Welcome to Ray of Hope Ministries

Pastor Liz Howland (formerly Liz Collins of “Wandilla”, Marlborough)
Liz was born into a pioneering Central Queensland rural family. The eldest of seven children, she worked alongside her parents from an early age to bring the land to full production and profitability. Her family was at the forefront of stud and commercial cattle breeding and some of her siblings remain in those industries today.
For many years, she worked tirelessly alongside her husband managing and owning cattle properties, bred stud cattle and horses and raised 4 fine sons. She has faced floods, droughts, bush fires, slumps in the cattle market, bankruptcy and divorce with inimitable courage and faith in God, and can relate how He (God) has met with her, inspired her, led and guided her in a very practical way, through the many and varied circumstances of life. These life experiences have equipped her with great wisdom and compassion. Many times during her trips into rural Australia, particularly the drought years, she has ‘just felt’ to drive down a particular road or make a phone call to a particular person, only to later learn, that person was suicidal, or in deep distress regarding a matter to which they felt there was no solution.

Her passion is to see our Nation come to the life transforming knowledge of Jesus Christ, to convey the message that God’s life giving Word, (the Bible) is as relevant today as it was 2000 years ago, and how to practically apply God’s principles in everyday life. (Liz can relate story after story of answered prayer).

In particular she has a passion and compassion for rural people and has a desire to bring comfort, hope and encouragement to the people of the bush. She travels into many, (sometimes isolated), regions of Queensland and NSW visiting people in the privacy of their own homes. This has extended to conducting non-denominational informal Church services in the garden, under a tree, or around a dining table with rural families. She sleeps in a tent when necessary and has her vehicle laden with materials to help those facing life’s many challenges.

She believes that our `denominational labels` must pale into insignificance and that as we work together to see Christian principles re-established in our Nation there will be a major return to the honorable ways that have made our Nation great.