Samuel, Seth, and Ethan

These boys are all growing up right before our eyes. Cherish your children.

Ronnie

Bible Study Opportunity @ Out Of The Box 522 N Main St

What’s So Amazing About Grace?

“There is nothing we can do to make God love us more.

There is nothing we can do to make God love us less.”

We speak of grace often, but do we understand it?

More importantly, do we truly believe in it…and do our lives proclaim it as powerfully as our words?

If your ready to discover grace as more than just a fluffy concept, buckle your

seat belt. You’re about to take a journey to the heart & soul of Christianity.

The next life grace changes could be yours.

If you would be interested in attending a Study on the Best Selling book by

Phillip Yancey, “What’s So Amazing About Grace”, please email or call

Patti Holderfield to sign up or for more information

hebronhokies@embarqmail.com or call 236-7812

When: Starting Sept. 13, 2010 for 10 to 12 weeks – Deadline to sign up will

be Sept. 3, 2010.

Where: OOTB Downtown Hillsville

Time: 9:00 am on Monday mornings

Materials: Books $11.00 ea. 2 Vol. in 1-includes: Where is God when it Hurts?

Participants guide (optional) $6.00 ea

My Day August 30th, 2010

It has been a great day. First thing this morning my computer wouldn’t boot up and I really didn’t sweat it because even though I didn’t have every file backed up, I did have most important things backed up to either a thumb drive or an online source. I have learned the hard way that electronic things do break. My laptop has been a great one with almost no problems in more than 3 years of constant work overload and lots of travel. Praise the Lord, I worked with the computer to the point that I was offered the option of restoring and warned that I could lose some recent material. As far as I can tell I didn’t lose anything at all, praise the Lord.

I ran 7 miles early this morning, had a great time talking with the Lord and the cool weather has helped me to run faster. When I finished running I laid my Garmin 305 on top of the Jeep and it wasn’t until I was half way home that I remembered that I had left it on the top of the Jeep. I pulled over, planning to go re-trace my last few miles and the luggage rack had trapped it and it too was safe from harm, praise the Lord.

I mowed our yard and Keith’s yard today and then Mike came and did the weed eating at our house, praise the Lord.

We were sitting by the fire pit tonight and the thought of a good friend struck me. His name was Joe Ashe and I loved Joe a lot. We had sibling dogs, Joe lived in Ohio and me here in Cana but we managed to see each other occasionally. I saw in my mind and felt in my spirit that Joe is with my brother Keith now in Heaven and Bronson and Esau are there with them. Man, heaven is getting so full with people and animals that God has impacted my life with. I can’t wait to go there.

I have had the day at home but fielded many phone calls, e-mails, and fb messages from many people. Some were purely ministry related (business) some were just to say hello and let me know they are praying for me, some were from students who miss being home, and many were asking for prayer for so many things and I know that God is still on the throne and He hears our cries, so I know that every prayer gets an answer, every tear is kept so that one day we will understand that even though we didn’t understand the hurt and the pain, it has a purpose. that day is coming soon, praise the Lord.

It has been a great and busy day, God has filled every moment of it. I am a blessed man!

Ronnie

Impact JC A RETHINK Church Event

I am speaking at this event, next Thursday evening @ 7pm

First United Methodist Church
900 Spring Street
Johnson City, TN 37604
(423) 928-9222
www.1stfamilyjc.org

If you are in the area we would love for you to join us. Rethink Church is a movement in the United Methodist Church to bring the church back to what church is all about.

Look at these videos and it will start to make sense.

Ronnie

Things I have learned this week, August 29th, 2010

Jesus continually took time away for self care, we should do the same as clergy.

Just remembered, I am not called to fix people, I am called to minister.

David and Bathshebia are our examples of how not to behave. However they are an example of Gods forgiveness. When we mess up, there is hope.

“The Christian movement now faces its greatest opportunity in the Western world in the last three centuries.” George Hunter

The Church of Brady in East Los Angeles loses 10 percent of their congregation every year to plant new churches! AWESOME

In most communities, most traditional churches cannot reach, or even meaningfully converse with their unchurched non-Christian Neighbors.

Jesus did not tell the world to go to the church, He told the church to go to the world.

We have to turn the church from being an audience to being an army. Bruce Larson

You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast,because he trusts in you. Isaiah 26:3

If you do not take risk, you will not grow.

“We are not human beings on a spiritual journey. We are spiritual beings on a human journey.” Stephen Covey

83% of churches in America have 149 people or less in worship on Sunday’s

“70% of all people who visit a church make up their mind about coming back “BEFORE” the pastor gets up to speak!” Barna Research Group

Only 17% of the population of this Country attend worship regularly.

“You shall not sacrifice yourself or those you love on the altar of the new church” Jim Griffith

Self-care: be a lover of God planting a church, not a church planter trying to love God.

FLEA MARKET PARKING ATTENDANTS NEEDED

Hi!  It’s that time of the year again- we need flea market parkers!  This is our biggest fund raiser for the year and all of the money we raise goes towards local needs in the community.  We need your help!  Please sign up for a two hour slot on Fri, Sat. or Sun. .  The list is on the bulletin board in the hallway at church, near the office.  Your time will be well spent in helping raise money to meet the needs of the community.  Our church receives calls all day long for assistance of some sort.  So this is a very important fundraiser.  Please consider helping out and thank you for all that you do!  The community thanks you too!

hmmm…Donna has been at it again….

Re-Posted from Donna Godwin\’s Art – n – Stuff Blog

Blogging my way to the Sunday Morning Sermon

Jeremiah 2: 4-13 The Message

^4-6Hear God’s Message, House of Jacob!
Yes, you—House of Israel!
God’s Message: “What did your ancestors find fault with in me
that they drifted so far from me,
Took up with Sir Windbag
and turned into windbags themselves?

It never occurred to them to say, ‘Where’s God,
the God who got us out of Egypt,
Who took care of us through thick and thin, those rough-and-tumble
wilderness years of parched deserts and death valleys,
A land that no one who enters comes out of,
a cruel, inhospitable land?’

^7-8“I brought you to a garden land
where you could eat lush fruit.
But you barged in and polluted my land,
trashed and defiled my dear land.
The priests never thought to ask, ‘Where’s God?’
The religion experts knew nothing of me.
The rulers defied me.
The prophets preached god Baal
And chased empty god-dreams and silly god-schemes.

^9-11“Because of all this, I’m bringing charges against you”
—God’s Decree—
“charging you and your children and your grandchildren.
Look around. Have you ever seen anything quite like this?
Sail to the western islands and look.
Travel to the Kedar wilderness and look.
Look closely. Has this ever happened before,
That a nation has traded in its gods
for gods that aren’t even close to gods?
But my people have traded my Glory
for empty god-dreams and silly god-schemes.

^12-13“Stand in shock, heavens, at what you see!
Throw up your hands in disbelief—this can’t be!”
God’s Decree.
“My people have committed a compound sin:
they’ve walked out on me, the fountain
Of fresh flowing waters, and then dug cisterns—
cisterns that leak, cisterns that are no better than sieves.

Reasons (why people don’t come to church)

Does God expect me to dress up to go to church?

Three Minute Thursday, August 26th, 2010

by Ronnie G Collins

Samuel on Ray Ray’s Drums

Samuel loves SouledOut and he loves to play guitar and drums. I hope God allows him to learn and play with the best or His best for the Kingdom.

Ronnie

Facebook Song

Do you need a 12 step program for your facebook habit? If not, you should!

Ronnie

What if Starbucks Marketed Like a Church? A Parable.

Relevant Worship Style

The following video is an example that we were shown at Boot Camp today. It is an illustration of two things.

#1, we have to be relevant to culture and stay true to God’s Word. This example is of the Buddhist faith. I do not agree with their religion or the fact that they are reaching out through a bar but it is a great example of what we as Christians have to do to reach the cultures of today.

#2, Listen for the statistic that is given for the loss of people in the Christian Faith.

Ronnie

Another Post from Perry Noble worth Sharing – Five Reasons Why People Quit The Ministry

Source: Perry Noble

#1 – Burnout

I once heard someone say, “I would rather burn out than rust out.”  Uh…BOTH are bad because NEITHER of them finish well.  Too many people in the ministry work themselves into a frenzy, never take time to disconnect and refresh and do absolutely nothing for fun…this always goes bad!

When it comes to leadership circles in America we’ve equated being busy with being godly; however, the haunting reality that confronts that idea is what God Himself said in Psalm 46:10, “BE STILL and know that I am God”…not “be busy!”

If we are not taking regular breaks, doing things “just for fun” and disconnecting then burnout isn’t a matter of “if,” but “when!”

#2 – Unrealistic Expectations

Too many people believe that ministry = easy…despite the fact that it seemed to go really bad for everyone in the Scriptures that sold their life out to Him!  Jesus went to the “place of the skull” to be crucified…why would we ever believe He would lead us to “the place of the mattress?”

When we impose our plans and ideas on God and refuse to surrender to His…and then things don’t go as planned…it usually leads to people “giving up” because “God just didn’t come through.”

#3 – Criticism

Criticism hurts…it always will…and if it ever doesn’t then, according to my counselor, something is dead inside of you.  AND…it is always personal (especially when someone begins with, “don’t take this personally…but…).

You can’t let the critics dicate what you think/feel!  If you have a ministry that constantly responds to critics then you will not have one that responds to Jesus.  You MUST respond to the people who God has placed in your life to surround you and protect you–that’s not criticism but rather correction.  However, you cannot allow those who know you the least to control you the most–period!

#4 – Discouragement

Every church leader I’ve ever chatted with has done some serious battles with discouragement.  After your message on Sunday the enemy comes in and begins to accuse you, telling you that you did a pathetic job and that no one is going to come back next week.  Heck, I’ve had to battle discouragement during the message before, hearing voices inside of my head saying things like, “you suck, these people hate you…you need to quite the ministry…” and so on.

This is why it is essential for leaders to get in a place like David did in I Samuel 30:1-6…he faced an incredibly discouraging situation and yet someone managed to find His strength in the Lord.  I do this through reading through encouraging letters and emails that I’ve received in the past, placing myself in encouraging environments and focusing on what God’s Word says about me.

#5 – Losing Focus On God’s Power

When we actually believe it is up to us to make people come back to church every week rather than believing we are conduits that God wants to work through to do that very thing…it’s over!  Because…we fall into the trap of trying to outdo ourselves every week, every series and every year…and prayer/seeking the Lord becomes something we love to talk about but fail to do.  He saves…He draws people…and He uses us to do it.  It’s not up to us…but rather allowing Him to work through us to accomplish all that He wants to do!

Face it…on our own we don’t have enough power to blow our nose!  We NEED Him…HE is the game changer!!!

Blog Post from Perry Noble – 13 Things I Would Tell Church Planters

Source – Perry Noble

One of the most frequent questions I receive is, “If you could tell a church planter one thing, what would it be?”

I’ve thought about that question…and honestly, I can’t come up with just one thing because the world of church planting is complex.  So, I made a list of several things…so here’s what I would say to someone who is considering planting a church…

#1 – You are going to have to take huge steps of faith to see the dream God has placed inside of you become a reality.  Church planters that pray but refuse to take action never actually do what God has called them do to…and they wind up bitter at God because they prayed for things that God was more than willing to do if they had just acted on what they were praying for!

#2 – You are going to have lots of doubters when you share your vision with people…especially churchy people!  They typically are used to “by faith we believe God can raise enough money to pave the parking lot” vision and not “we are called to reach the entire world” vision!

#3 – One of the biggest doubters you will encounter from time to time is yourself!  (Personally, I keep going back to Isaiah 61:1 when I doubt!)

#4 – People who you thought were great friends and would always be by your side will leave you…and many times it won’t be pretty.

#5 – People you don’t even know right now will one day come along side of you and be unbelievable friends and partners in the ministry God has given you.

#6 – You will always feel significant financial pressure when you are pursuing the vision God has given you.  The question you must constantly wrestle to the ground is, “Is THIS what God wants” and not, “Can we afford it?”  Remember…if it is God’s will then it is God’s bill!  What the King wants the King pays for!

You are going to run into doubters

You are going to doubt yourself

You are going to lose people

You are going to feel financial pressure

You are going to see God in ways that many do not get to see Him

You are going to have to declare what you are for rather than what you are against

You are going to have to choose whether or not you want to please insiders or reach outsiders.

You are going to have to take steps of faith

You are going to want to quit

You are going to experience a whole new level of spiritual warfare

You are going to be tempted to copy the success you see in church world rather than believe the vision God gave you.

You are going to change your mind about things you are pretty set on right now.

#7 – You are going to see God in ways that many do not get to see Him.

#8 – You are going to have to be WAY more passionate about what you are for rather than what you are against!

#9 – You are going to have to choose whether or not you want to please insiders or reach outsiders…you cannot do both.

#10 – You are going to want to quit–don’t!  He who called you is with you and will sustain you!!!  (See Philippians 1:6)

#11 – You are going to experience a whole new level of spiritual warfare…just remember, the only reason the enemy is attacking you is because he sees you as a threat!  Take up the promise in Isaiah 54:17!

#12 – You are going to be tempted to copy the success you see in church world rather than believe the vision God gave you.  BUT…God called you because He knew He could trust you with what He has given you…so be who HE has called you to be.

#13 – You are going to change your mind about things you are pretty set on right now…what you think is innovative and cutting edge will one day be considered “traditional.”  You can’t allow the pride behind the fact that your idea is no longer the best idea to bring your church to a place where people meet and talk about what God used to do!

Lessons from a Rock – A Re-Post from July 2008

My friend Rick K. reminded me of this post from some time back and it relates so well where I am today, at this point in ministry.

Ronnie

On Thursday morning I went out for my daily run. As I left the driveway I started to hear a noise that was annoying. After a bit I realized it was a rock stuck in the sole of my shoe. I could feel it now and hear it, clop, clop, clop, very annoying.

My first thought that I would stop and remove the rock that was making me uncomfortable but then I decided against it because I knew if I stopped I wouldn’t want to start to run again. I wanted to get the first mile behind me and then I would take care of the annoyance.

At the end of the first mile I no longer heard or felt the rock and decided to run the next two miles and at the end of three miles I looked and the rock was still lodged in my shoe. Not only had the rock (annoyance) encouraged me to run the first mile, it had helped me to run three miles without resting. My burden became my motivator to do better.

In Judges the Bible says that God didn’t remove all of the opposition to the Israelites due to the fact that if he removed the opposition, the people would forget about the God who had delivered them and of course that is the story of Judges. Over and over again the people were blessed, they forgot God, worshiped idols, an army would come along and cause problems, they would cry out to God, God would deliver them and round and round it goes.

We are like that today, I believe that the Old Testament, the Israelites are a picture of us today. God blesses us, we forget God, something comes along to shake us, we cry out to God and God forgives and rescues us.

My prayer is that the rocks in our lives will not only be an annoyance to us but they will be a motivator to make us stronger.

Blessings

Ronnie

Commentary: Clergy, let the Spirit choose our delegation

Source – The Call 2

By Nathan Malone

At our next Holston Annual Conference in June 2011, we will vote for the people who will represent us at the 2012 General Conference. I encourage our voting clergy to let the Holy Spirit that is God guide your vote — and not some block of voters who have asked for your vote.

In the past few decades, our nation has become politically divided into conservative and liberal “camps.” Both groups believe they have all the answers to what ails our land and believe the other group is the primary cause of any failures. The other group is constantly demonized; its people are laughed at and shouted down.

The Church is infected with the same mentality. Deep down, too many Christians couldn’t care less about denominational affiliation but simply want to know, “Are you conservative or liberal?” They refuse to talk to each other or even consider the viewpoint of the “enemy group.” I believe this division is a primary factor in the decline of many churches across denominational lines.

This mindset also infects the way we vote for our General Conference members. Blocks of like-minded brothers and sisters are already meeting to choose candidates whose viewpoints match their own. (Yes, there are more than just those two “blocks.”) I know of clergy members who were approached at this past Annual Conference by those inquiring about their willingness to serve on behalf of “the right camp.”

I do not believe the Holy Spirit guides those kinds of games; I encourage each of you not to participate. Yes, it is good to discuss your voting considerations and priorities with your sisters and brothers. Of course, it is appropriate to ask candidates where they stand on certain beliefs and issues. However, I do not believe it is Spirit-guided to vote for a particular person just because someone said, “Here is who our side is voting for.”

As you prayerfully discern the way God wants you to vote, may I suggest at least two guiding criteria:

• Diversity: We are a diverse group of clergy, and our delegation should reflect that fact. Aim for diversity in age, ethnicity, gender, and the inclusion of at least one deacon.

• Young adults: If we really do want young adults in our churches, then we must trust them in leadership positions. I believe at least three of our seven clergy delegates should be under age 40. Even at that age, it is possible for a person to have 10 to 15 years of experience as a clergy member.

Let’s stop playing the culturally-influenced political games. Pray about it, do your “homework,”and let the Holy Spirit be your guide.

The Rev. Nathan Malone is senior pastor at Burks United Methodist Church in Chattanooga District.

Things I learned This Week – August 22, 2010

• “It is hard to fail, but it is worse never to have tried to succeed.” Theodore Roosevelt
• If the devil isn’t meeting you head on then it probably means that you and him are walking in the same direction!
• Do not be terrified by them or I will terrify you before them. Jeremiah 1:17 wow, wow, wow speak up when God tells you too!
• “To reach people (for Christ) no one else is reaching, we must do things no one else is doing.”– Craig Groeschel
• God hates unrighteous bad behavior—but he also hates self-righteous good behavior.
• Sometimes, I want Joseph’s perspective without Joseph’s prison.
• People hating you for a dream is nothing new. Joseph’s brothers pioneered that move centuries ago.
• God called us because He is good, not because we are! Gal. 1:15-17
• Your story is not destined to be a cautionary tale of what could have been.
• There is a difference in Fear and Caution but it is a fine line. Worry is a sin and fear causes worry. Caution uses wisdom to defeat fear.
• Hmm, God says many times, don’t be afraid. Why do we have so many fears??? Jeremiah 1

Pastor’s and their busy schedule’s

It has been a busy week, a busy month, a busy year, and a busy life. But I am not complaining.  However, I am  doing more to guard my family time,  health,  and well-being than I have done in the past.

I am taking time each day to be with my family. There have been so many times that I have worked 12 and 14 hour days and my children were in the bed when I left home in the morning and back in bed by the time I arrived home at night. I have always tried to be there as much as possible but now I am making this priority number one. If I have to be at work until late in the evening then I stay home until mid day when possible. I like to cook breakfast for my wife, children, and grandchildren and I try to do that every time it is possible. The fellowship around the table is irreplaceable.

I have been a runner for a number of years and I enjoy it a lot. Many times I will run for a solid month and the schedule will get really complex and the first thing that goes is the exercise. I decided this year not to let that happen and I have been successful for the most part, except for the time during my brothers death. When Keith died I didn’t stop exercising but there were a few weeks that I didn’t have the energy to do anything more than walk to the graveyard and did that every day. I am making it a priority to get out of bed a little earlier now to run most every morning. I have found that if I put it off until the afternoon something else will come along and rob me of that time. If it were not for my running I really don’t think I could handle the stress that I find myself under.

The link below is to an article on the health of clergy or should I say, the bad health. Take a look at it and pray for your pastor or pastors all across the world. I will be the first to say that someone who wanted to have an easy life as a pastor could have that but most of the clergy I know really have been called and work very hard to Shepherd the Flock to which God has called them.

Clergy sacrifice health for flock

Ronnie

How many people will leave 1st Hillsville to help start “Out Of The Box Worship Center”?

Answer: unknown

This is a hard question to answer because at this point the number of people who will feel led to go to the new worship service is unknown.

We are looking for 25 to 30 people who are part of 1st United Methodist Church who feel that God has called them to go and help start a new work to reach the people in Carroll County who are not part of a church anywhere.

In other words, has God put it on your heart to go and help. Everyone who comes to me and lets me know you feel led to go will have a job to do. We will discuss where you feel called in the ministry of Out Of The Box and we will together discover where it is that God wants you to serve.

If God is speaking to you, please speak with me.

This does not mean that we will tell anyone who wants to come that they cannot, we are open to all. The point of the matter is as follows. If you are growing in your relationship to Christ at 1st Hillsville UMC and God has not spoken to you about making the change, then don’t feel like you need to make a change. If you are being used in a ministry at 1st Hilsville and people’s lives are being changed and you feel the need to continue in that capacity, then don’t make a change.

In the end there may be more than 25 or 30 people counting children of the adults who come. I would never consider worshiping at one site and leaving small children outside my personal care as a parent.

Is God speaking to you about being a missionary in your own community?

If so, lets talk about what the needs are and see if you still feel that God is calling you to make a change.

Ronnie

How did we get the name “Out Of The Box Worship Center”?

When Holston Conference Congregational Development approached us after coming to Hillsville to speak with us about expanding the ministries of 1st Hillsville UMC and after finding that 1st Hillsville is one of the fastest growing in attendance out of 904 churches, it was recommended that rather than building a larger facility at the current location, we might want to explore the option of going to a new location and starting a new work.

This is the option that Long Range Planning recommended and it was accepted by a church vote.

FUMC Downtown “Out Of The Box” Youth Center was started with 17 Sr high youth and at that time had grown to an average attendance in the sixties, many times swelling to 100 plus for special events. Much of the growth in membership at 1st Hillsville has been due to not only youth joining the church who attend OOTB Youth but their parents and grandparents as well.

The DNA of 1st Hillsville and the growth of Out Of The Box Youth have been very appealing to Holston Conference and therefore when they approached us, it was their desire as well as members of 1st Hillsville to start the new work with both works in mind.

When the new work was presented to the Annual Conference at Lake Junaluska in June of this year, it was presented as “Out of the Box”. Therefore it has remained.

When the Design Team discussed the Logo that is attached to this blog, it was stated that we wanted to make sure the connection with First United Methodist Church Hillsville was in the name. It is through the faith and work of the people of 1st UMC Hillsville that Out of the Box Youth was started and it is again through God using this body that we are moving forward again.

The Design Team has embraced the name and the following Logo.

Ronnie

Has a Worship Leader been chosen for Out Of The Box Worship Center?

Answer: Yes

With a recommendation from the planting pastor and the further recommendation of the Design Team, Jay Holderfield has been chosen as the Worship Leader of Out Of The Box Worship Center.

Jay says,

In the past few years God has blessed my life beyond anything I could have ever imagined.  First off, in the summer of 2009 God blessed me with an amazing wife named Suzanne.  I thank him every single day for bringing her into my life.  Music is something that I have always had a passion for, and for the past 3 years I have been fortunate enough to be able to use that passion and play guitar and sing in the praise band at FUMC Hillsville, SouledOut.  I have played guitar since I was 14 and have been singing just as long.  I grew up playing in several different bands, but it wasn’t until I started playing with SouledOut that I felt like I was using what God had given me in the way he wanted me to.  I’m excited about what God has done in my life, and I’m even more excited about what he has in store!

Sr. Pastor, Ty Harrison, Planting Pastor, Ronnie G Collins, and 1st Hillsville’s Worship Leader, Cindy Jackson are in agreement that Jay is the person God has prepared for this work and we are excited about the future of the SouledOut Band as well as the band that will form at Out Of The Box Worship Center.

Ronnie

Has the time for the Out Of The Box Worship Service been chosen?

Answer: No

However, we are taking a strong look at a 9:30 to 9:45 worship time, for the following reasons.

• “It has been tried, tested, and proven to be a number one spot for new church/worship starts across the country.” Anna Gail Workman, Coach
• It allows for the person/family, who has to work at 11am, noon, 1pm to attend a worship service and still be at work on time.
• It allows families with children to attend an early service, not get the children up so early to attend an earlier service and still meet work commitments of 11am, noon, and 1pm.
• 1st UMC Hillsville already offers 8:30am, 11am, and 6:30pm. We are not reaching 78 percent of the county population at these times. This is a good reason to set another option on time.
• The SPR has said we have 2 Pastors, one is expected to be in the pulpit on Sunday morning at all times. This allows for the Sr. Pastor and the planting pastor to cover all three services when one is out for vacation, family emergency, etc.
• This allows for the Sr. Pastor to come downtown and help with services at various times as well as allowing the planting pastor to have a presence at 1st Hillsville more often.
• We are not aware of another 9:30 service time in our community.
• The two coaches hired by Holston Conference have recommended this time slot as an ideal time.

Ronnie

Three Minute Thursday – Are you really going to eat that?

What is the Design Team for Out Of The Box Worship Center?

This group will make lots of decisions.  In order to get the work done and to launch this ministry quickly, they must be able to make efficient decisions, and have the nimbleness to revisit decisions occasionally without a lot of fanfare or meetings.  This is essentially, a management team.

They are empowered to create other work teams and ministry teams as they see fit – not policy-making committees, but teams of folks to work and get ministry done – in visitor follow-up, worship planning, coffee/refreshments, children’s ministry and building/equipment issues.

Design Team members are chosen in consultation with the senior pastor and administrative council chair.  This is a team that the planting pastor will chair.

They will exist for a season, and later morph into more of a standing committee, formed and populated in conventional ways.

They are accountable to Holston Conference for the stewardship of the Grant awarded, to a team of two coaches provided by Holston Conference, to the Administrative Board and Trustees of Hillsville, in terms of any monies that the latter choose to invest in Out of the Box  Worship Center.  Further the planting pastor is accountable to the SPRC to the senior pastor and to the district superintendent.

The team members approved by Church Council Vote are as follows:

Sr. Pastor – Ty Harrison

Planting Pastor – Ronnie G Collins

Council Chair – Oliver McBride

Lay Leader – Sue Ward

Jeff Scott

Frank Carter

Lora Terry

Who are the Coaches for Out Of The Box Worship?

Anna Gail Workman is on staff with Virginia Conference and has overseen the planting of several second campuses of existing United Methodist churches.

Paul Nixon is a new church consultant/coach, formerly a planter pastor, helping to launch two new campuses during a nine-year appointment in Florida.  He has worked with Anna to coach 3 multi-site planting projects in Virginia in recent years.

Paul and Anna come to Hillsville as part of the United Methodist Path 1 coaching network.

Coach Paul Nixon\’s Web Site

Path1 New Church Starts GBOD

Will there be Children’s Church at Out Of The Box Worship?

Answer: Yes

There will be a ministry with children going on during some part of the Sunday service. This is still being thought through and studied. It will likely be called by some other name but it will be very similar to the Children’s church that we currently utilize at 1st UMC Hillsville.

Ronnie

Will there be a Nursery @ Out Of The Box Worship Center?

Answer: Yes

Absolutely there will be a Nursery at Out Of The Box Worship Center.

As a matter of fact, we were blessed to find out this week that we have been given a Grant in the amount of $3,000 just for the Nursery needs of the new worship site.

This is an absolute need for any church assembly.

Ronnie

What will happen to Sunday Night Live (SNL) at 1st UMC Hillsville Worship Site?

(This is in relation to the Out Of The Box Worship Center)

Answer: It will continue each Sunday night as it currently does.

We currently offer three worship services at 1st UMC Hillsville and we will continue to offer those three services.

Ronnie G Collins will continue at this time to preach for the SNL service. The SouledOut Band will continue to play for the SNL service.

Nothing will change at this time for this service and the church will continue to monitor and evaluate the continuance of this worship service as they do for all offerings in ministry.

I am happy to report at this time the SNL service is doing well. Attendance this past week was 72, this is a great number of people to have in worship on a Sunday evening or at any time during the week. This number included several visitors.

No planned changes in time or format of the SNL service are foreseen at this time.

Ronnie

Will there be Sunday School offered at Out Of The Box Worship Center?

Answer: No

There is no plan for Sunday School to be offered at Out Of The Box Worship Center. However “Life Groups” will be offered. Some people refer to these groups of people as “Small Groups”.

Every person who attends worship at the OOTB Worship Center will be encouraged to be involved with a “Life Group”. These will be led by different people who attend OOTB Worship Center and these leaders will be mentored by the planting pastor.

Question 2

What about the youth who currently attend the 10am Sunday School @ OOTB Youth, will they not be offered a Sunday School.

Answer: Those youth who currently attend OOTB Youth for Sunday School will do one of two things. If they feel called of God to attend the new worship service, then they will be folded into a “Life Group”. They can choose along with the leader to meet any time that is good for them. That could be at 8:30am or 11am on Sunday morning. That could also be on an evening during the week. It will be a choice that the leader and the youth will explore when the time comes.

Those youth who do not feel called to attend the new worship service will continue to have Sunday School at Out Of The Box Youth at 10am on Sunday Mornings.

Here is a great article from The United Methodist News Service that discusses “Small Groups”.

Life Groups (Small Groups) Grow The Church

Each group will be different and people will have a choice as to which group they want to be a part of. The details are yet to be worked out but this will be one of the educational pieces of OOTB Worship.

Ronnie