Tony Nolan & ‘Winter Jam’ – Eternal Connections

Skillet had just finished their thunderous set, and I stepped into the spotlight and up to the mic before a massive, sold-out audience. I recall starting with a quote from Louie Giglio’s book, I Am Not But I Know I Am. Giglio said, “Life is short. Our time on earth is brief. We better make sure we are living for the stuff that lasts forever.” I then told the audience about Alex, Ashlee and Brandon.

L-R: Skillet’s John Cooper & Jeremy Camp. Photo: Adam Mowery

I spoke about Brandon and his prodigal son experience; how his parents were blessed to see him come back, and they were certain his soul was now in heaven. I told them about Alex and his outstanding testimony of being a follower of Jesus. Then, with tears welling up in my eyes, I shared about Ashlee, how she came to the concert and heard me preach the Gospel of Jesus. I exclaimed how she repented and believed, then told her friends at the concert how the massive weight of her sins had been lifted off of her heart! Two hours later she met her Maker, face-to-face. I proceeded to tell the crowd that’s why Winter Jam shares the Gospel every night and operates from a very deep conviction that everybody is going to spend forever somewhere. There are only two options: Heaven or Hell. I, then, invited all of them to embrace Giglio’s wisdom and to be prepared for eternity.

Gene fell under deep conviction and awe of God’s grace that night. He was swept up in God’s love for his own soul. He had not known of Christ. The only time he could remember praying was when he heard the helicopter landing on the roof, “God, let this be the one.” Now God was clearly answering his request, “Gene, you have no idea about the life I want to give to you!” Gene buckled under the news: God didn’t just want him to live, He wanted him to live forever. A year earlier, God gave him a new liver and now He was giving him a new life! Gene was swallowed up by the Gospel, repented, believed in Jesus, and was raised to new life in Christ!

There are more stories. I have been the Winter Jam tour preacher for eight years and none of the stories get old. They are moments that mark a minister, like when you get to see joyful tears roll down the cheeks of forgiven sinners, a face long with low self-worth, now beaming with the news that he or she is priceless! A soul, soaked in the sea of past regrets, now rescued and sailing in the ocean of God’s mercy! Winter Jam has set my faith ablaze by seeing the ferocious activity of God’s redemptive intervention. I’m not alone. Hundreds of thousands that have gathered around the Winter Jam stage, in a rave of worship to the King of Kings, leave with their hearts on fire for His Kingdom come, His will be done on earth, as it is in Heaven!

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