Ruth & Andrew on my birthday
Recently, I shared that I may not die with tons of money but will certainly leave with many memories. It is true: “Whatever we do for self will pass but what we do for Christ will last.” Last week, it was my pleasure to minister in the Bahamas (see post below) and on Thursday, I fly (LORD WILLING) to Birmingham, AL to attend the Board Retreat for PRAISEFEST MINISTRIES - “Cruise with a Cause.” We’re discussing plans for our upcoming seven day cruise next year to Jamaica aboard Carnival’s largest vessel and we are praying to reach over 50,000 Jamaicans for Jesus! Bob Marley sang: “No Woman No Cry” but the fact is without Jesus in death everyone will cry. Not popular but the Gospel Truth!
Confirmed speakers include: Dr Johnny Hunt, Pastor John Hagee, Jentezen Franklin, Bishop Paul Morton, Josh McDowell, Dr Ergun Caner, Jamey Ragle, Nikita Koloff. Artists: CASTING CROWNS, Donnie McCurkin, Jason Crabb, Martha Minuzzi, Anthony Evans, comedian John Gray, SONICFLOOd, Hezekiah Walker, Ayiesha Woods, & countless others! More to be released soon. God has blessed me to speak on all three of their cruises to the Bahamas and I’m HONORED to help bring Jesus to Jamaica as one of their featured speakers on the ship to Jamaica on May 30-June 5, 2011! If you would be willing to sail the seas for the Son let me know and this is the most affordable cruise available and it would be perfect for singles, married couples, churches, youth groups, mission trip and/or a treat to send your pastor for some R&R as an appreciation gift.
Ruth and I, will meet this Saturday, Feb 27 in Nashville, TN and we will be attending the NATIONAL RELIGIOUS BROADCASTERS convention at the famed Opryland Hotel. It will be great to spend time with her and fellow friends in ministry. PRAISE THE LORD - last week, I learned that I’m now also an endorsed speaker for UPWARDS www.Upward.org and they have a wonderful sports outreach. It’s my honor to be linked with them.
Next month, I have been invited to Guatemala with COMPASSION INTERNATIONAL for five days to love on the poverty-stricken children. Those that some consider the least matter most to God. It took three years, but I am now one of only a few speakers nation-wide to be one of their ambassadors and speakers for Compassion. Others include: Michael W Smith, Rebecca St James, Jeremy Camp, David Edwards, my buddy - Grant Norsworthy, formerly of SONICFLOOd and Justin Lookadoo and I, will be flying to Guatemala on this upcoming trip overseas. If you would like to donate to this great group and sponsor a child please click the COMPASSION link.
En route to Florida last week, I was on the phone with one of my childhood heroes - Harlem Globetrotter legend and Evangelist Meadowlark Lemon and he made me feel like an “un-official” Globetrotter willing to travel the world bringing God’s Word. It is neat when your heroes as a kid know Christ and call you friend as an adult. Thank you JESUS! Please pray for open doors and our desire is to exalt Christ, encourage Christians and minister to clergy while in town. It would be my pleasure to minister at your next church outreach. For booking contact Stacy@TheRobinsonAgency.com or visit www.FrankShelton.com
Again, thanks for making my birthday extra special and when our gaze is UPWARD we cannot help but have “COMPASSION on the multitudes.” God bless and go with God.
Tony Nolan is one of the most gifted preachers of the Gospel that I know. He is former Student Minister at First Baptist Church of Woodstock, GA and he stepped out “by faith” to speak to hundreds of thousands of people annually. The beauty about that transition is that Tony didn’t see all those open doors when he jumped. He just heard the voice of God and when the Lord told him to “go” - Tony was gone!
Today, Tony loves the Lord and lives faith as much as anyone I know. He is a dear friend, brother in Christ, captivating communicator and has taken the time to invest in me and countless others lives and ministries. When I first left my Capitol Hill job after 17 years “by faith” to enter evangelism full-time the first person I called to ask for counsel, prayer and guidance was Tony Nolan. By God’s grace, Tony answered his cell phone and encouraged me to trust the Lord and take comfort - “When God guides - He provides!”
What I love about Tony is that he is accessible, approachable and available to share the Gospel of Jesus with anyone willing to listen. In love, he also shares with folks who could care less. Ministry is not easy but it has been easier for God putting folks like Tony Nolan in my life. He is real, relevant and rolls on all cylinders for Jesus! He is humorous, humble and Heaven-bound.
Tony is the tour pastor for countless Christian Contemporary Music Artists and he speaks annually at WINTER JAM and other concerts. He was tour pastor for a couple years with Grammy Winners - CASTING CROWNS and his testimony is AMAZING. Tony is on fire for the Lord because he doesn’t take for granted God’s great grace.
This interview aired earlier in the year on my radio program ‘FRANKLY SPEAKING’ on American Family Radio on 89.7 FM in Richmond, VA and it talks about evangelism, serving the Lord and living a life bigger than self. Tony is quick to build people UP and slow to negativity and I have been blessed to meet a few folks in life but Brother Tony is a special brother and one of those I admire most. Recently, he and his wife, Tammy adopted a precious girl from China and to learn more about Tony’s AWESOME ministry visit - www.TonyNolan.org
Tony Nolan & Frank - Indianapolis, IN
It was my pleasure to preach at a “CASTING CROWNS” concert in 2005, in Manassas, Virginia at a large church. It was a Youth Evangelism Rally and Duffy Robbins and I, were the two invited guests and I had the pleasure to preach both Friday night at the CC Concert and Saturday morning on the main stage for discipleship. One of the joys before and after the Casting Crowns show was to hang out with Andy Williams - former drummer to Grammy/Dove & recently named “Group of the Year” - Casting Crowns.
He is POWERFUL on stage but super personable off stage. We had a blast talking in the tunnel prior to the show and it was wild eating in the “Green Room” with lead singer, Mark Hall, Andy Williams and the band prior to the concert. We had two hours to kill before the doors opened and ironically an indoor basketball court was adjacent to the auditorium. Someone suggested we play a pick up game of basketball. Since I was the speaker they graciously invited me to play hoops with them. It will remain one of the wildest memories that I will hold dear for life being able to play 3 on 3 with Casting Crowns.
The good news is it was a ton of fun. The bad news was I was wearing jeans and dress shoes while playing. Its hard to do a finger roll or hit a three pointer without tennis shoes but it was a blast none the less. About two months ago on my radio show “FRANKLY SPEAKING” I had the pleasure to re-connect with Andy and he was a “call in” guest and talked about his recent transition from CC to start a new group with his wife and a few friends called SOUL SISTER SALLY.
Friends, you talk about faith - he left the security, stability and stage of Casting Crowns to start a new group “by faith.” What is super cool is that Andy heard God say “go” so he was gone. You have to check out their website www.SoulSisterSally.com and you can hear their NEW single “Destined to Survive” below - IT IS AMAZING and you can hear it here first.
That radio interview will be released on a future blog post here soon. In the interim, enjoy the recent video that we taped in June 2009, while I was in town preaching in Georgia at two churches. Andy and his lovely bride and son were gracious to hang out with me and grab lunch. They are INCREDIBLE and please share some love and give them a SHOUT OUT and let them know you wish them well as they follow God’s call. If you are a pastor or youth leader - PRAY about bringing them to your church in near future. You will not be dissapointed.
“Destined To Survive” - http://www.soulsistersally.com/destined/player/player1.htm
Friends, please keep me in prayer. In the next seven days I am scheduled to preach NINE times! Yesterday, (Sunday, April 26), I preached twice (AM & PM) at Oxon Hill Baptist Church to “kick off” their five service, four day revival. My daughter, HANNAH GRACE SHELTON had her 9th birthday on Sunday sandwiched between both services and we had a blast! She is starting to love basketball like her Daddy and my thighs and calves are certainly sore! Today (Monday, April 27), I am officiating a funeral at Cheltenham Veterans Cemetery at 11 AM and then back to preach Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday night for the ongoing revival. My special guest on the radio show “FRANKLY SPEAKING” this Thursday, April 30, is ANDY WILLIAMS - drummer past five years with Grammy Winners & Group of the Year - Casting Crowns! Andy, also just stepped out in faith and left CC to tour with Soul Sister Sally!
LISTEN UP & Tune in this Thurs on AMERICAN FAMILY RADIO @ 6:30 PM EST on 89.7 FM in Richmond, VA or listen online www.wauq.net to my interview with Andy. It will certainly bless you! Switching gears - Saturday, May 2, I will drive 200 miles to First Baptist Church of Easton, MD and preach and return that night to preach on Sunday, May 3, @ First Baptist Church of Accokeek - www.FBCOA.org
As I mentioned in my inaugural post - I have learned in life (especially business, politics and ministry) that folks are slow to promote others. God laid on my heart to highlight others along the way. Therefore, at least one blog post per month (sometimes two) I am going to dedicate towards promoting friends that I have been blessed to meet on the road of life. God has strategically placed some special people in my path to help me grow in grace and get to the next level with the Lord. It has been said: “If you see a turtle on a fence post, it didn’t get there by accident.” The morale of the story is the turtle had some help. My life is no exception.
Long ago, I learned that we don’t have to be better than those we meet. However, we should hopefully be better because God enabled our lives to cross. God gave me a saying: “The Greats are Gracious.” I have learned that those that have been to the pinnacle of their profession are often decent and down to Earth folks. I have witnessed that winners are often wonderful to deal with. It’s the wannabees you have to WATCH OUT for! Those that have achieved success and have nothing to prove typically desire to help others not only survive but thrive. Mentorship is one of the greatest un-tapped resources today. It has been said: “Cemeteries are the wealthiest places in the world because so many took their dreams and talents to the grave.”
In the next few weeks, months and years (should the Lord tarry), I would like to shine a light on those that have un-selfishly helped me. The world needs to hear their stories and I pray that you can gain insight, wisdom and helpful nuggets to help you in the days ahead for your journey with Jesus. On July 27, 2007, after working 17 years on Capitol Hill; I knew God had transitioned me from “wordly power” to Kingdom power. God showed me that the answers in life are not in the “gifts of government” but the grace of God. So like that Soap Opera show and with “One Life to Live” I walked away “by faith” leaving 401K, health insurance, set salary; knowing full well I would no longer benefit from a retirement from the federal government. The first person that I called after leaving my job in Washington, DC was TONY NOLAN.
Tony, is one of the most powerful Christian communicators in America. He is an author, tour pastor to nearly every Christian Contemporary Musician and has addressed audiences in the largest venues around. Just this year on WINTER JAM with Dove Award Winners Toby Mac, NEWSONG, Brendan Heath & Francesa Battistelli; Tony witnessed over 69,000 adults and teens make professions of faith in Jesus Christ! Without question, I was nervous when I left Capitol Hill. Married and with a mortgage; I knew I had to speak to someone who had been there and could relate to my dilemma. That day while leaving Washington in the rear view mirror, I called Tony Nolan on the cell and fortunately for me - he answered. We talked for several minutes and I shared with him where I was at and he calmly said two statements that have given me much hope and help over the past year and a half.
First, he said: “Frank, when God guides - He provides.” Secondly, “When you’re in God’s Will - it’s on His Bill.” Meaning the pressure is off me and totally on Him! That was so liberating for me. Tony, knew firsthand what I was going through. He also was married, with kids, bills that still come every month and the only certain thing in his life was his salvation. It was really “big” of Tony to help me and many others over the years. Without question, his reward will be HUGE in Glory and he is one of the men in mininstry that I admire most. The blessing is Tony didn’t see all the doors that God was going to open in advance. They didn’t open until He stepped out “by faith” and God did His part after Tony did his. Eventually, “Casting Crowns” came calling; he toured with WINTER JAM and now considered by many to be one of the most respected and requested speakers around. The Scripture is clear: “Without faith - it is IMPOSSIBLE to please God.”
Over the years, I have had my share of “minor league” haters but God in His great grace has also hooked me UP with some “Major League” helpers! Tony Nolan is one of those helpers. Today, both of us made the “leap of faith.” Christ caught us and He will certainly catch and carry you!
Friends, pause and PRAY about what God may be telling you to do in your immediate future and like that Van Halen classic: “JUMP!”
God bless and go with God.