Trainer Pastor will Run for County Council Seat
Thursday, February 12, 2009 5:35 AM EST
From the lectern of the Church of the Overcomer in Trainer, a new face has emerged in Delco politics — that of Pastor Keith Collins.
Collins, 48, of Ridley Park, confirmed Wednesday his intent to run on the Democratic ticket for one of two county council seats opening up this year.
“When you look at the political landscape, it’s a monolithic landscape and I believe that needs to change for the betterment of all people along all lines … and to give people a spirit of inclusion, that they are part of the county government,” said Collins.
He related politics to a car battery, which requires both negative and positive poles to operate. Without that diversity, he said, the car isn’t going anywhere.
According to biographical information gleaned from his church’s Web site, Collins is a graduate of Philadelphia’s Central High School, where he lettered in football, and received the Barnwell Award for Academic Excellence and an Honorary Bachelor of Arts degree.
He went on to earn a Bachelor of Science degree in urban ministry management from Geneva College, Beaver Falls, and holds M.B.S. and D.Min. degrees from Friends International Christian University.
A graduate of the U.S. Army ROTC Program, Collins received a commission as a second lieutenant, and served as scout platoon leader and tow platoon leader, earning several medals and distinctions.
He also served as assistant pastor at Philadelphia’s Freedom Christian Bible Fellowship from 1992 to 2000, when he began the Church of the Overcomer (“the church for people who don’t go to church”) and has traveled the world on missionary and faith-oriented trips, visiting Ghana and Nigeria, West Africa, as well as Israel, Egypt and Greece.
A former Temple University police officer and Port Authority Transit police officer, Collins is also a published author, helped battle drug traffickers in Philadelphia, regularly participates in fundraisers to battle cancer and Leukemia, and is a faith-based mentor for adolescent males.
He moved to the area in 1995 with his wife, Carolyn, and is employed as the director for the clinical visitation program at Elwyn.
Though it is an “off-year” for politics, Collins isn’t worried about waning interest in the “change” platform.
“I believe there is still energy, there are still people looking to bring about change and inclusion and I believe this is one of the most appropriate times to bring about change in the (political) landscape,” he said. “(There) doesn’t seem to be any level of engagement or adversarial efforts being put forth. This is an opportune time and an appropriate time for someone to do that.”
This will be Collins’ first official foray into politics, though he is not virgin to the process. His wife, Carolyn, is a former committeewoman, and Collins said he has long been involved at the volunteer level and by teaching the need for political engagement.
“I’m hoping to bring energy and synergy to this county and to this region so that we can move forward,” he said Wednesday. “I’m hoping to inspire and give people a sense of hope and inclusion. I’m hoping to challenge some of the policies that have gone unchallenged and unchecked. … I don’t hear any rumblings of anyone coming forth to do that, therefore, I have decided to do that.”
