Welcome

Venue: Southpoint Church, Jacksonville Florida
Date: Dec. 2 -5, 2008

Pastors and Leaders from all over the US gathered for:
1. Support and Encouragement
2. Relationship Building/Networking
3. Practical Help for their Personal Lives

It was a refreshing time to say the least, just to see friends and family.

Bret Fuller spoke on how you measure Sucess. Is it the size of your ministry? Success he said is about daily obeying God and His word.

Russ Austin. "The urgent is seldom important. The important is seldom urgent."

Steve Murrell made his point across using a rubber band. He said that too much tension cause people to break and very little tension will not thrust you toward your goal and move forward.

Thank you to our leaders, and thank you to Every Nation for a fun-filled event!

When I was at our new home and church building at Victory Christian Fellowship four years ago, at Fort Bonifacio better known as "The Fort", someone came to me and said, "Wow, this building looks cool and very professional." With elevators and escalators, glass walls and marbled floor tiles, I would totally agree with him. He went on to say that it looked like Citibank. I took that as a compliment. Because, indeed, we were working to be as excellent and as professional as we could get.

I remembered Pastor Joey Bonifacio saying, "how can we attract business people if we are not professional in our ways? If they see that we cannot even replace a broken light bulb, how can we be entrusted with broken lives?" Hmm. Quite true. Is it possible that churches today lack the semblance of an appropriate and professional organization? Think about Starbucks and its phenomenal growth, MacDonalds and many others. We have much to learn from them.

On the other hand, as I pondered about it, what can the corporate world learn from Churches? What then is the difference between the church organization and the "Corporate World"?

In a nutshell, Relationships. This is what differentiates us, the church from other big professional corporations.  We should be the example in teaching them about relationships. Most big corporations don't care about your personal life as long as you deliver, do your job well and meet their requirements. While the world system emphasizes more on production, performance, and criteria, the church establishes the value of relationships. After all, church is a family.

We recently had our water baptism at Highpoint church. To see more watch this link to Pastor Andy King's multiply site - Water Baptism.

It is a privilege that I can play a small part in the life of Derek Roberts, our brother here at Highpoint church, our Every Nation church in Orlando.

I am humbled by the fact that God can even use me in advancing His Kingdom.

Well, the church is growing and He continues to add more people. I asked one of the guys in our small group or Life group as we call it here, to give me his personal testimony. And he did. His name is Derek Roberts. He is an IT guy, an athlete (pray for him, he is running in a marathon this January) and a man after God’s own heart!

I am very proud to play a small part of his growth in the Lord as a life group leader. He has been in our group for a year now. This is what he has to say.

“I personally came to know Jesus Christ as a young man. I accepted His gift or salvation, but in all honesty I really did not realize the impact
that it had on my life.






When I moved to Orlando, FL. I found High Point Church on the internet and started attending in October of 2007.

High Point was the long lost Church family that I had been seeking my entire life. I had found a place that was where I needed to be.

God brought me all the way across the country for it. I became a member of High Point and was baptized.

I started attending life groups and serving in the Church. My eyes have become fully opened to God’s grace and I have completely rededicated my life and everything I do to Him. I have been able to let go of struggling with internal issues and I can now let Him fight the battles for me.

I have met the most amazing people that have become my Church family. I took a jack hammer to what I thought was a solid foundation of faith and tore it up. I have now re-built that foundation with more strength and re-enforced it with God’s will.

High Point was and is the vessel that God used to changed my life forever and I thank God everyday for blessing me with this Church and its people.

I can honestly say that the times have been the best times of my life and I know that God has many more surprises around the corner!”

Derek, we are proud of you!

Busy week.

Monday night Life group was awesome. We started using an excellent material for small group called "Liquid". It's a video that translates biblical truths to modern day applications that is so practical for the generation of today. We had a blast. 19 people attended.

Since the kids are back to school, the rest is history.

Luis plays basketball 3-4 times a week. They won their first 2 games.

Preparing Luis for college. Looking around for schools.

Had to buy a calculator through craigslist. It's a ti-83 graphic calculator for advanced Algebra. It's $100-120 to be used for the school year. Got it for only $25.

Pia and Bettina, busy with school. Tons of assignments! Praise God for my wife, Ginny!

I did some sort of Victorybiz (ministry in the Market Place) Seminar. Over a hundred people attended. Preparing for another one this Saturday.

Baby Dedication and Water Baptism this Sunday at church (Highpoint). Looking forward to this! Isn't God awesome?!!!

He is.

Ginny and I recently celebrated our birthday at our house with friends and family! We really thank God for our church here in Orlando!

I thank God for my wife, Ginny. She has been a great blessing to me and my family! I love you honey!

And thank you all for holding the ropes and praying for us at all times!

Todd Long, together with his wife, Ninette, and their two lovely kids are members of Highpoint Church. Todd was born in 1964 in Arlington, Virginia. His interest in the federal government began early through his father's career with the U.S. State Department. Todd first moved to the Orlando area when he transferred from George Washington University (where he was their #1 tennis player as a sophomore) to play tennis for Rollins College in Winter Park. In 1986 he graduated from Rollins with a B.A. in economics.
















He earned his law degree at Wake Forest University. In response to the lack of congressional leadership on pressing issues, Todd began a conservative radio talk show, "A Different Direction". The show discussed solutions to these challenges.

Last week, the election ended and we had a victory party, not that he won. In fact he lost with just less than 4% on vote counts. He has this to say. "I am happy that we were even that close. With very much little financial back up and contending against someone who has been in the office for a while and with all the money to win the election. I am happy I obeyed God."



Yes, it's all about obedience. In my opinion, it's just the beginning. I can't wait to see what God has in store for you mighty man!


Todd, you are a great leader and a man of God. You and Ninette are such a blessing to our church. Kudos to you and the team!

P.S. You available to play tennis this weekend?

I remembered 12 years ago when God told me to give my car to a friend in church.

It was the most difficult thing to do especially since that was my only car.

Thank God for my wife, Ginny, who is more spiritual than I. She encouraged me to obey God. And so I did with my eyes closed.

In return God has given me 3 cars for free! The first one was a brand new Beamer (a BMW) and now these 2 cars (a Dodge Grand Caravan and a Jeep Grand Cherokee) in the pictures were also given to me for free!

You can never outgive God! To the people who gave me these cars, be blessed! I am not quite sure if they want me to mention their names. But thank you. Love you! I am now more mobile to do what God has called me to do!

Phil. 4:19 And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.

Dear Papito,

I am so proud of you! On your 11th Bday, may you continue to be the beautiful lady God intended you to be. You have brought so much joy to us.

Don't forget: even if you are bigger than dad, you will still need to hug me. Load. load. Load.


Love you.

Dad.

Happy Birthday Luis! 16 years of joy, fond memories, and a lotta love! I always remember a verse in proverbs 10:1 which says "a wise son brings joy to his father". Yes Luis has brought tremendous joy to my heart. I couldn't ask for anything more.

We celebrated his birthday with friends and loved ones at our home in Windermere, Florida. For those who don't know, my son loves sports and has received balls (basketball, soccerball, football, baseball, volleyball, softball, all kinda balls, etc, etc.) as a gift for birthdays and Christmas all his life. It's like a tradition. He always pretend to not know what he is gonna get. But also gave him a daisy gun for his birthday. He and his best friend, Matthew Magpantay, went shooting at our backyard at the lake. Twas a fun time!

Love you son!

Recently, Pastor Sam Webb paid us, Highpoint church, a special visit. It was a refreshing time just to hear from a man who has been in the ministry for 41 years.

Sam Webb serves on the board of Every Nation Ministries and is also on the International Ministry Team of Every Nation. Sam and his wife, Nancy, travel extensively throughout the world pastoring pastors and training leaders.

Former overseers of the Grace Bible family of churches both in Hawaii and Asia from 1980 - 2002, the Webbs live in Honolulu, where they reside with their children. They love to connect with people and share a unique gift for loving hospitality.

Pastor Sam, thank you for being a father and mentor to us. Your life is an inspiration, and your testimonies strengthened our faith in God. Hi to Nancy!

A couple of months ago, God gave us a new home for our Church at Highpoint. It was an answered prayer. The whole church helped out to fix the place. Pictures are not in order (hard to arrange them). After a long day, Drew and I were lying down on the carpet exhausted. To everyone at Highpoint, great job!

A new car came out recently that doesn't run out of gas! Can you imagine? The car is called "Moly". People are lining up to reserve one. It'll take months to avail of it. It's all sold out.






At this point, you may be wondering if this is true or not. We'll it's a hoax. Untrue, Doesn't exist.

But what if it were true? What if it really existed? Ain't it nice to have one?

I realize we have something greater than this car. Something we already possess or we can possess if we ask. Something that never runs out. An unlimited resource of wealth.

I am referring to the gift God has given to us. The Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit enables us to give love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-cntrol.

When the Holy Spirit comes on you, you begin to wonder why you can be able to give so much. It's because you are no longer drawing from your limited strength, limited abilities, and limited character and gifts.

You are now tapping into the unlimited well that only He can give.

In the book of John, chapter 7:38, it says, "Whoever believes in me, as the Scriptures has said, streams of living water will flow from within him."

I have experienced this in my own life and have seen countless others give more than they could from their personal resources. i guarantee you, when you have the Holy Sprit, you will never run out of gas!

God is truly amazing! He is the one that adds people to His church.

January has been an exciting month at HighPoint, or one of our Everynation Church in Orlando, Florida.

On Sunday, we baptized 11 people at Andrew Declercq's house at Conroy.

Even if the pool was heated, Keith, Andy and I were still shivering due to the cold wind on a sunny day.

It was a sight to see men and women making a public declaration to follow Jesus Christ.

Most of them had never been to any church service before coming to HighPoint within the last few months. 

We had 4 people get powerfully born again and coming to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ in the last 2 weeks, and 14 in the last 12 weeks. 


Each of these was people who had never had any form of church experience or prior knowledge of Jesus.

We inducted 16 new members on Sunday as well. 

We also have over 84 different people serving at least one Sunday service per month. 

Friends and loved ones were there to witness the event.

God is good and He has given us great people. 

Pastor Carlo and Sandra Ratilla, along with their amazing children Chloe (16) and Justin (14) spent a couple of days with us during the Yuletide season.

For those who don't know, the Ratillas are the real McCoys, dutifully but enthusiastically fashioned by God to be "missionaries".

Carlo was originally from Davao and became the head honcho of Y.W.A.M. (Youth with a Mission) in the Philippines for a season.

After that, God called them to be a part of our Every Nation Ministry to this day. He then attended our bible study group for a couple of years.

They have been missionaries to Sweden, Philippines, and Myanmar (formerly the Union of Burma). Burmeses are predominantly Buddhists in multi-faceted orders. Carlo became the senior pastor of our Every nation Church in Myanmar.

The Ratillas lived there for 5 years with over 400 converts and a host of leaders which they developed. Some of the leaders have just finished and some are still enrolled in our School of World Missions in the Philippines. Amazing!

The next chapter of their lives began just a few months ago, when God called them to be part of our church in Texas, together with Pastor Morgan Bates.

More than all that, they are very dear friends, leaders that I personally emulate, deeply respect and learn from.

Kudos to the Ratillas! Thank you for visiting us. We love you guys!