Belong Church- Orlando, Orlando, FL (2026)

03/05/2025

After the sudden losses of Pastor Howard and the mother of Pastor Tyson, the difficult decision was made to close Belong Church permanently. The page will stay active, as a way to memorialize Pastor Howard’s many sermons, his love for community, and his love for our Lord Jesus. Please continue to pray for the family and friends left behind by these losses. Thank you.

10/30/2024

The service for Pastor Howard will be Monday, November 11, 11am at Church on the Drive, 1914 Edgewater Drive, Orlando. Family will receive visitors, beginning at 10am.

A memorial has been set up at https://howardsalter.com.

10/27/2024

Please be in prayer for the Belong Church family, in the loss of Pastor Howard yesterday.

Also, It looks like the church website has been hacked. It is being dealt with now. We’re sorry for any awfulness that you’ve seen. And know that it was not intentional.

08/16/2024

In light of The Local’s closing, and not having a meeting space, we’re taking a break from meeting. Please pray for wisdom and clarity for the leadership team, as we seek the Lord’s will for next steps.

07/28/2024

Jesus says in John 13:34, "I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another."

The theme of loving one another is clear in SAT-7 TÜRK's new film "Yakamoz," where two families from different backgrounds must find a way to live together.

07/21/2024

Good morning Belong Family!! Today is Community Sunday, so we’ll be starting at 11:00. Take the time at 10:30 this morning to pray for your local community!

07/12/2024

. Too early to type the parent devo. Instead, we’ll give you camp info for next year.

WE’RE GOING TO North Greenville University!!! June 9-14, 2025

07/11/2024

Remember: We’re going LIVE at 9:30 TONIGHT!!!!

07/11/2024

7/11/24
! (Except we forgot to take a picture because we’re tired 🥴) Good morning everyone! Today is our last full day of camp, and even though we’re not ready to go home, we are ready to rest.

Last night was our Silent Disco- unfortunately I didn’t get many pictures of that. However, I can assure you lots of fun was had by everyone!

Tonight is Mega Relay!! We’ll be going live here on Facebook around 9:40 PM EST to show all the kids running! Hopefully one of our students win this year!

Third Full Day: What Does It Lead To?
Obedience and Worship the Lord - Hezekiah
Scripture: 2 Chronicles 29:1-11, 27-30; 30:1-9
Key Verse: Let everything that breathes praise the Lord. Hallelujah! (Psalm 150:6).
Life Questions: In what area do you need to obey God’s leading? How is your life one of worship to the Lord?

When have you been party of a rebuilding process? Maybe it was a house, sports team, or organization. The term “rebuilding process” can be used for many different items.

I love to use cast iron skillet cookware. I have several pieces, from a traditional 8-inch skillet that my grandmother gave me to a couple of different griddles, and the coolest pan for individual pieces of cornbread. Iron skillets can be extremely easy to use if cared for appropriately. But, if the cookware is left to rush through lack of use, it must be re-seasoned… or rebuilt. The blessing of iron skillets is that even after years of neglect and rust, they can be reclaimed with the right techniques.

Our devotion today focuses on the Israelite King Hezekiah reopening the temple in Jerusalem. Read 2 Chronicles 29:1-11.

What was the condition of the temple when Hezekiah became king? (Verses 3, 7)

Why did the temple fall into its condition? (Verse 6)

What did Hezekiah do to rebuild the temple? (Verses 3-5)

What was Hezekiah motivation to rebuild the temple? (Verses 10-11)

Hezekiah became king at age 25. He found the temple in what many people would consider a state of disrepair. The doors were closed shut and needed repair to reopen. The space for sacrifices and incense was shut off and lamps were extinguished. The temple was a dark and cavernous building. Work had to be done.

If you are cleaning a cast iron skillet, you need a baking soda and water mixture to remove the rust and impurities before the actual seasoning can begin. The priests and Levites (religious leaders) had to be called in to prepare the temple for consecration. Impurities had to be removed.

The beauty in the reopening of the temple is Hezekiah’s heart. “It is in my heart now to make a covenant with the Lord, the God of Israel so that his burning anger may turn away from us” (29:10). Hezekiah’s desire was for the people to one again be living in covenant with their God and to have a place to worship. Hezekiah’s heart led to the work needed to be done which resulted in the people’s worship of Yahweh once more.

Read 2 Chronicles 29:27-30.

The temple became functional again. Offerings were given. The whole assembly worshiped, sang, and blew their trumpets. King Hezekiah and those with him bowed and worshiped God.

Read 2 Chronicles 30:1-9.

Because Hezekiah repaired and reopened the temple, the people could once again worship God. He did not stop at rebuilding the temple. The Passover was reinstated. A cornerstone of the Israelite history and their worship was observing the Passover, and it had been neglected (30:5) - just like the temple had been neglected.

There were some intentional choices made by the people to turn away from God (30:7-8). We can suppose others drifted casually away from active faith. Either way, we see in verse 9 that even the people can be rebuilt. God is gracious and merciful. He will not turn His face away from us, if we return to Him.

The rebuilding of the temple and the reinstating of Passover were ways in which the people turned back to God. The brick and mortar of the temple and the day on the calendar created opportunity for worship. It is a king’s heart that motivated the people to once again be obedient and worship.

How do you connect with today’s Scripture story?

With whom in the story did you most connect?

Is your heart like Hezekiah’s? Or are you like the priests and Levites who needed to experience renewal before going to the temple and observing Passover?

Regardless of where you are, God is ready to show grace and mercy. It is this grace and mercy that we know to the fullest extent in the life of Jesus. He did not turn His face away from the cross. In His crucifixion on the cross, we find forgiveness and new life.

Consider next steps of obedience and worship that you will commit to take in the near future for you and your family. Note those below.

Close with praying for your own obedience to God. Pray for how your student will respond to this story today.

Spend some time in worship today, just you and God. Listen to your favorite praise music. Pray and speak words of adoration to God. Read a Psalm from your Bible.

07/10/2024

7/10/24
! Good morning everyone! The kids have been having so much fun so far, but we are half way through our week! (We tired y’all 🥴) The kids have been very open to receiving the word of God, through Bible Study, Worship, Recreation, and so many other things. Today they’ll continue to learn about God, and tonight we have our Night Life- the Silent Disco! Tomorrow is Mega Relay, and we will be going live with the kids to watch them run!

We just ask that you continue to be in prayer as the rest of the week goes on. The kids have been having a ton of fun and learning, but that doesn’t mean it hasn’t been hard.

Second Full Day: What Does It Take?
Confess and Repent of Your Sins - John the Baptist
Scripture: Luke 1;57-66; 3:1-22
Key Verse: Therefore repent and turn back, so that your sins may be wiped out. (Acts 3:19)
Life Questions: What sins do you need to admit and turn away from?

Have you ever heard a person be described as a “force of nature”? When this description is given, it means a person has a strong personality. They are a change-agent on things and people around them. When given a task, the person is unstoppable.

John the Baptist was a force of nature. From his birth story in Luke, people asked, “What will this child become?” John’s life created a buzz and people were amazed. Read Luke 1:57-66.

Underline the elements in Luke 1:57-66 that indicate amazement in the people.

1. Elizabeth gives birth to a son. Luke 1:5-7 introduces Zechariah and Elizabeth. Both were old and without children because she could not conceive.
2. Elizabeth named him John. In a time where continuing with a family name was expected, she broke that tradition to name him John. Which leads us to…
3. The people objected to the name John. The people asked Zechariah for his opinion. (He had been unable to speak since confronting the Angel Gabriel in Luke 1:8-23.) Zechariah writes, “His name is John.”

The question, “What will this child become?” Sets the stage for a bigger-than-life, force-of-nature type of person to emerge. And such a person does.

Read Luke 3:1-22.

John’s voice was strong and direct. Verse 2 says, “God’s word came to John the son of Zechariah in the wilderness.” Finding John to b e a voice from the wilderness would have taken people to Moses’ leadership in the Exodus from Egypt. John understood his role to fulfill the prophet Isaiah’s words to be the one to prepare the way for God’s promised Messiah.

John was to make the paths straight, to remove any obstacles from. Jesus’ coming. His message was direct. He preached a baptism of repentance and forgiveness of sins. His words in 3:7-14 were anything but warm and cozy. His message was about life change. If you are called a “brood of vipers,” there cannot be anything good about who you are. You must change the ways of your life.

Corruption was rampant in John’s society. Tax collectors overcharged. Soldiers forced excessive payments. People with power kept their power. Those without power or stability of circumstances were taken advantage of. Johns message was to the point - CHANGE through confession and repentance.

People came to Jon to be baptized (3:7). His message was to change their ways. The immersion in the river signified being washed clean, to be forgiven.

John’s voice was so strong, and his baptism was so transforming for people, that they wondered if he were the coming Messiah. Even as a force of nature, John understood his role. In 3:16 he stated, “I baptize you with water, but never who is more powerful than I is coming.” John knew God was coming.

What does it take for change? What does it take for revival Confession and repentance. These actions were the essence of John’s message. They create the foundation for our desire, need, and pursuit of God, which enables us to know and experience God’s forgiveness.

Confession is literally acknowledging and owning sin that creates a barrier between us and God. Repentance is turning away or changing our behavior away from the sin. The sin can also be between people. Jesus tells us in Matthew 5:23-24 that if we are making a gift at the alter and realize we have done something wrong with a person, we are to go immediately and reconcile with that person.

If we confess with our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9).

Therefore, repent and turn back, so that your sins may be wiped out (Acts 3:19).

Take a moment to analyze your life. What do you need to confess and repent to God? It can be big things. It can be small things.

What things in your family’s life need to be given to God?

Pray for your day. Pray for your child’s day at camp. Pray for specific ways, behaviors, and relationships where confession and repentance need to be done. Doing so creates a new, clean start to life.

07/09/2024

7/9/24
! Today is the first full day of camp! We woke up stupid early to get breakfast, and right now our kiddos are fellowshipping with other campers. We have a big day planned for today!

Continue praying for your kids as the week goes on. We love you guys!

First Full Day: Where Does It Begin?
Pray and Turn to the Lord - Hannah and Samuel
Scripture: 1 Samuel 1:9-20, 26-28; 1 Samuel 7:2-14
Key Verse: This is the confidence we have before him: If we ask anything according to His will, He hears us (1 John 5:14)
Life Questions: Is prayer an active part of your life? What can you do to spend more time with God?

Your student woke up to the first full day of camp this morning. Excitement is most likely bursting at the seams. Hopefully everyone chose to get a decent amount of sleep as it will be most beneficial to their day. Pause for a moment and pray for them today.

Today in Bible Study, students will be studying the story of Hannah and Samuel in 1 Samuel 1, and Samuel and the Israelites in 1 Samuel 7, and how prayer played a part in both of these stories.

Hannah’s story was one of a bride longing to be a mother. She was married to Elkanah(1), and he loved her very much. Like several women in the Bible before her, Hannah desperately wanted a son. just as with women like Sarai, Rebekah, and Rachel, Hannah’s barrenness adds significance to the story. You may know couples who have longed to have a child but for whatever reason have had trouble. This could also be your story. Hannah’s pain and longing run deep.

How does she respond? Read 1 Samuel 1:9-11.

Hannah prayed. When life was empty and barren, she prayed to the Lord.

Her prayer included four requests of God - to notice her, to remember her, not to forget her, and to give her a son. Ultimately, the first three requests signified her longing for God and for God’s presence to be with her. Then she committed to give her son to God.

If you were in Hannah’s position, what would be your first step?

Prayer was an act of trust in Hannah’s life. Read 1 Samuel 1:12-18. When all else seemed broken for Hannah, she trusted in God.

Eli the priest saw Hannah praying. He thought she was drunk because her lips moved without audible words coming out. He confronted her. Hannah replied to him that it was her broken heart from which she prayed and not wine. Eli sent her with these words, “Go n peace, and may the God of Israel grant the request you’ve made of Him.” Hannah left and ate. Contrary to her actions earlier in the story (verse 7) where she did not eat because of her duress.

Hannah turned her struggle over to the Lord and let go of it. Her prayers out of hurt and desperation turned into a new sense of hope. And this was before God answered her prayer.

Read 1 Samuel 1:19-20.

Hannah and her husband, Elkanah, returned home. They had marital intimacy, and she became pregnant out of her barrenness and had a son. Hannah named him Samuel, which in Hebrew sounds like “requested from God.”

Prayer is at the heart of today’s story and devotion. We see in Hannah that prayer is the beginning of life change for herself and her family. In her brokenness, Hannah turns to God. She fulfilled her commitment by dedicating her son, Samuel, to God. Read 1 Samuel 1:26-28.

It would have been easy to hold Samuel to herself after he was born. Hannah did not. She continued to trust God. Samuel grew to be a great leader for the people of Israel (1 Samuel 7:2-14). Hannah’s prayer was the beginning of new life for herself and many people beyond her.

Howard can we reflect this trust and commitment in our own lives today?

How will you commit your child and your family to God for today and this week?

Let’s fast forward to when Samuel is grown and serving as a prophet for Israel. Read 1 Samuel 7:2-14.

Samuel instructed the Israelites to return to the Lord with all their hearts. They were holding on to their other gods. So, they had to put way the other things that received their focus.

When the people had agreed to put away their idols, Samuel called them to go to Mizos and interceded on their behalf. He prayed for revival. Prayer is where revival begins.

When the Philistines heard the Israelites were gathered, they prepared an attack. The people pleaded for Samuel not to stop. He prepared a burnt offering and cried out to God. His burnt offering was offered along with his prayer, so that the people’s committing themselves to God is again not merely a matter of words.

God threw the Philistines into confusion, so they were defeated by the Israelites. He answered Samuel’s prayer with a “yes.”

On a scale of 1 to 10, how active is your prayer life?
1 - Non-existent
5- Only when I need something
10- Daily

What can you do to spend more time with God?

How can you and your family spend more time together in prayer?

In your own words, describe how revival begins with prayer and what it means for you and your family.

Spend time praying for your child, your family, your church, your friends and neighbors, and yourself.

1: Elkanah had two wives. In the early part of biblical history, polygamy was a common practice for men. The New Testament only portrays marriage as a monogamous relationship. We cannot easily explain in this limited space why polygamy was so widely practiced by our biblical patriarchs.

07/08/2024

! Today is the first day of FUGE! We all made it safe and sound earlier this afternoon. Our schedule is crazy hectic this year and service is spotty, so if you have kids attending they may not respond right away.

If you want to follow your kids’ journeys through the Bible, I’ll be posting them here every morning for you to read!

Theme: Revival Generation
What will your generation be remembered for?

Opening Day: What is Revival?
A Spiritual Awakening
Key Verse: “And my role, who bear my name, humble themselves, pray and seek my face, and turn from their evil, then I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land” (2 Chronicles 7:14)
Life Questions: What is revival? How can I experience it personally and impact my generation?

Throughout history, we have seen the people of God rise and turn back to Him with passion and fervor for their faith in times of great revival. What is revival? It isn’t goosebumps or an emotional high Revival is the spiritual awakening of Gods people to their true nature and purpose. Revival is mainly for God’s people, but those who do not know Christ also benefit because Christians get serious about their faith. Has the time one for another great revival?

Read the key verse, 2 Chronicles 7:14, above.

This week will be centered around this passage. It is found just after King Solomon and the Israelites dedicate the newly built temple. The temple represented a dwelling place for God in the midst of His people. It gave a more visible sign of God’s presence with the people. The people stayed in Jerusalem twenty-three days celebrating the dedication Then, King Solomon sent them home. God appeared to Solomon with a message about how the covenant-based relationship is to be lived.

A covenant is where two or more parties agree to live in relationship together. Each party agrees to bring their parts or their responsibilities to the relationship. Read the verse once more.

What actions do the people bring?

What will God bring?

The people are to humble themselves, pray to God, seek after God’s ways, and turn from their evil ways. These four actions are the foundation to a life in pursuit of God. This was true for the Israelites then, and it’s also true for us today. These actions create within the Christ-follower a mentality of pursuit - or to use our language for camp - a revival.

In turn, God will hear, forgive sin, and heal the land. Since we live in the time after God’s incarnation on earth in the person of Jesus, we have shifted from a brick-and-mortar temple to God’s Spirit swelling in the lives of His people. Romans 10:9 gives another formula to this covenant.

Circle the actions of people. Draw a square around God’s actions.

If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved (Romans 10:9).

Confession and belief equate to humbling ourselves, praying, seeking, and turning. Salvation is Gods response through Jesus to hear, forgive, and heal.

This week, we will dive more into these actions which lead to revival. We will dig into four Bible stories where every day people like you and me chose to live their lives in pursuit of God.

Take time to pray for your child on this opening day of camp. Ask the Lord to easer their nerves and anxieties, to take away any distractions, to open their hearts and minds to Him, and to have fun.

Belong Church- Orlando

03/05/2025

10/30/2024

10/27/2024

08/16/2024

07/28/2024

07/21/2024

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