Elder Election
It is that time again when we select new elders who are going to represent us for Harborside Church.
Elders are volunteers who have been set apart to help govern our congregation spiritually. They are to give us insight and help us understand the will of God for our congregation in the coming year. We are very thankful today that we have some candidates who will share in that responsibility, Michael Carli and Mike Long.
The election will be held on December 10th in both the 9 am and 10:30 am services. The ballot will be digital here on the website or through the Harborside App.
Read Michael and Mike's bios below.
Michael Carli
Michael Carli grew up in Detroit, Michigan, moved to St. Petersburg at the age of 10, and grew up in the Catholic church.
At age 19, he enlisted in the United States Air Force and served for six years. In 1982, at a Billy Graham conference in Boise, Idaho, Michael answered the “Alter call” and accepted Jesus Christ as his personal savior for the first time. For the next 12 years, Michael’s faith progressed through different seasons.
After moving to the Clearwater area in 1992, his 10-year-old daughter prompted him to take her and her brother, Charlie, back to church. (Mathew 19:14).
“I looked in the Yellow Pages for the closest Non-Denominational Christian Church, and Harborside was 5 minutes away.” This church's immediate impact on him (30 years ago this June) changed his life forever. His relationship with Jesus was renewed. After one year of attending consistently, he began serving in the children’s area and teaching the 4th/5th grade boys. That lasted 15 years. He has served with others in the young adult ministry as a leader, and now, my wife Mary and I serve as Marriage Mentors.
Harborside has taught him and his wife, Mary, many life lessons, but if one thing stands out, it is that “God doesn’t call the equipped; He equips the called.”
Michael is also involved in several Tampa Bay ministries outside Harborside, specifically Tres Dias and the teen version Vida Nueva. He served on the Secretariat (governing board) multiple times, including as Chairman. His “faith family” is priceless.
Michael has been married to his fantastic wife Mary for over 21 years, having blended their family in 2002. Their three children are Theresa, who is now 38 and about to have his first grandchild, Paul “Charlie,” who is 35, and Adam, who is 24.
The opportunity to serve our church body as an Elder is hard to put into words. The experiences and the discussions we “get to have” with members in need say it all. To just be available when God calls is a privilege.
Mike Long
Mike Long grew up in Toledo, Ohio, in the Catholic Church, serving as an altar boy and attending Catholic schools. So, “religion” was woven throughout Mike’s childhood and young adult years. “At a young age, I knew my faith in Jesus Christ was my salvation. It wasn’t until after high school that I was introduced to a ‘relationship’ with Christ through a youth event,” Mike says. Attending college brought the usual faith challenges from the secular community. However, his foundation was never shaken despite drifting away from the Catholic Church. As Mike and Danielle, his wife, searched for churches after moving to the area in 1990, they found Harborside. That is where his relationship with Christ began to mature, and the Holy Spirit led him to be baptized by immersion as a sign of fully obeying God’s calling.
Mike and Danielle have been married for 33 years and live in Clearwater. They have two children. Shai graduated from Calvary Christian High School and, in August of this year, graduated from the University of Central Florida. Shai currently serves as the Harborside Chapel Associate and Wedding Coordinator for the Chapel and frequently sings with the Worship Team. Their son Ray graduated from Calvary Christian High School and is a sophomore at Florida State University, pursuing a degree in Athletic Training. Ray enjoys excelling academically and is active in the student ministry at his local church in Tallahassee.
As a family, they are avid Disney fans and enjoy spending time together whenever they can at any Disney park. As Harborside members since 1994, Mike and Danielle have been involved in a number of Ministry areas at the church. Currently, Danielle can be seen giving tours of the Harborside Chapel as a Wedding Volunteer. Mike leads a Men’s Connect Group, serves as a Marriage Mentor with his wife Danielle, and faithfully serves as a percussionist for the Harborside Worship team.
When asked about his desire to serve as an Elder, Mike’s response is simply: “My only desire is to follow the calling God has for me as He uses me to fulfill His plan. My prayer this year comes down to one thing: to be Intentional. If this is His plan for me, then it is my intention to follow His desire.”