I am so excited about the lives touched this past week. And though it's fairly common in our ministry to hear of reports, not many have flooded in quite like this past weekend at the MMX Winter Retreat for PennDel District. I have removed only a few things that were sensitive in nature but I wanted to provide for you several testimonies of God's goodness and power:
Name: dylan
I just want you to know God hasn't given me that miracle. I'm striving for it i have a pretty messed up life I'm really trying to pull through my mom passed like 3yrs ago an she was the one who built my faith she was in so much pain every day of my childhood an she just smiled cause she knew God was their in her an around her an since she passed I've been broken down even more because my dad's an alcoholic an does drugs I've been praying for him ever since i could walk through my church doors an i feel beaten an angry an i just want that feeling back that I am a strong person my old youth pastor Sean Bentley once brought me in front of my whole church an called me little David from the Bible an i want that faith an strength back my body is built strong around me but I'm a weak man inside. But I know God will help me through and you showed me that so thank you.
Name: Ashley
Message: I'm sixteen years old and I feel so connected through God. I feel like the mission He gave me is incredible. I feel so happy and so determined to make a change in this world, in my friends, my family, and complete strangers. From the trials I faced at birth by being four months premature and having the doctor tell my parents my twin brother and I were not going to make it, I realized that as easily as I could have died, God saved us. He saved us because He gave me a mission and I know that I can accomplish this mission. You were at Winter Retreat, and you preaching really made me look. Not only did it open my eyes, but my heart even more then before. I just wanted to thank you. I know God will take you and your beautiful family far.
I only regret not being able to tell you in person. Thank You for reading (: Tony, I can't honestly thank you enough for coming to Winter Retreat and preaching. It changed my life. I am so connected to God and I am now much more realizing of my mission. The way you preach opened my eyes and my heart even more to God. I feel like a whole new person with an entire new meaning to life. Your humor made then preaching light and fun. I feel more connected to God then ever. Thanks for EVERYTHING. -Ashley
Name: Nicole
Message: Tony, I was at Carlisle for Winter Retreat when you spoke. You were amazing. “If you have a pulse, you have a purpose.” I loved every sermon every night. They have motivated me. Thank you! (:
Name: Sierra
Message: Hi, Tony! I just wanted to thank you for coming to the Penndel Winter Retreat. Your sermon on healing is what I wanted to write about. When you spoke about your father, it really touched me. When I was growing up, my parents had always been separated and I spent certain days with my dad, which was fine with me, because I didn't know any different. But, around 8, my dad went to prison. In fact, he just got out a few months ago, almost eight years later. And when he came back, he wanted to spend time with me and my sisters. But I was so hurt by him leaving us that I was very bitter. I didn't want to spend time with him, because I felt like he had abandoned me when I needed him the most, as I was becoming a teenager and trying to figure things out. But, you told us to come up to the front and just have a leader hug us. And when I did, I felt like God was just telling me to let the hurts go, because He had made everything beautiful, whether I saw it or not. God was asking me to learn to love again, and reminding me that while my earthly father was gone, he was always there. I just want to thank you for following God that weekend. God bless your ministry.
Name: teresa
Message: thank you tony winter retreat was a blast i went for change and you know what i was changed big-time i had the worst life I’m adopted and your sermons last weekend helped me alot when i first got there i felt like no one loved me then Saturday after your sermon my chaperone gave me a hug and neither of us said anything and we both broke down crying like we didn’t have to say anything to each other we kinda talked by the hug it was soo amazing!!! THANKS A TON
Name: karley
Message: dear tony, i was at the winter retreat on Jan.29-31. i came to one of the alter calls (the one with the fence) I've never felt so connected to God, to life, to everything. i just wanted to say thanks because that one weekend, one day, one alter call changed my look on things. i hope i can listen to your service real soon.
Name: Alyssa
Message: Dear Tony,
I was at winter retreat last week end. On Saturday morning when you told the story about your Dad passing away it really helped me. For over a year I have been feeling like nobody in the world knew what I was going though or how I felt. My Dad passed away last January from Diabetes .When my mom told me I was just said okay. I wouldn't let myself feel anything, everyone kept asking how I was so calm about everything and I couldn't give them a reason. When someone would try and talk to me about it I would change the subject. I felt like I just existed. My friends told me they knew how I felt, but I knew they couldn't possibly know what I was dealing with. I was mad at God for taking him, and I was mad at myself for still being here when he wasn't. Me and my Dad were really close when I was little then we grew apart, the months before he died things felt like they were falling into place. That we were growing closer again, but now it's hard for me to grasp that I will never know what was going to happen. I have tons of different thoughts going through my mind about getting older and not having my Dad here .How long will it take for me to overcome this? During the allure call when you said if you just needed someone to hug you and tell you that God loves you I couldn't respond I wanted to but I couldn't make myself stand up and walk to the front, because I knew if I went up I would end up crying, I thought that crying meant that I was week and I have been telling myself that for what seemed like forever. One of my youth leaders from my church came up behind me, hugged me, and prayed with me and I cried for the first time in over a year. But you made me realize that I was never alone, God was always there I just had to seek him and listen to what he had to say. During worship I heard him say that everything was going to be okay. Thanks for being there this weekend. I know that know I'm going to be okay. With God all things are possible! Thanks so much, Alyssa
Name: Sarah
Message: Hi Tony! I just wanted to share something with you. At the MMX winter retreat, on the 30th you spoke about wounds. This really ministered to me. I have been having a rough couple of months…...Well your message really spoke to me, and now I am holding on to God's hand, laying everything down at His feet, AND NOT PICKING IT UP AGAIN! So thank you so much for allowing God to use you!
HERE ARE A FEW MORE THAT REACHED ME ON FACEBOOK
Melanie
i went to winter retreat the week you spoke and your sessions changed my life you let me see God in a different way so i wanted to thank you!
Nicole
Pastor Tony! I went to the 29-31 Winter Retreat. You were amazing! You made such a big differance in my life JUST by that weekend. Thank You.(:
Adam
Dear Tony,
Thank you so much for your awesome work this past weekend. It spoke to me so much, and I felt God's presence like no other. From all that has went on, I look back on a lot of the mistakes I was making now, and I don't even want to touch them. Not even being back a day, I have my first mission: my girlfriend wishes to have a strong relationship with The Lord. Thank you so much for helping me get there. I know you love hearing stories of success. I wanted to talk to you over the break but I came down with pink eye of all things! Thank you once again. God Bless,Adam
Ruthie
Thank you so much. I enjoyed listening to you speak and you have encouraged me so much over this past weekend. God has healed me and I pray that he will continue to do so. Your messages have been an answer to my prayers and I am grateful that I got to sit under you. I have been freed in so many areas of my likfe and pray that God continues and that my hearts stay open to the changes God is doing. I appreciate you and your wife very much. Be Blessed!
Have A Jesus Filled Day,
Ruthie
Brittany Nicole-Vajda Favuzza January 31 at 10:05pm
Hey Tony! My husband were so blessed by your love for JESUS and for His youth, we were so encouraged our selves...just wanted to say thank you to you and your wife for coming out! Anytime you want to come out to Harrisburg to hit the streets, hit us up!
