Winds of change
Wednesday, October 26, 2011 | Tony Nolan
I am grateful for Eddie Carswell and Roy Morgan for affording me the privilege to serve the Lord as guest speaker at Winter Jam for the last five years. It has been a powerful partnership. We have seen thousands of people encounter Jesus and receive His great salvation. So many, in fact, that if we got them all together, we could fill the stands of Daytona Speedway - TWICE! Our God really is mighty to save! I’m also stoked about the impact we had in caring for Orphans. With the help of many of you reading this blog, we provided sponsorship for thousands of hurting babies. If we gathered all of them together, we could fill Atlanta’s Phillips Arena with their precious smiling faces. It’s been an incredible journey and all glory goes to Jesus Christ!
I was offered an invitation to join Winter Jam again for 2012, but the winds of change have me sailing in a different direction. In John 3, Jesus mentioned that the Spirit of God moves much like the wind. We would all prefer a gentle breeze to smoothly push us along, but sometimes it’s a howling gust. In either case, the thing we must do is hoist the sails of faith, keep our compass fixed on the will of God, and ride the Wind.
I loosed the moorings and set sail, confident that God had more “good works” foreordained for me to accomplish for His glory. Flowing with the Spirit, I have found myself in some exciting waters. I’m invigorated, yet my heart is burdened. There are drowning people in this ocean, and my passion is to help them get into the ship of God’s salvation. Although I cannot see beyond the horizon, nor predict the wind, I’m staying on my charted course to rescue the perishing.
Jesus Christ, the Captain of my ship, gave me a sermon and wants it to be the very heart of my mission. I’ve preached it at a few conferences and churches in recent days, and we saw thousands of people get saved! It’s humbling to sense God’s supernatural touch on a sermon. He also led me to put it in a book, so that Christians can give it to the people they love and see them get saved. It’s to this end, I put my heart and energy. The book will be released the second week of December 2011. My vision is to preach it everywhere I can, to as many people as I can. I envision every drowning soul in America reading the book and millions getting saved.
There is a Chinese proverb that says, “Friends are priceless jewels you wear around your heart.” If that is true, then I’m sporting some serious heart bling! I am very grateful for the friendships I have with thousands of you through Facebook, Twitter, and email. Your messages these past few days have been a rich source of encouragement. Many of you have asked how you can pray for me. Please pray Colossians 1:9-11 over me and my family. You may find that you end up praying it over yourself, as well. They are very powerful words. May God hear our prayers and empower us for the mission!
Warm regards
Tony Nolan
( we apologize for not being able to post all comments due to the mass response to this blog via, email, twitter and FB )
Comments (13)
Oct 26, 2011
May God bless you on your journey Tony! While we would love to see you at WinterJam I also know that when God tells you it’s time to move on you better listen! If you’re ever in southern Ohio & feel like speaking at some little country churches please let me know!
Oct 26, 2011
Love you bro. I pray for you and your family that God will bless your path and guide you along his will. Looking forward to when our path will cross again.
Much love bro. to you and your family
Oct 26, 2011
Hi Tony! First, you know we will be praying for this new chapter in your life. I, for one, can’t wait to hear this sermon that God has placed on your heart. Second, thank you for pointing me to Col 1:9-11 today, brother. I’ve felt defeated all day until I started reading verse 9 and it was if a chorus of saints was telling me they had my back. God is good and I thank you for being a faithful servent.
Oct 26, 2011
My Bro. Tony!!! Man, I love you! I read Col. 1:9-11 and was truly blessed. As I pray that for you I ask you would pray that for me. I join you in praying for this winds of change journey for our land! I beleive were either closer now for Christs return or revival breaking out in our land. Something has to give!!! 2 God be the Glory!!
Oct 26, 2011
Tony - I have been blessed to hear you speak the last 3 years at WinterJam in Tampa. We have adopted three orphans as a family and have been richly blessed by your writings and sermons. I am so excited to see what the Lord is doing through you, and to read your book! I pray His power and grace and love over you as you journey on. Well done!
Oct 26, 2011
You will be missed this year! May God bless you in your new endeavors!
Oct 26, 2011
Your words helped Jesus come into my sons soul he was baptized this month.It was winterjam 2011 in Cinci. oh.We will miss you but He trumps all…Sail on Brother
Oct 26, 2011
This seems to be the year of God calling his servants into new and uncharted waters. My wife and I are tewn youth leaders im a small church im Va. We thought we were being called to lead both jr and sr teens, but God called us to stay solely with the younger group forcing us to let go of a group we had watched grow up (so to speak) over the last three years. It is in no small matter due to your energy and encouragement that we have been able to do what we do as we sail together may God remain our anchor.
Oct 26, 2011
Brother Tony, Im so thankful that I had the opportunity to hear you the last two years at Winterjam. You are a TRUE role model and have inspired me personally to go all out for God. I know how the church must have felt when they received letters of encourgement from Paul because when I see your posts or comments on twitter or fb it encourages me to be bold for my Saviour! I will pray for you and your family daily!
Oct 27, 2011
I am sure you will be missed @ Winter Jam. God has a new and different ‘Jam’ He has laid on your heart. Psalms 38:9 says “Lord all my desire is before You, and my sighing is not hidden from You.” God knows and is going before you, in preparation of All that need the message. Thank you for allowing us to follow your journey;”..increasing in the knowledge of God;..” We will be praying for you as you share and invite others to accept in the inheritance of eternal life. To the Praise of His Glory! ~ Christy
Oct 27, 2011
Hey Tony,
Let me first say you will be missed at Winter Jam but I praise God every day that day in Nashville on the 13th of March you said something that encouraged me to be baptized. Life has not been milk and honey but I know now that God is my captain and I will make it though.
Second I pray God’s richest blessing on you and your family! May you spread the word of God to the hopeless.
Third that little Joy Fei Fei grows in the love of God!
Your Sister in Christ
Emily
Oct 28, 2011
What a true blessing and encouragement you have been to my heart! Your life and ministry are truly a reflection of how Great an Awesome our GOD REALLY HIS! You have such a gift from God and I’m so excited to best about all God has done in and through you, and what is getting ready to accomplish because of your obedience and faithfulness to HIm! Thank you Tony for putting Christ on display and for renewing my hope for our lost world! I can’t wait to share your new book with my lost family members and friends! GOD is soo GOOD and I’m so thankful to HIM for You!!!
Love in CHRIST,
Dawn
Nov 12, 2011
I pray for you Tony, Tammy & all the children GOD has placed in your home & in your Jesus Heart He placed in your vessel you have given over full surrender to Him FOREVER….
It has blessed my socks off watching GOD use you Bro. So, you have my eternal prayers!!
His Eternal Servant
Miss Janette Hames, FBCWoodstock, GA