THE CREATIVITY of one of Kelowna’s largest Christian enterprises will be getting a boost.

British pastor Phil Collins recently took up the leadership of Willow Park Church. He brings a history as chief executive officer of Saltmine Trust, a Christian theatre company that has reached 120,000 people with the arts in major outreach events across the U.K. It’s a group dedicated to bringing the gospel outside church walls.

In his 20s, Collins worked with British Youth For Christ. In his 30s, he built a network of 14 evangelical churches.

“I felt God wanted me to go back to local churches and apply what I had learned in national ministries, to the local church,” said Collins. His search began and culminated in a call from Willow Park’s main campus church.

This is not Collins’ first foray into Canada. At age 17, he spent time carrying bags for an evangelist across Canada.

He lived in Calgary during the 1990s, when he started a youth ministry called Life Force.

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Collins does not plan on any drastic departures from the course Willow Park has set. He noted the church has started new campuses across Kelowna. “I’d like to continue that excellent work, and reach out across Rutland and beyond. I’d like to serve what God is doing across our network.”

Collins sees B.C. as having much in common with Quebec and Europe. “We’re in similar positions. We’re moving toward a multicultural society. There are a lot of similarities, especially between B.C. and Britain.”

He noted people in both cultures tend to be individualists, and approach life in many of the same ways. Both are post-Christian in nature; thus, many of the lessons from European mission thinking can be applied here.

“We have to get beyond the four walls of the church. We have to get involved in community and partnerships, and work with organizations in cities,” he added.  Collins began his new ministry in June.

– Dorothy Brotherton

August 2010