In his early thirties, John Collis felt a call into the ministry, enrolled in a seminary, and earned his Master of Theology degree. He quickly became aware that counseling was a big part of ministry and that he needed more preparation for this aspect of his vocation.
Toward that goal, John enrolled in counseling courses, and that training eventually created a passion within him to become a professional counselor. While teaching high school English at a charter school for troubled teens, John decided to go back to school and earned his master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling.
John began counseling senior adults for a private hospital before eventually taking a position with La Hacienda, working the night shift and eventually moving into the Family Program.
Patients’ Families Also Need Counseling
While pursuing his counseling degree, John was involved in a class doing research on families of addicts. John recognized that families are often left out of the addiction treatment program. Too often, while patients are pursuing recovery through treatment centers, the family is left to navigate the recovery on their own.
He decided that his biggest desire was to help families of addicts, along with addicts themselves and the door was eventually opened for him to pursue this passion when a position came open within the Family Program at La Hacienda.
‘Let Me Make a Difference’
Early in his ministry, John adopted a very simple motto for ministry that inspires him to this day. Each day, when he gets out of bed, John asks, “God, just for today, let me make a difference in the life of someone else.”
John believes that focusing on the needs of others takes him out of his own self and helps him be more empathic to the needs of others. He has experienced the power of God to change his life and knows that God can do the same for others. His greatest desire is to be a vessel for God to use to make a difference in the lives of others.
Husband, Father, Pastor
John has been married to his high school sweetheart, Layne, for more than four decades. Together, they have three children and the world’s “most beautiful” granddaughter. John has pastored four churches in Texas since graduating from seminary. He and his wife love to travel, hike, and experience all that life has to offer.
