Welcome to our series that spotlights NC Conference pastors serving in extension ministries. Read about other extension ministers as these stories are published weekly.
Rev. Daniel Collins
Rev. Daniel Collins is a Deacon in full connection, and he serves in extension ministry as a Construction Site Supervisor for Habitat for Humanity of Orange County. He is married to Rev. Lindsay Collins, Elder in full connection and Pastor of Union Grove United Methodist Church in Hillsborough. Their children are Eli (10) and Lucy (7). Outside of work and family, he enjoys language, theology, art, music, camping, hiking, and science fiction.
Habitat for Humanity of Orange County
Rev. Collins is responsible for constructing multi-story, multi-family affordable housing buildings in the developments of Habitat for Humanity of Orange County, NC. Most of his time on site in this full-time role is spent teaching, leading, and supervising a diverse volunteer base in construction work. Partner Families of Habitat’s Homeownership Program have the opportunity to purchase one of the homes we build with an affordable mortgage. These families apply for the program and are qualified by having a demonstrable need for affordable housing, their willingness to partner, and the established ability to pay an affordable mortgage. The program requires 275 hours of sweat equity by Partner Families, much of which is accomplished with Rev. Collins and the other site supervisors in construction of the very homes that they and their neighbors will be living in. The program creates a path to access decent, affordable, clean, safe, and energy-efficient housing where it would have otherwise been out of reach for the families in the program.
A Leader Forming Ministry
This ministry forms leaders by training people of all ages and skill levels in residential construction and how to lead other volunteers as crew leaders. It empowers first-time homebuyers and their families to understand and maintain their new homes, greatly increasing their quality of life and health and creating new generational wealth.
A Peace Building Ministry
This ministry builds peace by building mixed-income neighborhoods that not only offer access to affordable housing but break down barriers between people from vastly different social classes, backgrounds, and countries. It is nothing short of a community-level reflection of the Kingdom of God.
