i lead - Ten Leadership Realities

Ten Spiritual Leadership Realities
shared by Doug Clay – Assistant Superintendent of the A/G

1. It’s lonely to lead
2. Success can be dangerous
3. It’s hardest at home
4. Authenticity is essential
5. It’s painful to obey
6. Disappointment is part of it
7. It’s attitude that matters
8. Integrity eclipses image
9. It starts and ends with humility
10. Anointing is non-negotiable

I KNOW WHO I AM

I KNOW WHO I AM

I am God's child (John 1:12)
I am Christ's friend (John 15:15 )
I am united with the Lord (1 Cor. 6:17)
I am bought with a price (1 Cor 6:19-20)
I am a saint (set apart for God). (Eph. 1:1)
I am a personal witness of Christ. (Acts 1:8)
I am the salt & light of the earth (Matt 5:13-14)
I am a member of the body of Christ (1 Cor 12:27)
I am free forever from condemnation ( Rom. 8: 1-2)
I am a citizen of Heaven. I am significant (Phil 3 :20)
I am free from any charge against me (Rom. 8:31 -34)
I am a minister of reconciliation for God (2 Cor 5:17-21)
I have access to God through the Holy Spirit (Eph. 2:18)
I am seated with Christ in the heavenly realms (Eph. 2:6)
I cannot be separated from the love of God (Rom 8:35-39)
I am established, anointed, sealed by God (2 Cor 1:21-22 )
I am assured all things work together for good (Rom. 8:28 )
I have been chosen and appointed to bear fruit (John 15:16 )
I may approach God with freedom and confidence (Eph.. 3: 12 )
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (Phil. 4:13 )
I am the branch of the true vine, a channel of His life (John 15: 1-5)
I am God's temple (1 Cor. 3: 16). I am complete in Christ (Col. 2: 10)
I am hidden with Christ in God (Col. 3:3).. I have been justified (Romans 5:1)
I am God's co-worker (1 Cor. 3:9; 2 Cor 6:1). I am God's workmanship (Eph. 2:10)
I am confident that the good works God has begun in me will be perfected. (Phil. 1: 5)
I have been redeemed and forgiven ( Col 1:14). I have been adopted as God's child (Eph 1:5)
I belong to God
Do you know
Who you are?

New York State Convention

Pictures say a thousand words. I am humbled by the chance I have to speak the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Thousands committing to Him and reports of too many to blog about. I spoke on how Jesus changed everything. Hopelessness. Purposelessness. Death. all were defeated at the Cross. He is risen and we can be too!

Tennessee State Youth Convention Feedback

Tennessee State Youth Convention was a blast. I am still receiving reports of God saving, calling and loads of rededications. Some are long but trust me, they are worth the read. Here are a few in their own words:

Student - Briana
"This was the fourth convention I have been to. They have all seemed the same except for this one. I would always go expecting some incredible message and I always get it, and I always feel so great and in love with God when I leave. Then when I get back home I ALWAYS fall... hard. During those falls I get really depressed. But, this convention was different. I had been having so much trouble with my faith and believeing and when I got there it felt like I wasn't actually trying. Until I heard you speak. There was just something... I'm not sure how to describe it. It was just so strong. I usually would have already fallen, but I'm still strong in his word. I picked up a bible for the first time in months and read non stop for 2 hours. Every message God put into your heart reached me. When you told us the story about your father, it made me realize how important my dad is to me. Him and I didn't talk for 3 months straight because I got sick of the way he talked to me and what he would do, so I wanted to wait for him to apoligize. Then when I heard what you had said, I called him. All I did was say hi, and it felt so much better..."

Sydney
"i just wanted to say thank you so much for talkin this weekend at the youth convention in gatlinburg.your message on friday about who is in my chair really hit me hard and now my life is saved."

Lori
"Loved your inspirational message at our State Youth Convention in Gatlinburg. Thanks for what you do for our Teens....."

Rebecca
I would just like to tell you how much I enjoyed each of your messages. I go every year with the Youth because my children are in it and my husband and I love to be active with the Youth. We think every year this is going to be great for the young people of our church. And it always is but we get just as much of a blessing as they do. I love to see the youth worshipping God and the lost giving their hearts to God. But this year I enjoyed it probably more then the young people. As an adult I think sometimes you get so caught up in your resposiblities in life and let some things go. I always try to be a good Christian example for my children and the other children I work with at our church. But I have been struggling a little here lately wondering what God's plans was for me and where he was taking me in life. But this wkend was a great recharge for me and put me right on path and gave me the strenght, desire, fire, and the faith I needed to be back on track and to be the Great Christian person I desire to always be in life. I think you so much for your messages and the faith and spirit you have!!!"

Ethan
"we just got back from Youth Convention in Knoxville Tn. yesterday was the first day that I had cried in two in a half years because of you im so glad i decided to come this year just because of you so thank you so much"

Raven
"Hey Tony....I just wanted to say thank you for being at the State Youth Convention in TN this weekend! It really helped me.....I have been through alot this past year and I really lost my path-way to God....Your messages really helped me get that he loves me no matter what I do and he will never leave my side. I really need it! I have made a couple mistakes.....but now I now that God still loves me.....thanks for believing in our Generation! I appreciate your awesome ministry! Keep up the good work!"

Allison
"Hi Tony! ...i just thought you needed to know how much you have changed my life. I've had doubts, and i've asked God to open my eyes to him so I can know He is the only way. I've prayed so hard for this past weekend and GOD ANSWERS PRAYERS! What you said and talked about at SYC were the exact things I was asking God to show me."

Loren
"I just wanted you to know that you're message was amazing. I am not one to step out and come to the altar but your messages really touched me. I am a new girl and I am so glad I was able to hear you. You see, I've been saved and baptised for almost 5 years and although I really love God, I never truly felt like I had a relationship with him and I wasnt confident in my faith. . . . It hurt to be so far away. My problem was that I didnt know how to make the first step. I was afriad that I would be good for a while, then I'd fall back into my old routine if I didnt do this right. ...I went to your service and the music was fantastic, my heart was aching for more. You got on stage and from my seat in the back I could fell God working through you. It was powerful, it was amazing. I had never been so touched before. By the end of the weekend your messages had made me laugh, cry and pray until it hurt. I missed being in God's presence. You brought it back to me and you will never know how grateful I am for that. You really and truly have a gift and you've blessed me and my friends. Thank you so much for coming and even though you didn't know it, you saved a 17 yr old girl from a lot of bad things. Thank you for just being awesome.


Kibria
"Thank you for letting God speak through you and thank you for telling us what God wanted us all to hear. I cannot speak for all that attended but this weekend I finally can say I fell in even more deeper Love with my God and it all was such a blessing!!! Thanks you for you words,wisdom,and willingness to sit beside the Throne and let god run it all like you spoke about the other night."


Thank God for all He does in the lives of people who are willing to hear from Heaven.
Please continue to pray for these and the countless others this ministry reaches on a weekly basis.

Thank you prayer partners and supporters!

Tony

History on March 25, 1965 - Spark another today!

On this day in Montgomery, Ala., March 25, 1965 -- The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. led 25,000 both blacks and whites to the shadow of the State Capitol here and challenged Alabama to put an end to racial discrimination. This act changed alot of things.
Likewise, what will you do today to end the injustice happening in the souls of a generation dying for a chance to be a part of something HUGE - God's plan. Change a life today with love, compassion and truth. If we do what we are called to do WRAPPED in LOVE...we can accomplish anything for Him. Make a difference today.

“The real problem is in the hearts and minds of men. It is not a problem of physics but of ethics. It is easier to denature plutonium than to denature the evil from the spirit of man.” ~Albert Einstein

Catch Up / Rev Up

It's been a while for us. Alot has taken place. Many lives have been touched and changed for God's glory. I have been unable to update given my intense travel itinerary and recent passing of my grandfather. But am glad I get to let you know of some things that have happening with Consuming Fire Ministries and me personally as well.

We last left off at the MMX retreat and here we are a month later and I have had the priviledge of speaking at Calvary Assembly Church's winter retreat. This church is from Wyncote and we had a blast. Particularly the last night where many lives were touched and I then spoke at Grace Assembly in Spring City where I got to see some friends and preach on Nehemiah.

Following that I was excited about flying out to TN with my wife to speak at SKI INVASION in Gatlinburg, TN. This is a conference of about 1000 young people from VA, TN, NC, SC among others. From all walks of live I heard some wonderful testimonies of what God did through the word. Many were called and challenged to enter the ministry and be a light in this often dark world. I followed that by speaking at Evangel Church where I met a great new friends in Spartansburg, SC. What a great place! They are doing some real creative things to reach people there. This week I got back from a revival in Hamburg, NJ where some great services took place. That is my fourth time there and I really like those friends I have gotten to know there.

Keep us in prayer as I am approaching some of the more larger events here. I am heading back to TN to speak that the TN church of God state youth convention about (approx. 800 students) along with New York district youth convention which is about 6000 young people from NY and other places as well. I covet your prayers as the word will always go before me. I always try my best to hide in the shadow of the cross of Jesus Christ.

“Without the work of the cross we would be quite helpless. The cross enables us to come out free from under the heaviest and most powerful mental bondage. Not all the power of Satan, or sin, or habit can hold us captive any longer.”

— Tom Marshall

Winter Youth Convention

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!