All posts by AOCM

My name is Pastor Tony Catron I graduate from K.S.U. with a degree in electronic/electrical engineering. While doing that I became a Junior Deacon and also a musician in my dad's ministry in Cleveland, Ohio. Years later, my career took me to Michigan where I worked as a Electrical/Electronic Engineer. While in Michigan I became a Minister, then later went to Seminary training at Birmingham Bible Institute and became an Elder at a large Pentecostal church in Michigan called LLCC. I was called to the ministry by God. So I headed up an outreach ministry based on the End Times, dealing with restoration in people lives. Then my dad called me back to Ohio to help him Pastor his church. During that time, God changed my outreach ministry, turning it into a full-time restoration ministry. He gave me the name Ark of Covenant Ministries and the rest is history.
Read more..

Timothy Leadership Conference

16th Annual Timothy Leadership Conference 2015, Wednesday, April 15- Saturday, April 18
Christ Haven Worship Center
Philadelphia, PA

This year’s Timothy Conference was truly a blessing! Although Ark of Covenant Ministries arrived late for the 1st evening service on Wednesday night, we got a glimpse of what The Lord was doing through Bishop Gerald Loyd, who was the speaker of the hour for that service, and we were welcomed by Dr. Cummings, the Conference founder, with many thanks and gratitude.

The format for most of the conference’s meetings started with an hour of Morning Prayer power, followed by a seminar by one of the speakers for the night services, followed by a lunch break, following two separate seminar sessions with 6 choices to hear different speakers, followed by a lunch break, ending with the evening service. There were opportunities for sight-seeing in the Philadelphia area, the host church in Philadelphia did an excellent job of providing breakfast, lunch, and dinner for a very reasonable fee, and as always, conference goers were able to sit down and talk to  the speakers of each seminar on a face to face basis. There was a great deal of teaching that was poured into conference goers, that equipped for leadership, growth, and relationship with the Creator.

For Ark of Covenant Ministries, here were some highlights of the conference:
• Bishop Gerald Loyd’s Seminar “Leading Without Limits and Boundaries” Thursday Morning Seminar
o Leadership without limits and boundaries where he walked us through what it takes to be “purposeful” believers. There are two major frustrations when we don’t find out what our purpose is: unrealized anointing brings on spiritual constipation, and which breeds unrealized purpose.
• Debbie Heller’s Seminar Session “Stress Management for Leaders” Thursday Afternoon Seminar
o That afternoon, conferences goers had a choice between three seminar sessions. Ark of Covenant chose the session titled “Stress Management for Leaders,” in which Ms. Debbie Heller gave strikingly easy daily practices that eradicate stress all together. Coupled with faith, Ms. Heller suggested that we focus our minds on the present, rather than the past or future. Having a full mind or being mindful, is the difference between stressing or not.
• Dr. Graylin Stargell “Who and I Really? Understanding How People See you!” Thursday Afternoon Seminar
o We broke into groups, were given a real life scenario, and asked how we would react. The focus was on finding out how we think, and figuring out how others saw us in our decision making. Dr. Stargell wanted to see if we were “controllers” or “comptrollers.” Controllers are those who take over, dominate, and micromanage situations, while Comptrollers put systems in place, and delegate responsibilities to individuals accordingly for overall success.
• Dr. Graylin Stargell “Is Your Church One Phone Call From Disaster? Church Succession,                  Resignation and Management Planning” Friday Afternoon Seminar
o Many leaders have nothing for their congregations to fall back on if anything were to happen to them. Dr. Graylin Stargell gave us a basis for how to establish a pastoral succession plan so as to avoid the congregation being unfruitful and broken up.
• Sightseeing in Philadelphia
o An Elder from the host church who is also the church bus driver, took a group of us through the city to one of the Philly Cheese Steak restaurants the city is known for. He, being a native Philadelphian, showed us all the wonderful sights around the city area.
• Friday Night Service with District Elder, Dr. D. W. Cummings
o Dr. Cummings preaching ushered in a spirit of repentance, worship, praise, and took some of the older saints back to the days when the young people use to “cut up” in the church. The Spirit of the Lord was present and left a lasting impression on many as we traveled back to the Cleveland area.

This year’s Timothy Conference experienced a new location, and left a new desire to grow all the more closer to the Lord, even in our leadership roles. It was truly a blessing.

Read more..

Abiding in God’s Will & Word for Your Life

John 15:1-7, Psalms 121, Psalms 127

I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
John 15:1-7

Abiding in Jesus means who you use to be becomes what He is now. You must do his will the way He wants you to do it. You cannot do your own things in His name, and expect Him to approve of it. Abiding in him means doing things His way.

We are creatures of impatient nature. We are always wondering when Jesus is coming. Well, He’s coming whenever he gets ready! We must have patience in waiting for his move; dealing with situations that are out of our control; in getting whats for us. He will do what He will do, when He feels you are ready.

Many times we do things out of desperation, because of our impatience. Then we go back and blame God. You have to have patience. Patience works faith. In all thy getting, get an understanding. We need as Children of God to have patience. As you abide in Him, you will learn patience. When you ask God, when you study His word, when you pray before Him, He will see your diligence and make a way for you.

He is the vine. We get our knowledge and wisdom from Him, not our own understanding. So we should wait for him. Its easy to say you can wait…until an hour goes, a day goes, a week goes. Then you start stressing, sinning. Patience will give you wisdom.

Psalm 121

When we realize our help comes form the Lord, and we abide in Him, He will give us the strength we need to go through. If we stop stressing we can hear from God, if we stop worrying we can hear from God, if we give Him our problems and stop taking them back, He can resolve all things.

Psalm 127

If you think you can build the house of God, or build your ministry, then you are not allowing God in. Only He can build His own house, only He can lead you on how to build your ministry. A ministry can’t go anywhere unless he does it, your life can’t go anywhere unless He directs it. You have to abide in Him. If you aren’t abiding in the vine, you aren’t producing fruit, therefore you must be purged.

Abide in Jesus, be obedient to His will, and trust Him in faith.

How do you know that you love God? Send your response.

Read more..

The Conflict of Your Christian Life

James 2:1-26, James 3:1-18

We constantly have some sort of conflict that takes place in our lives; jobs, neighbors, families, etc. As believers in Christ we are constantly conflicting. The Easter holiday is upon us, and as Christians we are conflicting with each other concerning whether or not Easter is a valid and biblical holiday to celebrate. On one end of the spectrum we believe Easter has direct ties to Jesus death, burial, and resurrection. On another end of the spectrum, we believe that Easter is steeped in extra biblical traditions that have infiltrated the biblical Feast days of Passover and Unleavened Bread. As believers, we have to get back to what is Biblical.

Who is a Christian, who isn’t a Christian? James 2:1-15 says we should not have respect of persons, yet we do. We should give the needy what they need, yet we don’t. If we have the necessities for ailing people, we should provide them. Yet, we’d rather pray that they get food, or clothes, when we have food and clothes ready to give to them. Then on the other hand, we turn around and ask God for something. Do you think He’ll give us what we’ve asked for if we can’t help the needy for necessities that we have readily? Further, do you think the person you are praying for will even turn their mind to think on Jesus? This becomes a conflict of your salvation and puts your compassion in question.

Faith without works is dead.

These two can not exist a part from on another. If you are a believer, then why are you doing things opposite of what a Child of God does? Here are a list of things that Christians may go through in their walk that cause them to have conflicts:

1) Christian behavior Romans 13
2) Sin Romans 6:1
3) To live holy or not, that is the question, James 2:1-26, 3:1-18, James 4:1-17
4) Flesh and spirit, Romans 8:1,2,4-14
5) The voice of Jesus, People have conflict with this because they can’t determine if its Jesus or not talking to them. Matthew 16:17, John 10:27, Act 9:1-18, Job 1-7
6) Lust, James 1:14-15, Ephesians 2:3, 2 Timothy 2:22, Titus 3:1-4, James 4: 1-10
7) To pray or not to pray, Matthew 6:7, Mark 11:24, Luke 18:1, Luke 22:40-46, 1 Thessalonians 5:17

The word conflict means war or clash. The greek word for conflict is athlesis, which means a combat, struggle or fight.

Read more..

Peace Breakers and Promise Shakers

Peace Breakers
Psalms 12:1-8

Peace: A state of calm and quiet, freedom from disturbing thoughts or emotions. The hebrew word for peace is Shalom.
Shalom means complete welfare and health.
The verb of the word Shalom is Shelem which means to be complete, and sound.
In 1 Kings 9:25, there is a display of a peace offering up to God. This was shalam. Shalam means to make peace. Proverbs 16:7 has an example of this as well.

Christ came not send peace on this earth but a sword as in Matthew 10:34. Jesus is concerned about our personal peace because through individual peace does one obtain unified peace. Before individual peace can take place you must first rebuke those things that cause you not to have peace. In Mark 4:39, Christ rebuked the wind and sea and it stopped.Then you need to operate the same as Christ did against all situations that come your way to disturb your peace. You need to tell that situation to be at peace. You have to, in your mind, look at that situation and speak peace and calmness into it. Your making up scenarios in your own mind of things that haven’t even happened, causing your inner being to be at war with itself. Sometimes you just have to say “mind be quite, be still, be at peace.” Christ will rush in and stop the chaos right then and there.

Ephesians 2:14, “for he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;” The second chapter of Ephesians talks about being at peace. God is our help, our glory, and our need…HE IS. When you are in your moments alone, ask yourself, why am I going thorugh all these thoughts in my mind? Because your not at peace. You are at peace when your mind is stayed on Christ. But when your on every situation you can’t reslove by your own power, you’ll allways be worried, fearful, and upset.

Philippians 4:6-7, “be careful for nothing;  but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made know unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

Promise Shakers
2 Thessalonians 2:1-2, “Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, that ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.” There are people who like to shake your world, but as in Hebrews 12:26-27, we’re reminded that no matter how people treat us, no matter what people say should not shake us. Because the world  is coming to an end, that should not shake you. If that disturbs you, you need to sitt back and think about where you are in Christ.  We can not be soon shaken by what people say, how they receive us, or whether they love us, or for any situation.

Promise means a pledge to do or not to do. The greek word for promise is epan-gelia. It is a law term which denotes a summons.  Shake means to move or cause to move or disturb emotionally. There are people who will distrub you emotionally and mentally, and take your peace. By taking your peace they disturb your relationship with God. The author of the confusion of peace is Satan; You will be moving yourself in to his realm, therby enabling him to cause others to destroy your peace and your relationship with God. You need to watch where and what you place your attention and emotions on. Fear will cause your peace to be distrubed, anger will cause your peace to be distrubed. Satans main job is to cause you to loose it and delay God’s promise for your life.

Always be reminded of Hebrews 12:14, “follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.”

Read more..

You Need to Let it Go

Philippians 3:13

Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before.

Memory: The power or process of remembering.

If your not careful, your past may become your future. If you are being bound by issues of the past, then those same issues will cause you to be bound in your life in Christ. The only way to obtain forgiveness for these things that cause you to be bound is to place them before God. Not asking for forgiveness leaves it to harbor in your life, and show up in your personal relationships. For example at work, with your children or with your family.
We as a people, if things seem to be going good for our benefit, we tend to block out everything concerning our hurts pains and anguish, right out of our minds. Sometimes we will even hold memories against one another, for the purpose of manipulating or controlling; and such is sorcery. The greek word for control or sorcery is pharmakeia which is where we get our modern word for pharmacy. Pharmakeia equals drugs, magic and witchcraft.

1 Samuel 15:23

For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou has rejected the word of the Lord, he hath also rejected thee…

Many of us have been practicing witchcraft and sorcery unbeknownst to us. If you continue to do these things they become apart of you. And it becomes a cancer that you spread to others around you. Here are a list of things associated with sorcery:

1)You’ve heard the phrase “I hate you.” The word hate or hatred in greek is echthra, meaning hostilities and bitterness. When you see this it is contrary to being a Child of Christ.
1 John 3:15
Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.

2) Jealously. The greek word for jealously is zelos meaning heat, envy, indignation, emulation, or from the term zeal which means hot or boiled.

3) Dissension. Greek word for dissension dichostasia meaning division and sedition. This word is only mentioned in the bible 3 times in the new testament. Each time it talks about sin. Division and sedition are the tools that Satan uses often; bringing something or someone into your life that causes you to have second thoughts, and in Christ, you can’t have second thoughts. He tries to divide and conquer you for the purpose of breaking you down making you give over to his will. If you are overloaded  with stress, you cant reason, and aren’t receptive to wisdom beneficial to your growth.

4) Fornication. Greek word is pornia which is sexual impurity, and where our modern word porn comes from. It can be spiritual. This includes premarital sex, homosexuality or any sexual activity outside of the sanctity of marriage.
1 Corinthians 6:15-20

5) Uncleanness. Akatharsia meaning impure or foul; demonic.
2 Corinthians 7:1
Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

These are the questions you need to ask yourself:
a) In any situation, what is your response? Would it be pleasing to God or man? Colossians 3:23 “and whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men”
b) What would be the consequences of that situation? Galatians 6:1-18
c) Will it be a stumbling block to others? 1 Corinthians 8:1-10
d) Could you thank God for it? Colossians 3 emphases on verse 17
e) Would you be able to ask God to bless it? Proverbs 10:22
d) Would yo want to be doing this when Jesus returns?
f) Have you sought Godly council or advice?
If you answered no to any of these above, then you need to seek the face of God before you go any further.

In conclusion, it is for each child of God to walk out their faith in Him.