The RenewaNation Review 2020 The Collingsworth Family Special Edition | Page 44

Olivia
Olivia Collingsworth does not remember her life before
The Collingsworth Family’s concert ministry started. “I
was one year old when we began, so I really don’t have
any memories from before we started,” said Phil and Kim
Collingsworth’s youngest daughter. But she does remember
a childhood filled with warm family experiences.
“We always had a really structured life off the road. We
homeschooled because of our tour schedule, so we had a
classroom in our house where we did our school. Mealtime
was important to my parents, and we always ate dinner
together as a family, usually something yummy that Mom
cooked. I have so many fun memories of growing up with
my siblings!” she said.
44
The varied ways her parents taught her about the Bible
also stand out in her mind. In particular, she enjoyed the
Bible quiz games Phil played with the kids after family devo-
tions. “I looked forward to that every night. It was so fun,
and we learned a lot,” she recalled. “My Mom was more
practical in her approach to teaching us about the Bible.
One time as a teenager, I was struggling with the discipline
to get my homework done. I went into her office, and she
brought up the Scripture, ‘He who is faithful in the small
things, I will make ruler over many things.’ Mom told me
the small things in my life included doing my homework
and that God wasn’t going to entrust me with anything else
until I could have the discipline to do my own homework. I
learned a really valuable lesson that day!”
Olivia, who asked Christ to be her Savior at the age of six,
learned about God’s character not only through her parents’
instruction but also through life experiences in her family’s
ministry. As the Collingsworths faced difficulties common