The RenewaNation Review 2020 The Collingsworth Family Special Edition | Page 20

William & Brooklyn “I have been singing full-time with my family since the age of ten. I can’t imagine doing anything else,” said Brook- lyn Collingsworth Blair. “My biggest dreams in life were to be a wife, mom, and singer, in that order. I’m so grateful that God saw fit to entrust me with all of them.” Married to William Blair since 2010, the talented soprano, violinist, and eldest daughter of Phil and Kim Collingsworth came to Christ at an early age. “I can’t even remember a time that I didn’t think about wanting to please Jesus and live my life for Him. God always needs to have first dibs on my heart, then my husband, then my most precious posses- sions, which are my children, and finally music because it is my passion and favorite way to give praise back to the Lord.” 20 William, who first met Brooklyn at a youth convention when both were teenagers, also came to know the Lord as a child. “I was always sensitive to spiritual things being raised in a pastor’s home,” he said. “It was around the age of ten when I prayed to be a Christian. I am very thankful for the heritage my parents gave me. They were faithful in teaching me about loving Jesus and cultivating a relationship with Him. It wasn’t just a life we lived on Sundays. They taught me to live for Jesus all week long.” Now parents to five-year-old daughter, Emma, and two-year-old son, Winston, William and Brooklyn desire to give that same heritage to their children. “At their young age, we are teaching them about the need to rely on God every day by praying regularly,” said William. “When either of them bring a concern to us, we make sure they know they can pray to Jesus, and He will help them. We have devotions with them from a children’s Bible where they can look at the pictures, and we have Bible games on our electronic devices. We try to be creative in making the Bible come to life and instill it in their minds and hearts.” According to Brooklyn, memorizing Scripture, making God a normal part of daily conversations, and regularly