My Story
Music has always been an important piece of the puzzle for me. From my earliest recollections, music in all its facets has been essential, fundamental, and almost instinctive to the core of my being.
So when you’re young, it just seems “special” and “natural”. I didn’t understand at the time but the untimely death of my father focused my attention on the one thing I loved most, music. Throughout junior high and high school, music was always the focal point. I knew following my secondary education that I would become a musician.
Four years of high school band, two years of vocal groups, countless concerts, a rock band, and a wedding band all led to an interesting encounter with a friend after graduation. He asked me to play in a guitar group at a catholic church in Sterling Heights. Throughout the two plus years of playing in that ensemble, I felt that something was missing. Better yet, that there was something more to be had.
We played in a competition put on by 103.5 FM WMUZ (a local Christian radio station) and afterwards I was messing around on piano playing some of my own compositions. A woman commented afterward that I was “anointed” and that she and her husband loved what they heard. The word ‘anointed’ sent a shiver down my spine. I’d been complimented in many ways, but that word had never been used.
Through a friend, I was invited to play bass on the 1987 “Dancin’ In The Streets” tour with David Ruffin, Eddie Kendricks, Martha Reeves, and Mary Wells. I ended up not playing, but was more of a personal assistant to Mr. Ruffin (I did sing “My Girl” in the St. Louis show, though). It was in my hotel room in Burbank, CA that I began reading the Bible in my downtime. Thank God for the Gideons!
Upon the tour’s end, I continued seeing Jacquie Fella, my soon-to-be fiancé. We frequently went to her church (South Hill Baptist) and on October 4, 1987, I received Jesus Christ as my personal Lord and Savior. The adventure began there as we were married less than a year later on August 19, 1988. It hasn’t slowed down since, especially with Shaun, who was 8, and other family additions in 1990 (Daniel) and 1996 (Jacob).
Fast forward to July 2005. While on a High School mission trip, I could feel the unmistakable prompting of God the Holy Spirit saying -
I need you to go into full-time ministry with music.
After numerous discussions with my pastor, youth pastor, and my wife, I gave the use of my life over to Him on July 21st and left my job at Lear Corporation after nearly twenty years on July 28, 2005. His Will be done from here on out. I’m just going to hold on for the ride…
Ken Collins
Received Jesus as
Lord and Savior 10/4/87
Married Jacquie (Fella) in 1988
“My three sons”:
Shaun, 26; Daniel, 16; Jacob, 10
Led Praise and Worship music at Cornerstone
EPC Men’s Retreat
1995-2003
Served as Music Minister
South Hill Church from 1989-off & on untill present
Play acoustic guitar (mostly), also bass, keyboards, drums… a little bit of everything
Accepted call into ministry during a High School mission trip in Robbinsville, NC
Staff member of South Hill High School Youth
Contact Me
248-872-3898
Ken@Lionsdenministry.org