Using righteousness and the gospel to change lives
Sugar Ray Thomas
He is a multi-talented person, who has achieved excellence in all areas of his life. He is a purposeful and dynamic crusader for righteousness who has touched the lives of many persons in his community of Three Hills and surrounding areas of St Mary with his message of the Word of Christ. Overseer and Bishop, Donald Oliver Collins has been described as a hero of the gospel of Christ and an inspiration to many.
Bishop Donald O. Collins, affectionately called Pastor Collins, in his home town of Three Hills, St. Mary, was born to Gertude and William Collins on May 21, 1941 in Higgins Town, St. Ann. He is the fifth of twelve children. At the age of six, the little fellow left his family to live with his grandmother, Margaret James in Three Hills, St. Mary.
He grew up into a fine and tall young man, but as Bishop Collins described to North Coast Times, life was challenging in Three Hills as he grew up. “Life was very rough for me. It was a rough life. I was schooled at the Three Hills All Age School. After leaving school at 15, I had to learn masonry with Roy Simpson and then I went into construction, carpentry and masonry on my own.”
Bishop Collins loved singing and as a youth, he enjoyed rehearsing the popular songs of the day. He had a love for the Church and a hunger for something, at that time unknown. Through the love and dedication of the caring and wise personality of Evangelist Cawley Scott, Bishop Collins eventually gave his heart and life to God on September 24, 1960. “I was always, from a little boy, Christian oriented. I wasn’t grown up into a church nor wasn’t introduced to a church. But the Lord would always have me recognize the importance of serving him. I resisted for many years and so I finally surrendered the day in question,” explained Bishop Collins.
Bishop Donald Collins was an active member of the church and he was groomed under the guidance of several elders who saw the potential in him. He also continued to excel in other areas of his life. In this quest for excellence, he became a salesman, insurance broker and a member of the Island Constabulary Force. He was given a medal from Queen Elizabeth II for excellence in work done during Jamaica’s Independence celebration in 1962.
In 1967, Bishop Collins found love and married Ruth Collins. They will be celebrating 48 years of marriage in December. She has been there with him on his spiritual journey. “I do not believe in divorce and so I have learned to live with her faults. Our love has grown stronger throughout the years and I just can’t see without her,” commented Bishop Collins, with a smile. They have one adopted daughter, Maureen Ewen and he has a stepdaughter, Annie Lawrence-Hurllock.
Ascendency to leadership in the church
Bishop Collins’ multitalented persona and his strong spiritual faith kept him on a path of excellence as a member of the Assemblies of the First Born church. “I was very active in the church as a young man in my early years and I think I distinguished myself,” explained Bishop Collins. He was a Sunday school teacher and superintendent, youth president, treasurer, member of the National Sunday school and National Youth Board. In addition, he also was a member of the church’s executive body.
It was these leadership roles and characteristics that were to mark his ascendency as an ordained Minister of Religion in the Assemblies of the First Born Church in Three Hills in 1974, 41 years ago. He has also pastored at the Endeavour Assemblies of First Born and helped to establish and pastor the Labyrinth Assemblies of First Born. He became assistant overseer of the organization in 1994 and was elected as National Overseer in 1997. His labours took him across the island as a missionary, becoming president of the Missionary Board for over ten years. Bishop Collins holds various certificates and diplomas of achievement as a result of his constant thirst for Godliness and serving God.
Inspiration to others
Bishop Donald Collins has been an inspiration to others.. He recollected to The Times the converting of a Rastafarian to Christianity. “There was a Rastafarian I knew and he told me the only way he would accept the Lord was if he got two a di gal them. I speak it like it was. He came back one night while service was going on and he gave his life to the Lord. That gave me goose bumps to see a Rastafarian becoming a server of the Lord.” That Rastafarian was Walter Hinds. According to Bishop Collins, he is now a preacher in New York City. Pastor Collins also gave another account of the power of his ministry. “There is also another young man who was so vile that his mother wished to see him dead. He too, under my ministry, gave his life to the Lord. He is Lloyd Anthony Jones who is pastor in Mile Gully, St. Mary.” These are true testaments of the work that Bishop Collins has been doing in spreading the gospel of Christ.
His message to Jamaicans and persons going through difficulties in their life is simple. “Jesus is the only answer for Jamaica and the world. If you visit my home, you’ll see my car marked ‘Jesus is the answer’. He is the only answer for survival and one must submit to Him,” said Bishop Collins.
Bishop Donald Collins is a man of good character in St. Mary who has used his teachings of the gospel to inspire and change the lives of others. He has survived the challenges of his own life to become a purposeful and dynamic crusader for righteousness and Christianity.
