Chris Collins

Pastors and Ministry Directors and Leaders
BIO Questions Format

Personal Background that helped prepare you for the role you play at the church?
Church and family life have always been important to Chris. He spent the first few years of his life attending a Church of Christ church with his mother. She remarried when Chris was six and, from that point forward, he was raised in a Southern Baptist church where his new father was pastor. At age 8, Chris made a decision to be a Christ follower.

Years later, at 21, Chris began dating a former high school crush shortly after she began attending the same church. They were married in 1994. Melissa and Chris now have 2 children, Carissa (10) and Corban (7) as well as another, Hattie, on the way.

Educational Background that helped prepare you for the role you play at the church?
Chris attended Richland High School in Fort Worth, Texas, were he lettered in varsity football, track, gymnastics and cheerleading (or yell leading, as he prefers to call it). Upon graduation, Chris studied at the University of Texas and Tarrant Community College before pursuing a biblical studies degree at Dallas Baptist University and The Criswell College. He graduated in 1998 with 8 years of study, one degree and many life lessons learned. His degree in biblical studies with an emphasis on pastoral ministry has given him what he believes to be a solid educational foundation for ministry.

Professional Background that helped prepare you for the role you play at the church?
After graduating high school, Chris worked with children and teens as a gymnastics and tumbling coach—giving him experience with and developing his love for kids of all ages. His relationship with Christ led him into vocational ministry at 23. He served as a college pastor, singles pastor and associate pastor his first 6 years in ministry before founding a new church in North Fort Worth and serving as senior pastor. He served at Grace Community Church for 6 years before being led to Church on the Hill where he serves as children and family ministries pastor.

What is the passion that drives your particular role in the church?
Chris’ role as children’s pastor was initially pursued because he wanted to personally influence his own and other kids to follow Jesus. That desire soon developed into a passion for reaching and influencing entire families in order to make a significant and lasting difference in the lives of children. As family ministries pastor, Chris’ passion is characterized in the mission statement of the Children’s Ministry, “Building futures for Jesus—TODAY!” and that of Family Ministries, “Developing spiritual, emotional and relational health in our homes!”

Do you see yourself in this role in 5 years; if not where would you see you in the church?
Chris intends to make a difference in the lives of children and families for years to come. How that might look in the years ahead, he doesn’t know. One thing is sure, in his own words, “I am content to be used of God here at Church on the Hill and to live out the remainder of my life here in McMinnville, serving this community for years to come.