Saturday, April 5, 2008

Pursuing God's Dream For The DC Metro Area


Have you ever had the feeling that you were a part of something much bigger than yourself? This has been our story at DC Metro Church. Many years ago God planted a dream in my heart to do life with a community of people that I loved and to be investing my life in eternity. Almost ten years ago God gave my dear friends David and Taryn a dream to plant a life-giving church in the DC area that would impact culture and influence the spiritual dynamics of our country. When I met David and Taryn in grad school at Regent University, we felt a God-connection and felt a calling to do life and ministry together. After many years of praying, training, and seeking the Lord, He allowed this dream to become a reality. Looking back, we can see even more clearly now that our lives have been a series of divine appointments preparing us for September 9, 2007.

Pastor David and Taryn and Their Son Isaac

Thirteen others (Matthew, Andee, Ella, Sophia, David G., Jack, Jamie, Annalee, Summer, Ray, John, Julie L. and Isaac) felt called to move with us to help launch DC Metro Church! Because we have realized the profound wisdom of investing one’s life in the eternal, all sixteen of us packed our bags and moved across the country to pursue God’s dream for the DC Metro area. Once we arrived in the DC area, we participated in a variety of local community events, talked to strangers in shopping centers, and invited our “new friends” to our Vision Nights where David would share the vision God had given us for this area. Within three months, God brought us a team of seventy people (“The Dream Team”) to help launch DC Metro Church on September 9th. It has been quite an adventure to partner with God as He writes the unfolding chapters of the DC Metro story.
Our First Sunday- Septmber 9, 2007

Our vision is to build a God-first culture in the DC Metro area, which God spoke to us through the book of Nehemiah. Just as Nehemiah was called to his capital city of Jerusalem to rebuild the physical walls, we realized God was calling us to rebuild the spiritual walls around America’s capital city, Washington DC. We currently meet in a movie theater and typically have between 150-200 attendees on a Sunday morning with a number of salvations and recommitments to Jesus each week. We have had approximately 96 people dedicate or rededicate their life to the Lord since the launch. We are so excited to be reaching this demographic! There is no greater joy than watching someone surrender their life to the Lord so that they might discover true life in Him and reap the incredible benefits of being planted in the house of the Lord. I love being a part of introducing others to the kindest, most incredible One we can ever know. God’s love has transformed my life, which has now become a journey toward knowing and loving Him more. Every day we are well aware that we are a part of a story much bigger than ourselves, and we count it a high privilege to play our role in His story and to be pursuing His dream for the DC Metro area.

John and Julie Lee

Jamie, Matthew, and David G.

David G., David, Isaac, Jack and Taryn

The Stroia Family!


Members of the Dream Team Celebrating Life Together

1 comment:

Nadia said...

The Dream Team...love it - love y'all! :)