Winter Jam Tour Spectacular is not just the largest Christian music tour in the nation. It’s an opportunity to get real.
Tony Nolan, founder of TNT Ministries, leads the charge by telling his story – some of his story – at Winter Jam concerts. Here’s more about the man who is guest speaker on the tour.
– credit tonynolan.org
Meet Tony
He’s been called a reaper of souls, a harvest evangelist. He’s also been called authentic and down-to-earth; animated, funny, real. Most of all, he’s been called by God to preach the Gospel across the country.
Tony’s love for Jesus fuels his pursuit of those, who are far from God; and his greatest joy comes from pouring into people, who desperately need hope.
A hurt healer
Tony is well-acquainted with the harshness of the human experience. But he has been rescued and redeemed by the astonishing intervention of Jesus Christ, and he now seeks out others in-need of healing.
“God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen.”
—Paul (1 Cor. 1:27-28)
Born to a woman, who was selling herself, to survive, Tony had an inauspicious start. After his mother was admitted to a psychiatric facility, Tony was placed with foster guardians, who repeatedly abused him.
When Tony was 3 years old he was adopted by a new family for a fee of $200. He grew-up in a notoriously dangerous neighborhood, known as “Sin City,” in Jacksonville, Florida. His childhood was marred by poverty and continued abuse.
“You aren’t worth the $200 I paid for you.” Those words, hurled at Tony by his adoptive father, scarred him deeply. Like many, who have been traumatized at a young age, Tony turned to alcohol and drugs, to escape the intolerable pain and longing.
On February 24, 1989, when he was 24, Nolan woke-up from a failed-attempt at suicide.
Later that evening, he joined his stepbrother at a Bible study, where he heard the Good News of God’s great love through Jesus Christ. Tony placed his faith in Jesus, and his spirit awakened to new life.
God whispered powerfully in Tony’s heart, “Your dad said, he regretted spending $200 on you; but I have never regretted purchasing you with the priceless blood of my Son!” The truth of God’s mercy, grace, and love overtook Tony that dark night. God’s deep, abiding love continues to bring healing to his deepest wounds.
A harvest evangelist
In the years since he met Jesus, Tony has been dedicated to sharing this Good News of God’s redeeming love with masses of people in sanctuaries and arenas, everywhere.
Tony spent several years as tour-pastor and Gospel-communicator with the Casting Crowns Lifesong-tour and the Winter Jam Tour Spectacular. The tours stopped in more than 220 U.S. cities, resulting in 400,000 professions of faith in Christ over five years.
Tony has also preached to large crowds at Christian Family Day at Busch Stadium, in St. Louis; Xtreme Conferences; Creation Fest; the Southern Baptist Convention; and Break Forth Canada. God continues to use Tony, to reap hundreds of thousands of souls at outreach events and weekly church services across the country.
Tony is a graduate of Criswell College in Dallas, Texas. After serving as a pastor to college students and singles, Tony moved into full-time evangelism and founded TNT Ministries alongside his wife, Tammy, in 2000.
Tony currently serves as a teaching pastor for Freedom Church in Acworth, Georgia, and also for SouthCrest Church in Newnan, Georgia. He and his family live in Georgia. He has written the book called “GASP!” with the tag line, “You will spend forever somewhere: How to make sure it’s heaven.” The book is available online by clicking HERE.
For more information on Tony Nolan go to www.tonynolan.org
