Paul C Collins

Paul C. Collins was born on July 15, 1936, in Chicago, IL. And went into the presence of Jesus on Feb. 23, 2023. He is survived by his wife JoAnn of 59 years, sons Paul Allen and Scott Paul, both of Albuquerque, and grandchildren Kylee, Barrett, and Iris Collins of Albuquerque.

Paul answered God’s call to the ministry at 17 years of age with “Here I Am Lord”. Paul attended college in Chicago, graduated from Drake University in Des Moines, IA, and got his Bachelor of Divinity at Northern Baptist Theological Seminary in Chicago in 1963.

Paul and JoAnn were married on Sept. 21, 1963, and took his first pastorate at First Baptist Church in Mt. Clemons, MI. In 1965 he became Pastor at Calvary Baptist Church in Saginaw, MI. Paul was called to military chaplaincy and entered the Air Force in 1968 at Kirtland Air Force Base. In 1970 he had a remote assignment in Diyarbakir, Turkey for 1 year. From there he went to Myrtle Beach Air Force Base in SC.

Paul separated from the Air Force in 1976 and became an Associate Pastor at the Albuquerque Christian Center with Ron McConnell. In 1978 Paul also joined the Chaplaincy at the New Mexico Army National Guard where he finished his career of 26 years in the military.

In 1980 Paul worked with Prison Fellowship to conduct workshops in New Mexico prisons. In 1983 he became the Associate Pastor with Larry Moss at Heights Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Albuquerque. In 1991 Paul went into full-time chaplaincy first at the NM Penitentiary in Santa Fe and then moved to the Central NM Correctional Facility in Los Lunas. He retired from prison chaplaincy in 2003.

Paul decided to “re-fire, not re-tire” to start a non-profit organization in NM called Eagle’s Unlimited for prisoners coming out of prison to help them find a job and housing. Eagle’s Unlimited is still operational today.

Throughout Paul’s entire life, he also gave back in ministry in countless ways to the communities he lived in.

Paul was Board Chair for Wings For LIFE International, was a key member of the Wings Kenya and India Mission Teams, and supported Wings until his death.

Paul was on the Albuquerque Rescue Mission Board for many years until the retirement of Pastor John Hill.

Paul held every position possible with his Sandia Civitan Club and was active for 30+ years.

Paul participated in numerous Kairos Prison weekends.

Paul was loving, kind, and compassionate, exemplified the traits of Jesus, and lived out the precepts of Christ. He always cared for the “least of these” and impacted and encouraged them in ways that took them to faith in Christ and gave them hope for eternity. Inmates sent regular correspondence to Paul up until his death, letting him know what he had meant to them.

Paul was also a wonderful husband, father, and grandfather and left the family a legacy of how to walk and live a life centered in Christ.

A memorial service will be held at Heights Cumberland Presbyterian Church on Friday, March 17, at 10 am. 8600 Academy Road NE, Albuquerque, NM.

In lieu of flowers please donate to the charity of your choice:

• Wings For LIFE International, 8226 Menaul Blvd NE #130, Albuquerque, NM 87110. www.WingsFLI.org 505-291-6412

• Faith Comes by Hearing, 2421 Aztec Rd. NE, Albuquerque, NM 87107. www.FaithComesByHearing.com 505-881-3321

To leave a message for Paul’s family go to: www.NeptuneSociety.com/obituary

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