ABOUT MINISTRY By Tanya Budler, Dartmouth ’15
A WELLSPRING OF LIFE
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Church is Answer to Prayer for Christian Union Ministry Director Kevin Collins, Christian Union’s director of ministry at DARTMOUTH Dartmouth, has only been in Hanover, New Hampshire for about 18 months—but there is already quite a history between his family, the students he mentors, and Wellspring Worship Center. The pastor of Wellspring is Craig Morton, Dartmouth ’89. Morton and Collins played college football against one another—Morton was an All-Ivy wide receiver for the Big Green and Collins was a tight end for Harvard. Collins, Harvard ’89, also played basketball for the Crimson. After Collins and his family moved from Los Angeles to Hanover, they were praying for a church like Wellspring Worship Center—where the Holy Spirit is moving and lives are being transformed. God provided abundantly, not only with the church they were looking for but also through the reunion with Morton. “I would not be able to persevere in God’s calling for me on campus and in the community without Pastor Craig in my life,” said Collins, who joined the staff at Christian Union in 2011, after working for many years in international executive leadership and management development with corporations such as NIKE, non-profit organizations, and start-ups. Wellspring Worship Center—comprised of local believers, students, and Dartmouth alumni—was birthed out of a campus revival in the 1970s, when it was known as the Dartmouth Area Christian Fellowship. On February 10, seats filled up at Wellspring as the Collins family watched the dedication of its youngest member, Joia—which Morton performed. A dedication marks not only the parents’ commitment to raising a child in the
ways of the Lord, but also the church family’s commitment to helping disciple the child. Kevin and Tricia Collins—also the parents of 11-year-old fraternal twins,
The Collins family has found a church home at Wellspring Worship Center in Hanover, New Hampshire. Liam and Isabella—had been waiting to dedicate Joia, 4, until they found the right faith community. “We already feel like Wellspring is our family, so it was so wonderful to have her dedicated there,” said Tricia Collins. During Joia’s dedication, there were some prophetic words spoken over her and several students prayed for the child. One of those students was Andrew Pillsbury ’15, who grew up in Wellspring Worship Center and was also dedicated there.
Wellspring Worship Center—comprised of local believers, students, and Dartmouth alumni—was birthed out of a campus revival in the 1970s when it was known as the Dartmouth Area Christian Fellowship. 34 | The Ivy League Christian Observer
His parents, Tim (’80) and Meg (’80) Pillsbury, were part of a revival in the 1970s that helped birth the church. Peter Lobel—whose parents were part of that
revival and were good friends with the Pillsburys—also prayed for Joia. And today, Andrew Pillsbury and Peter Lobel—with mentoring from Collins—are doing their part to help foster a move of God on campus. Pillsbury is the executive officer for a leadership development ministry (with the proposed name Dartmouth Faith and Action) that is currently seeking recognition from the college as a student organization. Since fall 2011, the fledgling organization has ministered to the Dartmouth student body with activities such as rigorous Bible courses, conferences, and daily times of prayer and seeking God. “Having Andrew and Peter pray for Joia brought together many generations of Dartmouth Christians!” said Collins. “That was a special moment.” ■