We had Part III of our iWork Series this past weekend…I wasn’t there, but Taryn did an amazing job sharing about God-Confidence…
Check out some pictures!
If you didn’t get a chance to listen to her message, you can do so by clicking here.
Carl Knudson once said, “The story of Easter is the story of God’s divine surprise.” We have a God who loves to surprise us with His goodness, and what better time to celebrate His goodness than Easter? This past week we sent out our Easter mailer to 50,000 homes in the DC Metro area because we want each person who receives it to know the amazing story of Jesus, God’s divine surprise for humanity. The mailer’s cover reads “Experience Life” because we believe that everyone who comes has the opportunity to discover true life this weekend as they experience God in a real, relevant, and enjoyable way and as they connect with the incredible members of our DC Metro family. Please pray the Holy Spirit would draw those that still need to be planted in the house of the Lord and that many who receive this mailer would come to know Him. We are excited and honored to spread the message of life-changing hope in Christ this Easter weekend, so join us this Sunday, March 23, as Pastor David talks about the resurrection-the supreme divine surprise and God’s invitation to know Him-the greatest miracle of all!
Have you ever wondered about the vision or values of DC Metro? Would you like to hear the amazing story about how God planted the vision to plant DC Metro Church in Pastor David’s heart almost ten years ago and how God has supernaturally made this vision a reality? Have you ever wondered how you can become more involved with DC Metro and be a part of pursuing God’s dream for the DC Metro area? If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, we want to invite you to Intro immediately after the service on Sunday March 30th or Sunday, April 6th. Intro is a class taught by Pastor David for those that are considering membership or for those that want to learn more about the excitement surrounding DC Metro Church.
Ralph Waldo Emerson wisely observed, “Spend yourself on the work before you, well assured that the right performance of this hour’s duties will be the best preparation for the hours and ages that will follow it.” Have you ever considered that the work you are in right now is the perfect preparation for where the Lord is calling you in the future? In our next series iWork, Pastor David will give some great biblical principles and some practical tips about how to win at work. These messages are not just for those who work in an office but are for anyone who does any type of work, from being a stay at home mom to being a student. We will learn about the surprising fulfillment we can find even in the mundane tasks when we realize they are often God’s preparation tool and when we practice the principle found in Colossians 3:23, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as if working for the Lord.”
he first Thursday of every month, we have the privilege of coming together to enjoy God and to pray for a God-First community to progressively be established in the DC Metro area. First Thursdays are also an opportunity to hear an inspiring nugget about how to go deeper in our walk with the Lord and an opportunity to worship together as a church family during the week. On Thursday, April 3rd, we will also have a Baptism time. If you want to be baptized or would like more information on Baptism, please call the church office at 703.888.1178 or email Summer at smobley@dcmetrochurch.org . There is no place better to be than in the presence of the Living God, so come join us Thursday, April 3rd at First Christian Church for a wonderful time of seeking God and enjoying each other.
We are encouraged and excited to see how God is going to move in each of our lives after finishing the dynamic series called “Paparazzi- Snapshots of a Miracle Working God.” Pastor David highlighted several of Jesus’ miracles from the perspective of a person watching in the crowd. These snapshots of Jesus defying natural limitations and meeting the needs of those who lived 2000 years ago were a reminder that we serve a supernatural God who responds to His people seeking Him in faith. This series ended with a challenge to be like the men in Mark 2 who lowered their friend through the roof to be in Jesus’ presence. We encourage you to invite your friends to experience God at DC Metro Church this Easter Sunday because like the man in Mark 2, we are changed in His presence.
Biscuits, sausage gravy, bacon and eggs—can it get any better than this? It did…not only was there great food, Pastor David gave an inspiring and challenging word to the men. Using the life of Cornelius, we looked at the qualities of the “Man of God’s House”—a God fearer, a family man, and a leader and gatherer of others.
The Women’s Brunch was wonderful opportunity for the women of DC Metro to get to know each other on a deeper level. Pastor Taryn shared an encouraging word from Proverbs 31 about rising up as women to walk in the call that the Lord has on our life. We are already excited for the next time when can get together as women of DC Metro Church because we believe that life is so much richer when it is walked together.
I wanted to thank all of you for your prayers for Josiah…he is doing so much better! I am so glad that we serve a God who still does miracles today. I am incredibly thankful for each and every one of you this Easter season. I love your contagious zeal for God’s house. The Lord has brought us together as a family to help build a God-First culture in the DC Metro area. I can’t wait to worship with you this Sunday and meet the new members of our growing family!
Pastors David & Taryn Stine
Lead Pastors of DC Metro Church
March 26th - DC Metro Moms Group – Trip to the National Zoo (10am-11:30am). For more information, contact Jessica at jessimcf@gmail.com.
March 30th and April 6th - INTRO directly following the 10 am service
April 3rd - First Thursday Baptism and Prayer Service at First Christian Church (7pm- 8:30pm)
This week I have had the wonderful opportunity to take a class at the Gallup Organizations World Headquarters office in downtown DC. It was on the topic of 12 Elements of Great Managing and I have to admit that I felt they were right on in how to handle people. It was apparent that they had done their homework and had held the idea of managing a human life in very high regard. It was so powerful that I believe God would be pleased at out they talked about people as - well, just that, people.
Gallup is known for all of its wonderful statistics and probabally most for the classic “Gallup Poll.” One of the polls I felt was so great in their assessment of how people are. It was the poll that they took regarding people’s “Best Times of the Week”. In this poll they surveyed people all over the world to see what their best times were during the week. I was excited to see the results:
The number two result was: Socializing with friends and family which seemed great and quite obvious. It was the number one ranking that really got me excited and that was, ready, religious (church) activities!!! Isnt that great! Church was the best time of their week.
After thinking about it some more I realized, this is how God has packaged us as humans. We have a need to be around God and Others. In fact, this is a great expression of one thing that I enjoy best about Church, and that is Small Groups… They are a combination of Socializing with friends and a religious or (church) activity.
It just so happens that we are launching our Metro Groups this weekend… So if you are not plugged into one as of yet, or if you live out of the area and go to another church, get plugged into a group - it will be the absolute best time of your week!
Bless Ya,
Pastor D.
I just had to put of this wonderful photo of my dear friend Andy Lloyd (Also DC Metro’s Head Usher). This was on the Associated Press, as Andy is a member of the Airforce Honor Guard at Arlington Cemetery. He is pictured here with one of the most powerful men in our country’s military, General Pace. The other thing that is really cool about this photo is that the General is walking with President Bush (not pictured) who is watching the conversation less that a foot away. Pretty cool-eh?
Go Andy! (I mean Staff Sergent Lloyd)
Isaac. Taryn and I stole away for an afternoon on Saturday to see the famous home of our nation’s first president (For the historically challenged - George Washington…) Mount Vernon is quite an amazing site to behold and we got an annual pass just in case our wonderful family wants to go back (OK - we got suckered into buying the annual pass, but that is another story.)
The trip was great as we learned many things about GW as well as the state of Viriginia. and there was one quote by Washington that stuck out more than the others.
“Liberty, when it begins to take root, is a plant of rapid growth.”
That reminded me of Galations 5 which begins by stating: “It is for Freedom that Christ has set us free!”
Isnt it amazing how when a heart/life gets free, it is released to obtain Rapid Growth! We have seen several people so far on our launch team that have been slowed down in life for whatever reason, who are now getting set free in life and who are now expereincing Rapid Growth!
It is always good to ask ourselves what area of our lives needs a little freedom (This is usually the area that also needs rapid growth…) What area of your life needs freedom?
How about releasing it over to God and allow His freedom to take root in your life today?,
Growing Free,
David
Well the Stine’s are adjusting well, as you can see by the look on Isaac’s face, to our new home.
It was a wild ride to find a place to live, but that was most likely the hand of God working in and on our lives growing us as His pace alotted.
I was reflecting on Zechariah 4:10 today as it states: “Do not despise the days of small beginnings…”
As I read this I am reminded of our situation right now. Although we do not by any means feel that God is calling us to launch a small church, I do know that everything that starts “in God” has a small beginning… We can see God’s hand in this concept in nature, as well as in ourselves as we begin our lives through infancy and mature from there.
God has been teaching us so much during this pre-launch season, as we are delighted to be where He has sent us, whether we are small or big…
Growing w/Him,
Pastor David, Taryn & Isaac (& DC Metro Team)
What a day it was for my (naked) son Isaac! On his first birthday things really came together for him as we celebrated his first year as if he were a president (maybe a president in the making???) It took place in Lake Charles, Louisiana at my parents home with many family members/friends coming in from all over.
Although he did all the traditional 1st year stuff including the best “1st cake smash” I have ever seen (that’s my boy!), I wanted to pray over him and speak the great things that I know that God has in store for him over his life. I felt to pray out of Jeremiah 29:11 that declares:
11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
Although I elaborated beyond this, I believe that God wants us to declare these types of great things over one another as believers in Him. He does have great plans for us that He knows about, and plans to bring those plans to pass! It is not just the little one year olds around us that need God’s blessing (but if you have kids, be sure to make this a daily part of your prayer for them…) rather we all need other believers to speak the promises of God over one another.
Lets get busy confessing His Great Plans over one another,
Bless You,
David Isaac
PS- God has Great Plans for You!
PSS - Isaac Loves Ceiling Fans! so his daddy bought him a ceiling fan (he is sitting on it) for his room, and he also got the first ever - ceiling fan cake. (don’t worry he got plenty of toys too…)
It has been quite a couple of weeks for the Stine House, In fact we sold our house on Monday, so we are more like the Stine Car at this point. Here is a quick recap of our lives over the past week:
Thursday – Last Day in the office at Celebration Church L
Friday – All day packing event at the Stine House… (there was a few moments in the day that I think Taryn and I both wanted to be packed in a box… (We did not do that though!)
Saturday – Move our house onto truck, (ok, we could not take our house as much as we wanted to load it onto the truck to, we just took our stuff!) This whole process must be so confusing to Isaac, as you can see in the photo above, God Help Us!
Sunday – We were prayed for in both services and were humbled by some powerful words that Pastors Stovall and Kerri Weems spoke over our lives in both services. We love you guys! (Thank you for strongly believing in us and supporting us with DCMetroChurch! You will always be Our Pastors!) Then they had an incredible “Send-Off Party” with staff, family, and friends. It was so nice to get to see all our peeps (all together) one last time. (Even though we will plan on visiting Celebration
Monday – We Closed on our House! (Bittersweet moments all day…)
Tuesday & Wednesday - Staying with my brother and sister in-law Dougie and Kassie Fowler (They Rock!)
Thursday – Travel to
Keep praying for us, as you can see the Stine House (I mean Stine Car) is on the move, literally!
D
What a week it has been around the Stine house, but let me first share about the ARC Conference…
Let me start with last week at the ARC Conference. Can I just say it how it was, “incredible.” What an incredible group of people to serve alongside in the ministry. The conference was held in Austin, Tx and we had a great, High Impact, time at Joe and Lori Champion’s church called Celebration Church of Austin. Their team sure knows how to host an event with excellence. Over the few days that we were there, we heard from several speakers including: Chris Hodges, Joe Champion, Stovall Weems, etc… All were high impact on Taryn and I.
We also got a chance to hear from Craig Groeschel from Lifechurch.tv. who delivered an incredible word about churches having “It“. Which he defined as “a rare combination of the anointing of God, Passion, Creativity, Teamwork, Focus, Faith, Drive, Hunger, desperation, and divine expectations that is manefest in and through you unlike any other church in your area.”
Just think, What if every church found “It“?
I don’t know about you but this really got me to prayin’ for DCMetroChurch and our vision to “Build a God-First Culture in and around the DCMetro Area,” and for It to be in our church. After thought it is my conviction that the church should, once again, become the cultural influence within a community and the world. Afterall, we have God’s Creativity, Passion, Focus, (other “It” qualities, Etc…) working on our behalf. In fact, that is the way it used to be. The church was the place were creative people found their canvas or their song, or their clay… You and I can go to any museum today and find the remnants of God immortalized (not that He needed help with that one!) throughout the corridors of history in various forms of culture impacting artwork. I believe that time is coming again and it is going to take “It” in our churches, to do ”It.”
It is coming, and I am all about “It.”
Comments welcome on this thought about ”It”
Love you guys!
D
Another Great weekend in Jacksonville… This past weekend Taryn and I were able to attend our South Campus Location of Celebration Church. We had a great time participating in their services, as well as hanging out with their Campus Pastors, Darren and Katie Sullivan, who do such a great job at “South”… It was also great to see another location that is in the earlier stages of their ministry. Being less than two years old, we were able to get some great ideas for DCMetroChurch…
This week we are ramping up a Celebration for Hillsong United who is coming in town tomorrow for a live (sold-out) concert. It will be great to see them as we have always enjoyed meeting the different teams that come through from Hillsong Church.
These guys have to be the band that Taryn and I listen to the most as their songs are forever playing in our house, vehicles, ipods etc… We have even got Isaac listening to them now, even though he still prefers his rockin’ “Praise Baby Collection” (www.praisebabycollection.com) over any of our music. Don’t worry all you United fans, Isaac will come around one day real-soon!
Until then, we will keep on singin’, “Take - Take - Take it all” to him…
David
