A quick look back..

2012. 

January

          I had just flown back from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania and had just about moved back to Southern California. Living out of a few different houses, I began breaking through in the colleges in SoCal with a fresh team. We made our trip to USC which would lead to our first evangelistic music festival, Launchfest. I, then, made a trip up to NorCal, where we connected with a network of revivalists, going hard after it and seeing ridiculous fruit. The guys from Awakening 209. 

February

          After a week or so longer in SoCal, the Lord flew us out to the east coast, where our team and I made a tour of a few university campuses on the eastern half of America. I was able to help and serve, YWAM Harrisburg's Fire and Fragrance DTS (Discipleship Training School) in Pennsylvania, minister at the Resting Place House of Prayer in New Jersey, stir revival in the hearts of students at Regent University and Liberty University in Virginia, Lee University in Tennessee, fruitfully impacting students and staff in these areas. 

         Feb of 2012, I was also able to make a trip out to YWAM Kona, Hawaii with my friend Samuel Rodriguez and our ministry leader, Brian Brennt. During this eight or nine day trip, we got to minister to students as Brian shared on Cultures of Revival. We were also to bring together students of different schools and lead some simple worship sessions that broke out in power as the Lord showed up. In eight days, we saw over 50 healings and dozens of souls saved! 

          Also in February, I was accepted to Faith Evangelical Seminary and began attending college for my very first time! Goin' strong!

March

           Along with strengthening relationships with universities in SoCal, we made a connect with Isla Vista Church, who are among the group of my most favorite people. There we had a firsthand experience of "Jesus Burgers" and of course, FMLYBND. 

           After another trip up to NorCal to share and minister, we flew out yet again to the east coast, but this time for a tour of the midwest. We drove to Lee University again to partner with LUKE18, a friendship that I would never have realized would such a huge role alongside our ministry in 2013. Then, we drove to Oklahoma where we ministered to and prophesied over a group of high school students. We also stopped by Oral Roberts University to make some divine connections! Finally, we made our way to the International House of Prayer in Kansas City to connect once more with LUKE18. Divine!

April

          In the month of April, I'm not 100% sure exactly what I did. I think sometime this month, I officially moved in with the Brennts, visited and connected with a lot of long-term and fresh university ministries / students and ministered a bunch to my family and friends back home. What did I do during you, April? What did I do during you?! 

          Also, skier.

May 

          In the month of May, a team and I made a trip yet again to the east coast, this time to New York. We drove up to Lake Saranac for a conference that was hosted by InterVarsity. Basileia. We were there to lead ministry and lead worship. We had some smaller gatherings there where students first experienced the Presence of God and even deliverance. 

          We began to prepare administratively for the 5 Circuit Riders schools that would soon take place.  Preparing also our hearts as much as the locations which the schools were to be held. 

          But more importantly, much more important than all that was said, I celebrated my 21st birthday.

June

          Circuit Riders Orlando (YWAM Orlando). If only I could begin to speak about what birthed here. A few hundred students showed up to the school and we first experienced the Circuit Riders curriculum taking root in just two weeks. 

          Los Angeles (YWAM LA). Circuit Riders gathered again in the city of LA to be trained in evangelism, preaching and sustaining revival culture. We experienced a huge number of salvations at this school in particular!

July

          I made my first trip to Europe as I flew over to London (YWAM Harpenden) for our third Circuit Rider school of the year. Where people had said, "London is too developed and hard toward the gospel," we saw healings and salvations break out on its streets!

          YWAM Denver hosted a Circuit Riders school, as well. There I saw for the very first time, the Lord opened the eyes of the blind in America. Never before, had I experienced such a thing. Never before.

August

           For our last official CR school of 2012, Circuit Riders partnered with IHOP-KC to host the biggest one so far. There a greater friendship was developed between the two ministries, which allows for the Lord to move much more powerfully! "Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are My disciples." 

           Coming back to California, we made a trip down to San Diego, where we attended a Xealots conference. I got the opportunity to share a few testimonies of the Circuit Riders and we experienced the power of God, even through a simple testimony. "By the word of our testimony, we will overcome the evil one."

          We also started a gathering in out garage called the Gathering. 

September

           I had the privilege of speaking into the curriculum of a training / crusade that would happen in Nigeria called Impact Nigeria. In a period of just six weeks or so, they witnessed over 550 salvations! Healing and the power of God broke out in the masses! 

           Of course, in September, we held our very first evangelistic music festival, Launchfest, which brought together the the Christians on the campus around the goal of soul-winning and lead to over 150 salvations and hundreds of students getting encountered by the real deal, loving Jesus. 

October

           We cancelled the Gathering.

           In October, we wrapped up event, of Launchfest, not USC, of course. We prioritized following up with students who received salvation or wanted to reconnect. During a later trip to Kona, we were told the story of a friend of a student of Community Transformations DTS, that one her friends received salvation at USC and is still burning powerfully for the Lord! 

           As the Gathering came to a close, the Lord spoke powerfully of an online alternative, which would plug in our network of Riders world wide into what was happening and how the Lord was moving! Brian Brennt and Andy Byrd have been streaming faithfully updates, encouragements, exhortations, inspiration!

           Alongside the livestream, we were closing in on our very first SEND event that would be held at Biola University!

November

         Vanguard University. A ministry on the campus, themselves, organized an awakening event that would lead to students being stirred for revival on their college. This was huge as our heart truly is to inspire and spread these training / evangelistic events! 

         Biola University. The SEND. The Send broke new ground as we trained a couple hundred students in simple gospel preaching and stirred them to revival in a two day event. Students took charge, preached to the lost and committed their lives to the gospel. 

          UCLA. We held two events at UCLA, the first was the Pre-Drop which was a gathering of Christians on the campus to worship, pray and share what was on their hearts for their university. 

          The Drop Off. At the end of the month, we held our first of three evangelistic events that would take place on UCLA's campus. Around 500 students gathered as Presence filled music overtook the room. Just like Launchfest, students at this event received salvation, healing and an encounter with the Jesus of the bible, very much alive today.

December

          A few friends and I took a trip to the YWAM base in Harrisburg to share and speak at a DTS. While we were there in Pennsylvania, we made a trip to Lancaster, an Amish city, to assess and help with the planning of the Lancaster Circuit Riders School which will be held late summer this year. Of course, sneaking a peek at some stadiums for the Lord to fill, sometime very soon.

          After this trip to the east, our entire house took a trip to back to Kona, Hawaii to help with the training of their Fire and Fragrance DTS staff. As the Circuit Rider curriculum became a bigger part of the DTS curriculum, we had the privilege of share with the staff of the school. 

Brother and/or sister, if you are still here and reading, shoot me a message on my email, I want to personally thank you. I am honored that you would take your time like this and read this method of my madness. jacktong7@live.com

As I look back, truly, truly, the first three words that pop into my mind are, "Thank You, Lord." I am so thankful because of the honor of being a part of what I am a part of, a part of what God is doing on the earth today. I want to thank You, Jesus. Without Him, I am nothing. All I have done, as little or much as it seems depending on the day, it is all second to the privilege and honor of knowing Him. Oh, and how my soul longs to make Jesus, Lord, more and more, day after day. And it's only as I do that, that I see the Lord use me more in every aspect. 

Looking back, it seems like so much. But I know with all my heart that this year will be be much, much more. Philippians 3: 13b - 14 "... reaching forward to those things which are ahead. I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. "

love, jacktong.

| S T R I K E T O U R |

What really happened at Launchfest?

LAUNCHFEST @ USC

The first of many evangelistic gatherings to come to the fields of university campuses in all of AMERICA.

For multiple months, our team in Southern California put our best efforts into putting on an evangelistic gathering on the fields of university campuses. The Lord responded to the faithfulness of the team and poured out favor and our first field was underway.

LAUNCHFEST would be the name and September 25th to the 28th would be the dates. A four day music festival to gather the students of the University of Southern California (USC had just been voted the #2 party school in all of America by Playboy Magazine) to preach the gospel and see souls won for the Kingdom of God.

Through miracles upon miracles, the Lord took a hold of the event and endlessly, it felt like, poured out His favor. From the cost of the entire event to the landing of a space shuttle, our little pioneering minority plus God pulled off the event.

LAUNCHFEST EXPLODES

From DAY 1, students encountered the living God and began to weep and give their lives back to Jesus. By Friday, the night of the field, the soil had been tilled and the atmosphere was open.

Over a 2-3 hours period, well over a thousand students gathered as live music began to play and draw a crowd. The presence of God fell on the field and we felt it was time to share the Good News.

As the music died down, the presentation of the simple gospel began. As our friend spoke of the power of the cross, it seemed as if the entire university fell silent. He spoke of the Redeemer, the Father, the Friend, the Savior. Not a soul left as God's words pierced through the air. As he brought the gospel to a conclusion, he asked those who wanted to give their hearts back to the Father to raise their hands. Across the field, we saw over 150 hands go up and move to the front of the crowd. As they prayed the sinner's prayer with the sincerity of their hearts, they received Jesus Christ and began a relationship with the son of God.

This is the Good News. Those who were forever destined for an eternity in hell, will forever be with our Father in heaven. This IS the good news.



The Future

Since LAUNCHFEST, we have been planning similar evangelistic events on secular university campuses. Over 25 universities in Southern California, including many more elsewhere, have opened their doors to us to come and help them in setting up events like LAUNCHFEST.

As we line up a tour of Southern California, we are seeking the Lord on direction, prompting our hearts to constantly obey.


Partner With Me.

Thank you for those who have partnered with me and faithfully given to expand the Kingdom here on earth! I am so thankful that with your help, I can continue to obey the will of the Lord over my life. Thank you!

Whether it be one time or monthly, if you are interested at all in partnering with me as I continue work for the advancement of the gospel, please feel free to get in contact with me, via my website, facebook, phone or email.

The Reality of the Situation

Circuit Riders Orlando. This was the start of my summer. We showed up in Orlando a few days early to prepare for the first Circuit Riders school of 2012. What happened during even the first three days would shift my life forever.

Over the past few months, many obscure circumstances occurred that led to the loss of much of my finances. And everything that I treasured or owned seemed to be under attack; relationships, belongings, finances. Damaged, broken, lost or stolen. I, nor any of my friends, could not figure out why, or how, this was happening.

Over the past few months, my friends and I had sought the LORD for answers/replies to these situations and had yet to receive revelation on the circumstance...


So, before the start of Circuit Riders Orlando, as staff, we felt the need to get rid of every last bit of offense in our hearts, that offense would steal from our lives and the LORD's plans for us and these schools. It was then that one of our staff members brought the WORD.

2 Timothy 2:4
"No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him."

I was always known as the servant-hearted one, the generous one, the selfless one. And this was what I considered myself to be as well.. I was dead wrong.

I, nonchalantly, walked outside to pray and repent of any offense I might have had in my heart. I remember praying for two other people, then it was my turn and so we began to seek the Lord on what was going on in my heart.

The LORD began to bring to light that all of the offenses that I had in my heart were toward HIM, the ALMIGHTY. I was offended because I was serving GOD with all that I had, but it seemed as though HE was refusing to provide for me and withholding every possible blessing from my life.

The moment I repented of this sin, the LORD began to bring greater revelation. Revelation of my heart, then revelation of HIS heart for me.

HE showed me the desires of my heart. I knew that my heart was for HIM and that I longed to serve HIM with all that I had, but I didn't see the fine print I had typed up myself. Even after months and months of removing my entitlements, I still had a ton of if's and but's I didn't want to let go of.

I had never really been selfless. I was self-indulgent, self-centered, self-seeking, selfish.

I began to repent, "JESUS, forgive me for all my selfishness. For worrying about my future. For not trusting YOU."
I began to release, "LORD, I give YOU all my civilian pursuits. I give YOU all my finances. I give YOU all my relationships, all my comforts, my parents, my reputation, my wife, my friends, my children, my hopes, my dreams, my visions, my heart, my love, my calling, my strength, my body, my thoughts, my life. I give YOU all of me. My self."
Then, in my heart, I began to receive, peace.



In true vulnerability, I share with you the reality of the situation. Honestly, it hasn't gotten much better, everything I own seems to still be.. deteriorating. But in my heart, there is ever-fortifying peace.

I've lost thousands dollars to some pretty incomprehensible circumstances since the beginning of the year. I am currently in a lawsuit, haphazardly. I've lost things I've owned, now including my laptop. My relationship with my parents is continually improving, but they can no longer support me financially in what I do. Not to mention the cost of what I do for a living. Haha..

But I can honestly say that I am writing with a smile, joking with my friends around me about my phenomenal articulation. I know the LORD has got me covered. I know HE will provide for me everyday. JESUS is kind of the best. At least I think so.

Because back then, in my heart, I began to receive, peace.
And I haven't stopped receiving it, since.

 |I live to advance the Kingdom of God, here on earth because| 

                                           |I  A M  N O T  M Y  O W N|

Month of March Update!

So, when we last left off, our hero, Jack Tong, had just returned from a trip to Kona, Hawaii. I'm here to tell you, that much has happened since that trip in the beginning of March.

Just kidding.

Students at Lee prophesying over their school

Okay, since that trip to Kona where the Lord showed up in miraculous ways, lots has happened. During the month of March, I flew back out to the East Coast for a tour through the Midwest which would take us to Tennessee, Oklahoma and then to Missouri. 

In Tennessee, we connected with the 

Luke 18 Project, a ministry out of the International House of Prayer, for a conference at Lee University. During this conference, many students came from the University and received greater levels of freedom and were commissioned to do the mighty works of God! 

From there, we drove to Oklahoma where we had some friends. There we had a few opportunities for ministry and lots of opportunities for connections. 

The first ministry opportunity allowed us to minister to a wild group of high school students. One of our team members shared her testimony of how she experienced a mini revival in her high school and stirred these students up with a passion to do the same! It was so amazing to see such a young group so fiery for the Lord!

This next one was definitely one of my favorites. We were able to meet and spend quality time with a family of 10 or so. They were so hungry and so passionate about Jesus, we instantly became a part of the family. We were able to worship with them and prophesy and speak into their lives, which was an incredible privilege for us. I am looking forward to seeing them as they have decided to come out to one of our Circuit Rider schools. 

Oral Roberts University

While in Oklahoma, we were able to visit Oral Roberts University where we made some solid connections with the hopes of working with them in the future. We are setting up for a huge and wild move of God through Oral Roberts that will launched them fully into the nations of the earth!!

Out of Oklahoma, we made our way to Kansas City, Missouri to visit some friends at IHOP and also to connect further with the leaders of the Luke 18 Project. We were able to share vision and build relationship with them. They are running with a similar vision to see the universities of America catalyzed. They are so amazing and we are looking forward to partnering with them!!

The Lord is moving in all the different regions of America! We are hearing about it, seeing it, experiencing it everywhere we travel! 

Pour out Your Spirit, God! 

We are stirred and awaiting Your great move!

Well friends, that was the month of March. After this tour, I made a trip home for a bit of a while. It was a season of hardship, rest and revelation. I haven't written a revelation blog in a bit, I might do that next. I will be sure to write about my time at home. 

Kona, Hawaii

Last week, I made a trip out to the YWAM base in Kona, Hawaii. It was a little bit of a homecoming for me, which I rather enjoyed. But as much as it was enjoyable for me, I once again saw the Lord doing a greater work in Hawaii, as with the rest of the world.

The Lord prompted a trip out to Kona on our hearts. We sought the Lord on timing and believing that He spoke, we decided to make the trip during the same days that our leader, Brian Brennt, would be teaching at a Discipleship Training School (DTS). Through Brian, the Lord did a mighty work, stirring up the hearts of students and instilling in them the need to not just love, but carry the culture of revival.

And with this message that Brian gave, we were led by the Lord to gather anyone and everyone who was willing to prioritize their time and seek the Lord. So for five nights straight, we gathered every night from 8:30 until around 1 or 2 in the morning.

It was so simple, so very simple. We gathered with two guitars, two djembes and a handful of people. We worshipped the Lord and prophesied the breakthrough that was coming. Then the Lord moved us into a time of praying for healing. From the first night, we saw a couple dozen healings. First an ankle, then a shoulder, then a back and it just would not stop. After that, we felt the Holy Spirit asking us to ask for a fresh baptism of faith and fire. And so, we did just that. People experienced deeper levels of the Holy Spirit then before. The Lord took us all into deeper levels of faith in the power of the Holy Spirit.

This went on, consecutively, for five nights straight. In a collection of about 8 days, we witnessed at least 50+ healings, a few dozen salvations. Signs, miracles, wonders! It CAN happen in America. It already is.



These meetings are still going on in Kona. The staff and students on base have taken up the responsibility as their own. The organization is primitive, the worship is raw, the message is simple. But that's how we know that the Lord is divinely intervening. It really is that simple. I also believe that these meetings are much more significant than we know.

One of the most important thing that the Lord is showing, as with the trip out to the YWAM base in Harrisburg, it that He truly is raising up the new breed. It is no longer for a search of one or two students who are sold out for revival, but it is now an entire generation calling out to the Father for mercy. It really is the new breed. There really is a new wave rising and an entire generation is on it.


REVIVAL IS HERE. LET'S GO.

East Coast Circuit

Sammy, my ministry leader and partner, and I made a trip out to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. We felt a tug in our hearts from the Lord to make a trip to visit the community there and seek out ministry opportunities. Again, I keep writing and rewriting the intro to this blog. Again, there's nothing else, other than the fact that God is moving is ALL of America. 

The first week in Harrisburg, we connected with the staff and students of a Discipleship Training School, being run out of the YWAM base in Harrisburg. We were able to pour out and be poured into during this first week. The most important thing that we noticed from meeting the students of this new DTS, was that the Lord is truly raising up an entire generation. That this outpouring of His Spirit wouldn't be ushered in by one face or one name, but that an entire generation would bring in the harvest. As I met all of the students individually, I noticed that we were carrying the same message, the same heart. That the a new wave has started off of the coast of America and we were all riding it together. I met many people that I believe will run with me for a longer period of time. Praise Him.

The second week, 10 of us mobilized in a 15 passenger van, packed our bags for the week and started driving. Our first destination was Resting Place House of Prayer in New Jersey. There, we got to minister to the hearts of many and get filled up with the Holy Spirit for the upcoming trip. 

We, then, drove down to Virginia to visit Regent University. At Regent, we made contact with a person we would meet for the first time. He blessed us with an open place to minister and called a group of students together. We were able to share our vision, our heart and at Regent, 40-50 students fully surrendered all that they had and said yes to the cost of revival. 

Similarly, we were able to share at Liberty University in Virginia. We had an audience of a few dozen students, most of whom received prayer from us and truly caught this vision of revival. We had testimonies of healing, radical surrender and restoration at Liberty. We believe that Liberty is key in this coming revival with the influence that the university carries and with its many students.

Lastly, before driving up 10 hours back to Harrisburg, we visited Lee University in Cleveland, Tennessee. There, a group on the campus gathered for us a group of about 150 to 200 students to worship and hear our message. We, once again, dropped the message that our Father has been developing in our hearts. The message of full surrender and revival culture. From this university, we also had testimonies of healing, experiencing the love of the Father, inner-healing and just the power of the Spirit in so many ways. 

The Lord is doing something in this generation. We see this coming revival and, obviously, so does the Lord. He is preparing the nets. He is harvesting the harvesters. So that, when, not if, revival breaks out, we will be ready. We will be capable of leading and discipling the 80 million, He will release. We need to be laid down lovers. We need to be all in. 

Revival is here. Let's Go. 

Wide Open Doors

I wrote and rewrote multiple introductions to this blog, but they all feel a little off. But it's as simple as the fact that the Lord is good and that He is doing amazing things all over America.

In SoCal, we visited multiple colleges including all of the major universities. What we are finding on this universities is that there is always at least one. At least one of group friends, one club on campus, one ministry nearby or sometimes just one person, on fire, burning for Jesus, sold out for revival. Running with the same zeal and hunger for breakthrough on these campuses. We have connected with these clubs/ministries/friends with plans already to meet, hang out, pray and seek the Lord. At USC, UCLA, UCSD, UCI, UCR, CBU and others that I can't recall at the moment. 

As an example of the open doors; at CBU, Cal Baptist University, we held our first meeting with a group called WAKE. We got together a few days previous and sought the Lord for guidance and direction. The following Tuesday, we spent the afternoon handing out flyers, inviting student to a night of lifting worship to the Lord. We gathered about 150 students and spent 3-4 hours worshiping God. During these 3-4 hours, many students first experienced the love of the Father and many of them fully surrendered their lives to Him. We even saw a brother receive salvation on the spot. At a Baptist University. 

We have already been given the opportunity to come and speak into many of these ministries that are on these campuses. To release the message that the Lord is cultivating in this season. The message of the simple gospel, full surrender.

We also made a week-long trip to Northern California. During that week, we had the opportunity to connect with a few of the ministries in the area which were already tapping into revival. As we took part in these ministries, we were able to serve/pray for/speak into the ministry and their leaders. The Lord is releasing the same message all over America. Simple gospel, full surrender. 

We were able to serve in a ministry called One Voice, which is a ministry focused on the younger generation. Raising up students at a younger age to carry the message of revival, and fully surrender their lives to the Lord. They held a 12-hour prayer meeting, to End Rebellion & Restore Prayer. The event was powerful, gathering much youth and influence. For 12 hours, they shifted the heavens and petitioned the Lord for an outpouring of His spirit over America. We believed, together, for revival in people's hearts and in our nation. Many of the youth got filled up with the Holy Spirit and exalted the Lord with all they had. Devoting their entire lives to live out the gospel of Jesus. 

I am currently on the East Coast, working with YWAM Harrisburg to ride and set up the circuits in the universities on this side of America, just like the West Coast. We will be heading out for a week long trip to 3 different universities to stir the message of revival again. Praise.

The earth is moving, the heavens are shifting. I believe revival is already happening. A new wave is rising. 

Simple Gospel. Full Surrender.