Wednesday's Woman: Angelyne Collins

Angelyne Collins considers herself just a normal girl from the South.

She grew up in Savannah, went off to college like she was supposed to, married young like she was supposed to, and of course, she knows how to throw down on some macaroni and cheese -- like she's supposed to. The secret to her recipe is, well, a secret, but the dish is a combination of her mother's and mother-in-law's.

But, when she really thinks about the path she chose -- or the one God chose for her, you start to see that's kind of where normal ends. Not everyone is voted "most ambitious" in high school, you know, landing the coveted salutatorian spot before going off to college and then pursuing a life of serving others.

And, then there's that small thing of being a pastor's wife. (Her husband is the Rev. Elijah Collins, who leads in Snellville.) That's arguably the cat's meow of relationships for girls raised in the South.

Collins, 43, sighs.

"I'm just a regular, every day type of person," she said. "I just don’t want to have a perception that I'm untouchable."

She didn't even see this life as one for her.

A Path to God

Raised in a family where religion spans the gamut of theological preferences, Collins had a time when organized religion just wasn't for her. Her father is a Jehovah's Witness, and her mother is Baptist.

"I was really, I guess, aesthetic about religion or spirituality for a while," Collins said.

In her early 20s, she met and married a man whose friends called him "deacon." Their opposite ideas about religion became the source of many family debates. Her intellectual take on things, and his more traditional ideas.

Now, though, Collins knows there's no way she could have gone on to do some of the things she did without faith. It wasn't a complete 180-degree turn, but it was a change she welcomed.

And, when she's stressed or down, she looks to heaven these days.

"With God there's really no rationalizing, there's no reason, there's no logic," she said. "So, a lot of times, you just have to have unwavering faith."

That's what she takes with her as she attempts to be a devoted wife, a good mother, and a leader among families -- both in the church and in her professional life.

As the "first lady" of , Collins began the WOW ministry there. The letters stand for "Women of the Word." Not only does the group focus on a relationship with God, but also a relationship and service to others.

They've volunteered at the Ronald McDonald House and visited nursing homes, among other things. In addition, there is a social aspect to the group that helps the ladies connect with each other.

"A lot of times women pull strength from one another, and it's good to have some type of bond," Collins said.

And, when you're looking in the faces of children who are dealing with the worst times in their little lives, the reason for your life becomes a little more clearer.

"That was very very rewarding," Collins said of the Ronald McDonald House experience, "because we saw how we were able to, you know, help the families a little bit to relieve anxiety or whatever issues they are dealing with."

A Teacher's Way

Ironically, it was helping children that led her to a life in education. For a time she was a teacher, and now, she works at supporting both children and their parents. She's putting her degree in English from West Georgia College to work.

"I like being able to help parents to find resources to help their kids," she said. "You know, we can only do so much at school because we are one influence of many influences that they have."

Like others, though she criss-crossed endeavors before landing on the one that suited her. In college, she wanted to be a fancy writer who led the fast life in New York telling the stories of interesting people. Sitting behind a desk teaching anything didn't sound life fun to her.

New people in her life might be susprised that in college she used to be a disc jockey, worked in a sugar refinery and was a tutor, among other things. She went on to work at State Farm for 13 years. Then, somehow, she wound up doing the very thing she had no notion of doing -- teaching.

"I found that I loved teaching, and I was like, this is my calling although all through college I was thinking, 'Oh, I'm not going to teach."

Today, she wouldn't have it any other way. (Among a number of school districts, she's also taught in Gwinnett County Public Schools inside the GIVE center and at .)

"I just thought it was really rewarding just to continue to be able to see their development, as they grew into more maturity," she added.

In addition to helping parents to help their children, Collins is doing something else that harkens back to that "most ambitious" title. She's pursuing a post-doctoral degree in language and literary education. One day, she plans to write a book.

Although she likes the idea of children's books, she also wants to help develop strategies for new teachers like she used to be.

"I do want to be able to affect new teachers that are coming up in a way, or at least be actively involved in different types of initiatives that deal with adolescent literacy because that's my focus area."

A Mother's Choice

When she's not being a pastor's wife leading the ladies of her church, or sitting down with families who want to see their children succeed, or pursuing higher education, Collins is just mom. She has two children, Elise and Joshua who are both students at .

Thanks to two great role-models -- her own mother and her mother-in-law -- she hopes that her children learn a sense of hard work from her. She believes that regardless of your means or where you begin, success is attainable in the end. (A lesson from her two inspirational ladies.)

She tells her children not to put everything in one basket, to hone their talents but keep academics first, and to work hard "because no one is going to give you anything."

That's like any parent, she says. That's normal.

Although she reached her path in life in a kind of meandering way, looking at her family and her service to the community, it all makes sense now. God is steering the ship.

"He always tells me that he got it, so I don't have to worry about it," she said. " I ultimately know, from experience, that he takes care of me every day."