Michael’s Family Christmas 2009

My favorite Christmas Gift

Our Four Sons

Michael, Kyle, Samuel, and Judah

I am the most blessed man in the world!

To whom much is given, much is required

Christmas Morning at the Collins Household

3000 Baptisms Around Holston Conference in One Day – It can happen!

We are looking for Christians who will Fast and Pray and ask God for 3000 souls on Pentecost Sunday 2010. I believe that God has given me a vision of 3000 people being introduced to Jesus Christ in the 50 days from Easter to Pentecost 2010. In order for that to happen God’s People will have to pray and participate.

Will you participate?

Let me hear from you.

Ronnie

3000 Baptisms in Holston on Pentecost Sunday

50 “Golden Days” of Evangelism

40 Days of Prayer and Preparation

TELL ME MORE!

You may remember hearing from the stage of Annual Conference that the Conference Witness team would challenge us to celebrate 3000 baptisms on Pentecost Sunday (May 23, 2010) in Holston Conference.  The Witness Team would like to take this opportunity to “brief” you, our Conference leaders, on the plan, invite you to ask questions, share comments, and help publicize as we continue refining and developing this time for an exciting and potentially Conference-transforming Spring in Holston Conference.  Info coming soon in the Call, Call 2 and a save the date(s) letter to each pastor under appointment in Holston.

In the book Prophetic Evangelist, Harry Denman called the 50 days between Easter and Pentecost the “50 Golden Days of Evangelism”.  He also wrote a letter in which he called on every pastor not only to observe Pentecost, but to lay the groundwork for experiencing Pentecost.  That is what we are praying for in Holston in 2010.  Here is an outline:

* Feb 19-20  Holston Evangelism Conference

This event will be held at Cokesbury Center in Knoxville, TN. We welcome the Rev. Rudy Rasmus and Bishop James Swanson to lead us through this inspirational and motivating event.  We will celebrate the past year’s theme and covenant to “Offer Them Christ” and to invite Holston to the next steps toward Pentecost 2010.  Friday: Optional Mission Outreach (“Grace bags” to Knoxville Homeless) 3-5; Registration 5-7; Session I begins 7pm.  Bishop Swanson will conclude the conference by 3pm on Saturday.

* 40 Days of Prayer and Preparation — beginning on Feb 23rd, we will encourage every congregation to pray, fast and ask God for a burden for the lost. Churches may organize specific prayer groups, teaching or preaching about prayer and fasting, or other creative Holston ways of preparation.  The Witness Team will provide a 40 Day Prayer Guide which will be daily devotions written by lay and clergy members of our Conference.  (District Superintendents – if you haven’t already, there may still be space for you to add a day’s devotional writing…) At this time we are working on the best delivery of these guides, but at the least we will be emailing copies to local church pastors and designated leaders for copying and distribution. The Witness Team is asking that every Pastor and Lay member who has a blog to add the daily devotional to your church and personal blogs.

*  50 Golden Days of Evangelism — from Easter to Pentecost 2010, each congregation will be asked to intentionally concentrate on evangelism in their community. Again, the Conference Witness Team will supply a guide (“50 Days of Evangelism”) with concrete, specific suggestions for individuals and groups within churches to start conversations, build relationships, and offer Christ in your community.  Some congregations may plan for a Pentecost celebration with dinner on the grounds where river baptisms and all other forms of baptism recognized by The UMC may take place.

*** 1 Great Day of Pentecost *** — baptisms, renewals and lives transformed for and by Jesus Christ

40 Days of Preparation + 50 Days of Evangelism = A 90 Day Investment in 3000 lives. Sound unlikely? Unbelievable? Too much?  In our 904 churches, this would be an AVERAGE of 3.1 baptisms per worshipping community.  What do we have to lose?  Suppose we ONLY baptize 1000???  Help the Witness Team make this Spring of Pentecost preparation a reality for Holston.  No single group, ministry team or leader can do this.  We believe that God is in this… and we ask for your support, feedback and most importantly for your prayers.

With Bold, Passionate, Risk-taking love —              The Holston Conference Witness Team

Contact Ronnie Collins         ronnie24317@yahoo.com or (276) 728-2434

or Amy Rollins Probst     pastor@broadwayumc.net or (865) 202-3019

with feedback or suggestions.

Team Impact and You

We are looking for local churches and Individuals who would like to help to make this event a true community effort. If your church would like to be involved let me know ASAP.

Ronnie

Team Impact is coming to Hillsville First United Methodist Church April  14th – 18th 2010

Team Impact, some of the strongest men on the planet, will be making several public appearances in the Hillsville area soon.

With demonstrations of astounding feats of strength – such as shattering five feet of concrete with one blow from their massive arms and snapping baseball bats in half with their bare hands – Team Impact members are sure to capture the attention of both the young and old; all to share an inspiring message of hope.

Team Impact is a group of world-class athletes, including champion power-lifters, previous WWE wrestlers, and former NFL football players. The men of Team Impact travel the globe motivating and inspiring people of all ages and have performed their amazing presentation in front of millions.

With the problems young people face today, Team Impact has taken seriously the task of reaching America’s youth with a timely message through their highly acclaimed school assemblies. Visiting nearly 1,000 schools each year, this group has the unique opportunity to speak to hundreds of thousands of students about the dangers of drugs, alcohol and the importance of academic excellence.

In addition, Team Impact appears regularly on television programs including their own weekly show where millions of people around the world are able to see their extraordinary demonstrations and hear their inspirational message.

You may visit http://www.team-impact.com to learn more about the efforts of Team Impact

My reading list for the next few weeks…

Interstate 80

Are you on Spiritual Cruise Control? Moving at a steady pace, but no longer engaged in the process? Fulfilling a duty?

We miss a lot of Exits (Spiritual Encounters) when we speed down the congested road of Christian Routines

One day when you look back will you have chosen a relationship with God that gave you a profound degree of Spiritual depth and an ever growing love for Him?

GPS- God Positioning Scripture

God is infinitely beyond our comprehension or control.

I received this Christmas Gift from a church member and friend and just last night I picked it up and started reading it. Wow, I am hooked after the first chapter. It is written in 80 short devotional formats and I believe this will be something that I read and re-read.

Ronnie

This Day In The Life Of Your Pastor – December 24th, 2009

1. I wrapped all my gifts & now Misty is wrapping. God has blessed us so much but most of all His Adoption of us as sons & daughters, amazing about 9 hours ago from TwitterBerry

2. Now we see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror, but then we will see everything with per… http://read.ly/1Cor13.12.NLT about 9 hours ago from API

3. It is a terrible thing to fall into the hands of the living God. http://read.ly/Heb10.31.NLT about 9 hours ago from API

4. God is infinitely beyond our comprehension or control. about 9 hours ago from TwitterBerry

5. I got a great new book 4 Christmas “Interstate 80” Your journey on the High Way about 10 hours ago from TwitterBerry

6. GPS- God Positioning Scripture about 10 hours ago from TwitterBerry

7. 1 day when U look bak wil U have chosen a relationship with God that gave U a profound degre of Spiritual depth & an ever growing love 4 Him about 10 hours ago from TwitterBerry

8. We miss a lot of Exits (Spiritual Encounters) when we speed down the congested road of Christian Routines about 10 hours ago from TwitterBerry

9. Are U on Spiritual Cruise Control? Moving @ a steady pace, but no longer engaged N the process? Fulfilling a duty? Many people R missing out about 10 hours ago from TwitterBerry

10. Merry Christmas everybody! about 10 hours ago from TwitterBerry

11. Sitting with the family, reading Christmas stories, wrapping gifts, eating, laughing, talking about Gods Call on our lives, just Bing family about 12 hours ago from TwitterBerry

12. Make room for Jesus this Christmas and into the rest of your short life here on earth. about 15 hours ago from TwitterBerry

13. Service is about to begin, there is a sweet Spirit among us about 15 hours ago from TwitterBerry

14. Christmas Eve Candlelight Service @ 1st UMC Hillsville, 7pm join us about 17 hours ago from TwitterBerry

15. Pope knocked down by woman at Christmas Mass Fox News: what? about 17 hours ago from TwitterBerry

16. Kyle & I are doing last minute shopping, Kyle wanted to spend his birthday $ to buy all the kids in the family a gift. I am proud of him. about 18 hours ago from TwitterBerry

17. Every time I throw in the towel to quit, Holy Spirit picks it up and throws it back to me. about 19 hours ago from TwitterBerry

18. Great last minute gift https://imagebearer.wordpress.com/2009/12/24/great-last-minute-christmas-gift/ about 20 hours ago from web

19. Christmas Eve Service, Join us https://imagebearer.wordpress.com/2009/12/24/christmas-eve-service-7pm-tonight/ about 20 hours ago from web

20. How are you smelling? Ephesians 5: 1-2 about 21 hours ago from TwitterBerry

21. Laundry time and general house keeping for Christmas guests about 18 hours ago from TwitterBerry

22. John Tate, Holston Financial Matters https://imagebearer.wordpress.com/2009/12/18/from-john-tate-holston-conference-financial-matters/ about 19 hours ago from web

23. abortion and health care https://imagebearer.wordpress.com/2009/12/24/faith-groups-struggle-with-abortion-health-care/ about 19 hours ago from web

24. Just completed the required Stafford Exit tutorial for Seminary, this is where they tell you to start paying your student loans, ouch about 20 hours ago from web

25. just took the Holston Conference Pastoral Counseling Survey about 20 hours ago from web

26. Just eating a late breakfast, my holiday eating habits end after tomorrow. Lots of miles to do about 21 hours ago from TwitterBerry

27. Bible for your Blackberry FREE https://imagebearer.wordpress.com/2009/12/24/bible-for-your-blackberry-and-now-a-yearly-reading-plan/ about 21 hours ago from web

28. Myrtle Beach Marathon is 49 DAYS | 21 HRS | 29 MINS | 53 SECONDS about 22 hours ago from web

29. Ok I have the Garmin 305 software downloaded and dont have an idea how to use it yet about 23 hours ago from web

30. The Ice is coming, they are working tirelessly next door loading salt onto the trucks about 23 hours ago from web

31. I am jus now downloading the software that supports my Garmin 305, I hope it works well and I should have some great training data about 23 hours ago from web

32. Spending the day wrapping and just hanging out with the family, Christmas Eve service later if the weather holds about 23 hours ago from web

Merry Christmas to all my readers…

Wow, Christmas 2009 is here! I can hardly believe it. As I sit and think about all that has happened in 2009, it is unimaginable. More has happened in the past year it seems than has happened in the past twenty (I said this same thing in 2008 by the way). God has been the friend that sticks closer than a brother.He has been the Peace that passes all understanding and God has guided me every step of the way in 2009. Now, I Didn’t say that He was responsible for the steps I have taken out of His Will. Excitement is in the air as I think about 2010.

My prayer for each of you is that you have the best Christmas ever. I pray that you will have lots of time with family and friends and most of all that you spend time with Jesus, our greatest friend.

Misty and I had plans to send Christmas cards but that never happened. Maybe we will get out some New Years greetings but probably not. Life is just so busy and so wonderful at the same time. We just need to enjoy what God has blessed us with and work to make sure others know His love as well.

Lets work together so that many, many , more people will be celebrating the Birth of Christ with us next year.

Merry Christmas.

Ronnie