BY WAY OF INTRODUCTION

Since the specially called Georgia District Council Meeting on December 1st, I have been greeted by many of our Georgia pastors with the words, “Congratulations…but I really don’t know you.” I understand those words perfectly well because as I stood to greet the assembly on that day, I realized that even after nine years of very active ministry in this great state, I knew a relatively small portion of the faces that were looking back at me. So by way of introduction, I want to share with you a little about my family and about myself. It is my heartfelt desire that soon we will all become better acquainted.

The South Carolina home I was raised in with my two brothers and two sisters was very different in some ways. My dad was a Staff Sergeant in the Air Force and was a backslidden Methodist from the low country of S.C. Mom was Catholic and was born and raised in Panama. We were settled close to my dad’s mother so she could help Mom with us as Dad’s deployment took him around the world and as Mom struggled with the basic English language. To say the least, “bilingual” and “cultural diversity” were not well used phrases at that time in the south.

Thankfully, First Assembly of God was a church in our neighborhood and was close enough to walk to, and so began our journey with this great fellowship! First Assembly became a place of love, refuge and spiritual growth for me through my adolescent years and left its lasting and treasured stamp upon my heart. I attended what is now known as Southeastern University where I fell in love with my beautiful wife, Jane. After graduation, we were married and immediately began a children’s church in our home church. One year later, we “pioneered” a church in Chester, S.C. where we were for nearly nine years. From Chester, the Lord called us to Anderson, S.C. where we led Cornerstone Assembly of God for nearly 17 years before transitioning to Evangel Temple in Columbus, GA. Our more than nine years in Columbus and as a part of the Georgia District have been enriching to our lives.

Jane and I have three wonderful sons. Brent and his wife, Jade, have a five-year-old daughter, Alexa, and a three-year-old son, Aidan. Grant and his wife, Krissy, have a three-month-old daughter, Lily. Our third son, Evan, is actually Grant’s twin and is single at this time. What blessings they are in our lives.

December 31st will usher in something totally new for Jane and me as for the last nearly thirty-five years, we have been in active pastoral ministry in a church setting. As we now step into the wonderful opportunity of leading the pastors and churches of this District, we embrace this segment of our journey as God’s will with the understanding that “unless the Lord builds the house, we will labor in vain”.

As you all are aware, we will move into this new job with great sadness as it means that our former Superintendent and his dear wife, Becky, were unable to complete their terms of office. We are staggered at the thought of any possible comparison to either of these great leaders. As we assume these new duties on January 1st, we do so with continued respect and prayers for Superintendent Brumbalow whom we dearly love.

Thank you for all the warm and encouraging words which have greeted us in view of this new positioning for ministry. We covet your prayers as we serve God and you in leadership of the Georgia District.

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RICK COLLINS
Is the newly elected Superintendent;his four-year term will begin on January 1, 2010
Contact him via email at rickcollins@gadistag.org or by phone at 478.405.5901