Pastor Elijah Collins Jr.
Founder/Teacher/Preacher/Visionary
Elijah Collins, Jr., is a native of Rome, Georgia. He is the oldest of three children born to Anna and Elijah Collins, Sr. He has one brother, Michael, and one sister, Krystal. Accepting Christ at an early age, he became very active in his home church, the Greater Mount Calvary Baptist Church. After graduating high school he attended West Georgia College.
In June 1991, he married his college sweetheart, Angelyne Edwards of Savannah, GA. Their union has been blessed by God with two beautiful children, Elise Nicole and Joshua Miles.
In June of 1993, he and his family joined the Salem Missionary Baptist Church of Lilburn, Georgia, under the leadership of Pastor Richard B. Haynes. It was at Salem that he answered the Lord's call on his life to preach the Gospel, and in August 1994 he preached his initial sermon and was licensed to preach the Gospel. The following month, Rev. Collins was assigned to be the youth and children's minister at Salem where he voluntarily served faithfully in this ministry for the next five years. During his tenure, God allowed him to take the Salem children and youth to a higher level in their spiritual growth and development.
In November 1999, Rev. Collins was ordained and asked to join the Salem Church Staff as the first ever full-time Youth and Children's Pastor.
In January 2001, Pastor Collins began to serve as Chaplain of Grace Heritage Christian School in Stone Mountain, GA, while continuing his ministerial duties at Salem.
After almost a year of ministering in this vineyard, and witnessing the Lord move on the hearts of countless young people, Pastor Collins was asked to start a church in the sanctuary at Grace. After months of praying and planning, the Lord gave him the name and the vision for the new church, "NEW JERUSALEM BAPTIST CHURCH, Where New Beginnings Are Built Upon A Solid Foundation."
Pastor Collins led in the purchase of a church building located at 1958 Dogwood Road in Snellville, GA. Pastor Collins states, "The Lord has blessed us with a growing congregation. Our prayers are that New Jerusalem will continue to carry out God's wishes for his people in that area."
Under his pastoral leadership, New Jerusalem Baptist Church has grown from 17 founding members to a membership of more than 600. Pastor Collins has licensed nine ministers, and has twelve sons and daughters that are proud to call him their spiritual father. Two of this select twelve are now leading their own churches.
Pastor Collins works tirelessly for his members. He is a champion for young people. He is the founder of Solid Foundation Youth Development, Inc., a non-profit organization designed to make sure that every young person has the right foundation in life through education, healthy relationships and opportunities. He shows his love for the youth by visiting and speaking with them at their local schools. In his spare time, Pastor Collins also instructs a weekly, Preachers Training Class. Pastor Collins has a reputation of reaching beyond the walls of New Jerusalem to work with non-members in the surrounding community. He ministers twice a week at the Department of Family and Children Services to men and women who are in need of encouragement and spiritual support.
Pastor Collins is a Visionary. He saw his ministry transcending the walls of New Jerusalem and gladly steps in whatever direction God orders. God has shown Pastor Collins that his ministry will branch out in many new directions and that there is so much more work he has for him.
In 2008, Pastor Collins started a new ministry, The Community Outreach Ministry. He realized that people in his community were hurting and felt the need to help in some way. God gave Pastor a vision. The vision was to open the doors of the church to those in need, those who are facing economic stress and strain, those who are homeless, those who need spiritual healing and for those who just want to come out and fellowship. In talking to and ministering to different groups, Pastor Collins found that many people were trying to find jobs but had nothing to wear to an interview. Pastor stood before his congregation and asked members of his church to donate clothing. Thus, the NJBC Clothes Closet began.
Pastor Collins is currently attending Atlanta Christian College pursuing a degree in Christian Ministries.
In April 2009, the Secretary of State, Karen C. Handel, of the State of Georgia, presented Pastor Collins with an Outstanding Georgia Citizen Award. This award proclaims that Pastor Elijah Collins be afforded every courtesy as a Goodwill Ambassador from Georgia in his travels to other states, to nations beyond the borders of the United States of America, or wherever he may hereafter travel or reside.
On November 15, 2010, Pastor Collins was elected President of the African American Fellowship of the Georgia Baptist Association. Pastor Collins served as Vice-President of the Association for a year priot to being elected President.
With the leadership of Pastor Elijah Collins, Jr., and because of his continuous obedience to GOD, New Jerusalem Baptist Church will continue to be a viable and inspiring entity in Snellville and the surrounding areas.
Come Worship With Us
Sunday
Sunday School9:45AM
Main Service11:00am
Wednesday
Bible Study12:00 Noon
Bible Study7:00PM - 8:00PM