When I first had the idea of putting this website together to share my dad’s old messages and teachings, the word that came to mind was “Legacy”. The word legacy itself is defined as “something handed down by a predecessor”. We often think in terms of what we leave behind when referring to legacy. How will people remember us? As humble and caring or arrogant and proud? What sort of legacy was left for you? One of Hope and reverence or fear and resentment?
We cannot control the legacy we are given, but we can control how it affects us. The two words to remember here are “Define” and “Refine”. When we allow our inheritance, good or bad, to Define us then we are telling the world “This is the hand I have been dealt and there is nothing I can do to change it.” If we choose to let it Refine us, we are saying “I will learn from my past to better myself for today.”
I am truly blessed to have inherited a wonderful legacy from my father John Collins. A youth minister for over 25 years, John was a mighty man of God who loved his family and cared deeply to see teenagers follow Christ. When I was 11 years old, my dad was preaching at a youth conference. I was sitting in my chair listening to his words on being called to the ministry. Well of course growing up in the home of a youth minister, I wanted to follow in my father’s footsteps. So I went down to the altar and began to pray. I asked God, what is your plan for my life? Eventually my dad saw me praying and came over to where I was. He started praying with me and then asked me “What did God speak to you Jeramy?” I told him, “I think God has called me to ministry.” Now I expected my dad to be excited by this announcement and give me a hug and tell me he was proud. What I did not expect was for him to pull me up on stage in front of hundreds of people and announce it to everyone that God had just called his son into full-time ministry. Being at a summer camp full of teenage hormones, the place went nuts. These kids had no idea who I was, but they started clapping and shouting and cheering like I had just scored the game winning touchdown. It was an intense moment to say the least and one I have never forgotten.
So what does this have to do with Legacy? I could have chosen to let that moment define me. I would have to live up to the John Collins’ name and if I was not as good as he was, then it would be a failure. It’s funny how many people to this day still tell me “you look just like your father.” The irony is when it comes to personality, we could not be more different. John was a very loud outgoing person who could make friends with anyone at any time. He had this amazing ability to connect with people so easily. Pretty much any fast food restaurant we went to, he would be on a first name basis with the managers and staff. Me on the other hand, I’m about as social as a turtle. I wave and say hi and then duck around a corner to avoid a lengthy conversation. I order all my fast food from an app to avoid small talk with staff (I’m kidding…..sort of). Dad was loud and outspoken and I am more quiet and reserved. His ministry was teens and 20’s. Mine is elementary children. Living up to the expectation of being just like my dad was an insurmountable task. I know that sounds like I’m getting carried away, but think about it. How often do we base our value on the success of others? We set a clear expectation of what is considered successful based on someone else’s goals. I can’t be my dad. I can never be the youth minister that he was because that’s not who God made me to be. That’s why it is so important to understand that legacies are not meant to define who we become. They are a tool to refine us into who God has created us to be. I love how Psalm 139 says it in verses 13-16
13 For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.
15 My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place,
when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.
16 Your eyes saw my unformed body;
all the days ordained for me were written in your book
before one of them came to be.
God ordained us for His purpose and glory, not the purpose of our fathers. I am proud to call myself John Collins’ son and always will be. But his name does not define who I am meant to be. It is the name of Jesus Christ my Savior that I live for. The Legacy I want to leave for my children is that continued passion to serve God and His Kingdom just like their grandpa did. We all want to leave behind a legacy that encourages and inspires greatness for those who come after us. In the end it still comes down to choice. Will you let your legacy Define you or Refine you? The choice is yours.
I couldn’t be more excited to hear that you are posting some of your Dad’s old content. I was a student of his at CFNI in 1999. And he came and did an event at our youth ministry in South Dakota right before his passing. Upon playing one of the tracks you posted on the podcast, I immediately teared up at hearing his voice. John helped shape my philosophy of ministry and, really, I believe, the course of my whole life.
The short version: during a particularly moving service at the aforementioned event, he put his arms around my shoulders and said, “Get your resume ready.” I thought that was comical, because what I saw in front of me — students on their faces, worshipping, and crying out to God — was what I had been praying for, since starting at that position. My first ever youth ministry position. But because I trusted John and he had already been a prophetic voice in my life, I listened.
He gave my wife and I a public word during that event, also, about being a leader of many youth groups — not just one. I can’t remember how he worded it, but it had something to do with chickens/hens. I have to find the old cassette tape and see if it still plays.
Anyhow, I was shocked to find out, just a few short days later, that our position at that church was being terminated for financial reasons. And because I listened to John’s prodding and had prepared my resume, we were able to sneak in, at the last moment, and get a youth ministry job in Rapid City, SD, that proved to be some of the most blessed years of my life. In fact, almost 2 decades later, my wife and I are now senior pastors of that church.
But before that happened, we spent those years in between in nextgen ministry. I was a youth pastor and youth volunteer for most of those years, but for 8 of them, I also served as a national nextgen leader for the Foursquare denomination. I realized, a month or two after serving in that role, that it was John’s prophetic word to us coming true. I was pastoring the youth pastors and youth groups of our District.
And anyhow, so much of how I do ministry was formalized through John’s teaching and wisdom. He was more than a professor to me. He was a friend. And a sage. A master of his field. And I feel very lucky/blessed to have known him.
Thank you for this website! Can’t wait to see more.
Thank you so much for sharing Shawn. I am so honored to hear that God was able to speak such life and affirmation to you and your wife through Dad’s word.