Archive for July, 2009
July 31, 2009 at 4:14 pm · Filed under Uncategorized
Just a quick shout out to all the new members from membership reception last night. You guys are sure getting in at great time at DC Metro Church – Welcome Home…
Also – Have a couple from church that I would like for all of you to pray for with me. There names are Mike and Darla Morton and they have asked for prayer from their church family. Ever week I hear about the great answers to prayer that God is doing is so many people’s lives. This is happening at DC Metro because of YOU! That is right – Jesus said “My house will be a house of prayer.” For that reason, I want to ask you to be in prayer with me as we all ask Jesus to move in the Morton Family – especially for God to heal Mike.
On a lighter note – I am so looking forward to a great weekend at DC Metro this Sunday – Get ready as I hear there is sure to be little cooking demonstration (of sorts!) during the message –
Bless you and TGIF!
david
PS – Go God!
July 21, 2009 at 11:13 am · Filed under Uncategorized
Dear Friends,
Celebrate before the Lord with us:
HAPPY 9th DAY BIRTHDAY, Ruby Joy!!
Today we celebrate the 9th day of Ruby Joy’s life. What a blessing she is. She is teaching us so much, and she is so beautiful. We thank God for her, and excite over the way that God is already using little Ruby Joy to glorify his son Jesus. Thank you for all your prayer and encouragement, we love hearing the testimonies about what God is doing through this situation. Please continue to pray with us in confidence for 100% healing of her little body.
On Wednesday evening we were transferred to Children’s Hospital in Washington D.C. which is where we are now. An ambulance came to transfer Ruby. Mitch and I followed closely in prayer. The following day (yesterday) was very intense with more specialists than I ever knew existed coming in to examine Ruby Joy and give us their report. She had numerous tests done, many of which were hard to watch. Mitch always stands by her side through every test and examination singing the word of the Lord over her. She responds extremely well to this, and will come to complete peace even while getting blood drawn, laid out for x-rays, etc. It reminds me of the Father God, who is always by our side – not to watch – but to engage, love, comfort, and declare truth into our circumstances. We were in constant, deep intercession all day binding and loosing – releasing the report of the Lord over our little girl as various words were spoken.
Today the tests and examinations continued, and so did our continual intercession. The Lord has been revealing himself powerfully to us, and we are so grateful. Often we feel very weak, needy, broken, and overwhelmed. The situation is hard, especially to watch all that our little girl is going through. Sometimes we get so tired, but we are pressing on crying out for the justice and healing that Jesus paid for. It’s incredible because just when we need it most, a fresh air will blow from heaven and we feel empowered, strengthened, capable, and equipped. I know that these waves of fresh air and GOOD REPORTS about Ruby break in when someone has just broken through in prayer – and that someone is YOU. Please continue to pray – awesome things are happening – we need to keep the momentum growing. Press on, we believe that this situation is for God’s glory and desire that you would partake in it.
Mitch and I feel divinely placed both in this situation, and in this NICU unit. At least once a day I release all the prayer support that Ruby is receiving to the entire NICU Unit and we begin to pray for all the babies. Last night there was another emergency case brought in next store and I knew that we were placed to intercede. We feel that this situation is not just about Ruby, but so many others in her generation that we are to contend for as we are here.
We write to let you know how Ruby is, but even more, we write to INVITE you to stand with us. It’s an invitation to pursue God with everything; to believe that He is so Good and Kind that yes, He really will heal Ruby 100%; to dare to act from our honored place in Christ to ask Him to make Ruby’s body on earth exactly as it is in heaven. God is healing Ruby. Prayer requests and their updates are below, you’ll be excited to see them. 
Ruby is growing. She is making funny faces now, crying with more umph about dirty diapers, digesting her food (still through a tube at the moment), sneezing with the most adorable expression and sleeping often.
She is a joy. Thanks for loving her.
Mitch and Katie.
Prayer Requests and Updates:
- First we praise God for her LIFE. Her vital signs are all stable, and life expectancy is no longer a concern. Praise to the resurrected One.
- Her tongue is currently pulled back in her mouth which is making her unable to feed by mouth. PLEASE PRAY THAT HER TONGUE LOOSENS AND HER SWALLOWING/SUCKING RESPONSES ARE ACTIVATED SO THAT SHE CAN FEED BY MOUTH. We are doing some tongue exercises coupled with intercession during her tube feedings to help her bring her tongue forward to be able to suck and swallow. There has definitely been improvement with a loosening of her tongue. Please pray for a completed work in her mouth.
- She has a cleft pallet. PRAY FOR HEALING OF THE CLEFT PALLET.
- The left ventricle (valve) of her heart that is responsible for pumping blood to the rest of the body is small. PLEASE PRAY THAT THE SIZE OF THIS VALVE ENLARGES TO IT’S RIGHT SIZE.
- The artery carrying blood from the heart to the body is narrow. PLEASE PRAY THAT THIS ARTERY WOULD WIDEN TO IT’S RIGHT SIZE. Ruby had a chest ultrasound done upon arrival, and Jesus has healed this. It was a huge concern as it would effect the blood flow to her entire body. It is no longer a concern. HALLELUJAH!
- Her heart has an atrial septal defect (enalrged hole). PLEASE PRAY THAT THIS HOLE WOULD SHRINK TO THE RIGHT SIZE.
- There is a hole in her back exposing the bottom of her spine which may indicate some neurological issues. PLEASE PRAY FOR HEALING OF THIS HOLE AND ALL NEUROLOGICAL ISSUES.
- There are some concerns about her brain that need clarification. PLEASE PRAY FOR HEALING OF THE BRAIN. Ruby had an ultrasound done on her brain and the doctors didn’t fine anything of great concern which is miracle from the original report. HALLELUJAH. They did identified a cyst and a defect in the connection between the two sides of the brain which they said is not too abnormal. Continue to pray for a completed work in her brain.
- Finally, Please pray for emotional, physical and spiritual strength for Mitch and myself during this time. We have fallen limp and dependent on the Lord and He is holding us – we still really need grace to take one day at a time under His care. We have received this, and still need it more.
- They did detect some abnormalities in the initial chromosome scan that we mentioned above. We will have a more definitive report on this scan by next Friday. PLEASE PRAY THAT THE FINAL SCAN COMES BACK WITH NO CHROMOSOME OR GENETIC ABNORMALITIES. There are a number of genetisists working with Ruby here. We were told last night that upon examining her and looking at the initial tests they had given her a diagnosis of a specific genetic syndrome that is an underlying cause of a lot the other things we are seeing. This syndrome is caused by a lack of cholesterol which is essential for overall development especially brain development. We were given 20+ minutes of worst case scenarios in which they projected she will basically be non-functioning and severely mentally and physically disabled. The doctor said that her cholesterol levels are below measurable indicating a severe form of this syndrome. Apparentlly it is all caused by a missing enzyme that helps produce hormones. If you have the faith, PLEASE PRAY FOR THE CREATOR TO GIVE RUBY THIS MISSING ENZYME THAT WILL ENABLE HER BODY TO PRODUCE IT’S OWN CHOLESTEROL FOR HER OVERALL DEVELOPMENT.
The grass withers and the flowers fail, but the word of the Lord stands forever. 1 Peter 1:24
July 17, 2009 at 1:14 pm · Filed under Uncategorized
Dear Friends,
It has been 4 1/2 days since the birth of our precious daughter, Ruby Joy, and we are OVERJOYED to share with you that she is LIVING, ACTIVE and in the process of receiving from the Lord the most miraculous healing we have ever known or imagined.
This is Katie writing today. Mitch and I wanted to send you an update as we know that you are not only praying but have mobilized your friends, churches, and contacts around the world to be praying for Ruby. She is awesome, and you will love her when you meet her.
We are overcome with gratitude for your prayer support, and petition you to continue on with us in this journey.
Since the day of the birth we have seen so much improvement in Ruby, and we are overcome with gratitude for each improvement – brought to tears over and over again by the wind of God over her daily development. -She originally had oxygen tubes, two IVs, etc., etc. It has been a beautiful journey watching them detaching all these things over the last few days. At the moment the only tube left hooked up to her is her feeding tube. All of her vital signs are completely stable. Indeed – she will LIVE.
A few short days ago the doctor’s made a preliminary prognosis this Ruby had a disorder called Tri-18 which results from an imbalance of chromosomes. We were informed that the average life-span for a baby with this is one week, and the longest they had ever seen a baby live was one month. Today we received the initial report back from the lab indicating that Ruby is NEGATIVE for this disorder. COME ON, ALL – THIS IS HUGE! HALLELUJAH! LET’S PRESS ON! We believe Father God has been actively at work both in the lab and in her body the last few days and it is a miracle.
There are two big things that you can do for us at this time:
First, I want to ask you to return to your prayer groups, churches, friends and family with the same excitement that Mary had on the morning of the resurrection, and I want you to report back that SHE IS LIVING. Please send out a message of our deep gratitude for all that prayer that has been happening on our behalf. Needless to say, we were/are in desperate need of God’s handiwork. and we really do cry with gratitude at every e-mail, text message, flower, and especially prayer that you are sending our way. We don’t have time to respond to them, but I want you to know that we are HEARING you and are so encouraged by your support and faith in God.
Second, we ask for your continued prayer support. Ruby still has a number of serious concerns within her beautiful little body, the underlying of which they think is some kind of chromosome and/or genetic disorder. The feeling I have in my heart is that there are going to be specific people (and in some cases whole congregations) that are moved to intercede on one or more of the below points until there is complete breakthrough in that area. Please continue to pray as the Holy Spirit leads, and along the following issues at hand:
- They did detect some abnormalities in the initial chromosome scan that we mentioned above. We will have a more definitive report on this scan by next Friday. PLEASE PRAY THAT THE FINAL SCAN COMES BACK WITH NO CHROMOSOME OR GENETIC ABNORMALITIES.
- Her tongue is currently pulled back in her mouth which is making her unable to feed by mouth. PLEASE PRAY THAT HER TONGUE LOOSENS AND HER SWALLOWING/SUCKING RESPONSES ARE ACTIVATED SO THAT SHE CAN FEED BY MOUTH.
- She has a cleft pallet. PRAY FOR HEALING OF THE CLEFT PALLET.
- The left ventricle (valve) of her heart that is responsible for pumping blood to the rest of the body is small. PLEASE PRAY THAT THE SIZE OF THIS VALVE ENLARGES TO IT’S RIGHT SIZE.
- The artery carrying blood from the heart to the body is narrow. PLEASE PRAY THAT THIS ARTERY WOULD WIDEN TO IT’S RIGHT SIZE.
- Her heart has an atrial septal defect (enalrged hole). PLEASE PRAY THAT THIS HOLE WOULD SHRINK TO THE RIGHT SIZE.
- There is a hole in her back exposing the bottom of her spine which may indicate some neurological issues. PLEASE PRAY FOR HEALING OF THIS HOLE AND ALL NEUROLOGICAL ISSUES.
- There are some concerns about her brain that need clarification. PLEASE PRAY FOR HEALING OF THE BRAIN
- Finally, Please pray for emotional, physical and spiritual strength for Mitch and myself during this time. We have fallen limp and dependent on the Lord and He is holding us – we still really need grace to take one day at a time under His care.
Everyday we get more specialized doctors telling us about more concerns, and it is exhausting and overwhelming in many ways. However, it is when we hear the ongoing encouragement from the Lord and you all that we realize the healings are happening far faster than the additional diagnosis, and we are encouraged.
By the way, Ruby Joy is a gem. To know her is to love her!
Trusting the Lord and loving Him from our hearts in this time,
Mitch, Katie, and Ruby Joy.
p.s. They will be transferring Ruby soon to another hospital (which is still being determined) in order to undergo further testings by more specialized doctors (geneticists specifically).
p.p.s. God has been doing incredible things through this in our marriage, our hearts, our families, with hospital staff, other patients,etc., and we truly feel honored to be here in this time. Lots of stories to share someday – hang in with us until then.
July 17, 2009 at 9:43 am · Filed under Uncategorized
DC Metro-ers have been busy with outreaches this summer! On June 27th, we participated in the annual Del Ray Music Festival. God gave us amazing weather to enjoy all day! I get pumped when we have so many people who serve in our outreaches; 29 volunteers came out to serve the community by running the games, face painting and patrolling the bounce house! There were about 100 kids participating in the games plus their parents.
The second outreach was this past Saturday July 11th at Alexandria’s 260th birthday. We had 16 volunteers and passed out 500 water bottles throughout the day and into the evening.
What a great turnout and awesome way to show God’s love to his people. I love it when we get opportunities to serve the community and ultimately to serve God!
” Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men.” Ephesians 6:7
Go God!
pd
July 15, 2009 at 10:29 am · Filed under Uncategorized
Hey! My name is Stephanie and I am interning for DC Metro Church for the summer! So how did I get to DC? I have known the Stine family for 8 years now. I was in Pastor David’s high school youth group in Virginia and God has blessed me with the opportunity to reconnect with the family and work for the church this summer. I help with the administrative part of the church as well as helping to set up the café on Sundays and working with the kids first service! I also get the pleasure of watching the Stine babies and making many trips to the park and ice cream shop with them!! I am so blessed and grateful to be here and to be a part of the DC Metro Church family.
I look forward to meeting everyone!
Steph
July 11, 2009 at 1:37 pm · Filed under Uncategorized
As a follow up to this past Sunday’s message, “T3″ we have a website to help jump start your way to financial freedom! For those of you who missed this sermon here is the link to the audio podcast and here is the link to the video podcast; you will want to check it out!! Crown.org is a free and easy website that offers help tools to get started. We have three links that we think are good places to start. They are all found under the Financial Career tab and then the financial forms and downloads option.
Let’s get on our way to financial freedom !
Go God
pd
For easy access here are all the links needed:
www.crown.org
http://www.crown.org/pamphlets/pdfs/30-DayDiary.pdf
http://www.crown.org/pamphlets/pdfs/BudgetAnalysisForm.pdf
http://www.crown.org/pamphlets/pdfs/MonthlyIncomeandExpenses.pdf
July 10, 2009 at 5:08 pm · Filed under Uncategorized
At DC Metro Church this Sunday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Go God
pd
July 3, 2009 at 4:09 pm · Filed under Uncategorized
Hi, my name is Jeremy Allexon and I am one of the new interns at DC Metro. Gee… Where to begin… I came in one day after being let go from my job and Pastor David offered me a chance to be a guinea pig in this grand experiment called a church internship. Well what do I do? I cut some mean paper with the paper cutter, the paper trimmer and a pair of hand cutters. Other things I do is manage and run the resource center and keep track of all the stuff that keeps the shop and the church running like coffee and coffee supplies, God forbid we run out of those. The highlight of my internship thus far is that I get to work with great people for God, and learn a lot about Starbucks Coffee from our resident AV Director & Starbucks Coffee Master John Lee.
Jeremy Allexon
