fact that we saw GOD move in that foreign environment. Some people thought in the church that I would more and more fall in love with the work in Kenya and at some time in the near future simply leave the Tapestry in DC, hit the road and do foreign missions with the rest of my life. I have actually discussed this with some of you over the last weeks. And granted, we have seen amazing miracles such as blind eyes seeing, mute speaking, various other amazing healings like paralytics being healed, not to mention, the churches planted, the baptisms, the pastors now in training, the opportunities in medicince, education, hunger, refugee help, the sheer thousands that have been saved in the last year and the amazing multitudes that come to our meetings. But, this is NOT MY PRIMARY CALLING. The Tapestry here in the DC metro area IS that calling.
If I were simply convinced that this Kenya our call for the rest of our existence, I would jump in whole heartedly and do it with the rest of my life. However, this is only a piece and a part of a larger call. The call is much bigger than simply one mission field.
I can feel THIS LARGER CALL rising among us today. I can almost hear the angelic chorus breaking through the natural membrane that separates two overlapping worlds right now. I can feel their excitement as they eagerly await the revelation of sons and daughters. I can sense their anticipation that fathers and children might actually reconnect. I can almost feel my skin crawl with the energy the saints that have gone before us long and intercede for the Bride to be arraid in her suitor’s glory.
Can you feel, hear, sense or almost tangibly see it?
THE CALLâ¦
The call I heard while in Kenya was simple, "GO HOME AND DO THE SAMEâ¦"
You see, Kenya has become something more for me now. It is part of my destiny, yet at the same time a training ground, a spring board and even an ancient landmark for us to reminisce on. When I think of all that Poppa has done and all that HE is doing there, I keep thinking to myself, "I wonder what this would look like back home?" "I wonder how we translate this to DC?" "I wonder how we even learn from these wonderful, precious people in their reckless abandon and open transparency and how that is supposed to direct us inside of our culture, in our communities, in our western world?" You guys showed me what that looked like yesterday!
THE BLOCK PARTYâ¦
I could see every one of you truly demonstrating what it would and should look like when the children of GOD live their faith inside their culture. I could actually SEE, HEAR, FEEL, AND TOUCH HEAVEN! I could see what this dynamic missional faith community would look like here in our own back yard.
I actually believe Sunday we saw heaven a little bitâ¦
I could almost hear heaven when I was with you out there.
I could almost feel angel wings brush by.
I could almost see the throngs of those that have gone before.
I could almost hear Jesus whisper to Poppa, "Poppa, it’s amazing⦠They’re doing itâ¦"
What was it we were doing? Was it the carnival? Was it the activity?
Yes, it was. That and much more. With every stroke of paint that Magdalena, Julie, Laura, Joohee and others made on the MOST AMAZING painted faces I could see. With every game that was played watching the kids with Aaron, Thao, Patrick, David, Yireh, and so many others. Seeing the heart that went into the making of the signs by Devin, Anetra, Yireh, Liz, the passion that went into the games, the effort that went into EVERY DOOR KNOCKED ON by Patrick, Zuzana, Seiji, Will and Joan. Seeing the sweat and care from Daeho, Grace, Su and others. Remembering the emails, the signs, the postings, the prayer, the smiles, the laughter. Hearing Jose speak in his native tongue to a people that have been too long forgotten by the larger American church. Hearing the laughter, seeing the joy, watching the absolute effort by EVERY PERSON. Yong, Seung, Hoang, and Joan’s parents. Jason, Ross, Tony, Jyak, Jeanne, Peter, Sue, Kevin, Jen, and I don’t want to miss Stuart who saved my life with animal balloon pumping until the wee hours of the event.
And believe me, I HAVE NOT FORGOTTEN SO MANY OF YOU that I have not named like Big Yong, Christin, Seung, Hoang, Birchie! I know you were there. I saw you working. I saw your affect. I felt the building of the Kingdom. I sensed the doors open of heaven opening for the ones that usually have those very same doors slammed in their faces.
With every action I saw the activity of the Kingdom⦠In every smile, I could see Poppa warming heartsâ¦
THE MUCH MOREâ¦
The much more was actually so much easier to achieve than we thought wasn’t it. What was the much more? Was it the quality of the games? Was it the hundreds of the attendees? Was it the quantity of the activities or food?
No Way!
It was the quality of the interactions. It was the depth of the relationship. Today I sit here at my desk having the hardest time starting my day because of the QUALITY of the interactions. It’s my neighbors that said they want to hang out. It’s Alex who helped us set up and said that he wants to hang out with me sometime. It’s the relationships that I long to see again as soon as tomorrow. I mean, we could wait a whole year to do this again. However, you tell me⦠Do you really want to wait that long until you see what you saw yesterday? Do you really want to go a whole year until you hear the kids laughter? Do you really want to wait a year to see those faces?
Not me.
I want to dig in. It may not always look the same as we go, but I don’t care. I just want to keep spending time with my new found wonderful outside family I have found in our larger community.
I need it. I need you. I need them. Today, I feel like I have done what I was made for. Don’t you? Isn’t it great to feel like you are right smack dab in the middle of what your Heavenly Poppa made you for?
Much more⦠There was much more at that park yesterday than events. There was Poppa. You gave HIM access to your world. This is my favorite thing in the world. This is what Poppa is calling me to and the translation of what I am learning in Kenya.
And you made it happen. It was all of you. Thanks Su, for planning this. Thanks Patrick and Zuzana for driving it. Thanks Lori for helping organize it. Thanks leaders for leading it. Thanks church for working it. Thanks Tapestry for being the church I’ve always ever wanted. You make me so happy.
You are making me who I have always been called to be. You are becoming who you’ve always been called to be.
And I believe that you are on the way to seeing MUCH MORE!
Can you feel heaven today?
Blessings!
pd
PS, can someone send pictures and video and even post some on our Tapestry Flickr and Youtube accounts? I want to reminisceâ¦
(Please forgive me if I didn’t mention you. Just share the stories you know with all of us about each other. I am really anxious and excited to hear your stories and perspectives from yesterday!!!!!)
Dustin Hedrick
Senior Pastor
The Tapestry Vineyard Church
PO Box 2394
Kensington, MD 20891
Phone 301-251-4082 x13
Fax   240-206-3244
Email dustinhedrick@tapestrychurch.com
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