The RenewaNation Review 2020 The Collingsworth Family Special Edition | Page 45

By Dr. Kimberly Pennington
to touring artists, such as illness and mechanical problems
with buses and equipment, one aspect of God’s character
stood out to her: “He is so trustworthy! I have watched God
take care of every detail. That has built faith in my own heart
to trust Him more deeply!”
As all high school students do, Olivia eventually made
decisions about her long-term future. She considered attend-
ing a traditional college and would have had her parents’
blessing had she chosen to do so. Instead, she chose a differ-
ent path: “I knew that nothing could fulfill me more than
singing and ministering to people. The more I looked, the
more I knew I couldn’t quit what God had called me to do
with my life: singing and bringing glory to His name all over
the world. I opted to do online trade school and get a hobby
that could also be a side income for me but that I could
complete while still traveling. I became a makeup artist for
weddings. That was almost five years ago when I made that
decision. God has blessed me with peace and contentment,
which is something that no occupation or money could buy
me. Also, I knew if I were to leave, I wouldn’t be able to reach
nearly as many people with the gospel as I do with my fami-
ly. After all, we’re here on earth to take as many people to
heaven as we can! As cliche as it may sound, we really are
better together.”
Like her siblings and parents, Olivia has multiple minis-
tries within The Collingsworth Family. She is most known
for her presence on stage as one of the family’s soprano
vocalists, and she plays the guitar. Although she is interested
in releasing a solo guitar project one day, she is content, for
now, to join her sisters with violin/guitar selections that, so
far, have been well received by audiences. “My goal when I
am on stage is to glorify God and put everything I have into
the concerts,” she said. “My goal for the ministry is that it
would reach people and touch their lives.”
Off-stage, her favorite part of the ministry is interacting
with fans at the product table. “The people are the whole
reason why we do what we do,” she said. “Mom and Dad
taught us to love the people that come to our concerts. I
love hearing their stories of how our songs have touched
their lives and helped them through hard times. It’s encour-
aging to know that our ministry makes a difference in
people’s lives.”
Interacting with fans online is another off-stage aspect of
the ministry Olivia enjoys. “God has blessed me with a lot of
followers on social media who have reached out to me,” she
said. “It may be due to a song I sang on stage, and they feel
like they can relate to me because I am their age.”
Although Olivia would like to one day marry and have
a family of her own while continuing her music ministry,
she is not sitting idly by simply waiting for the right person
to come along. Instead, she maintains an active lifestyle off
the road at home. In addition to utilizing her makeup artist-
ry skills at weddings, often in partnership with her sister
Courtney’s photography business, Olivia has learned to flip
cars (a business similar to flipping houses) for extra income.
“I’m also a big-time coffee lover,” she stated. “When I’m
home, I have this hobby of finding all the coffee shops that
I can in Cincinnati with my best friend. I cook a lot and am
always trying new recipes from Pinterest. I also enjoy having
parties at my house. I’m always inviting somebody over for
a movie night and a cup of coffee. I love hosting people!”
Whether on or off the road, Olivia knows her life has one
purpose: to bring glory to God. “I am open to whatever
God wants for my life,” she said. “I really have a passion to
encourage young girls in their walk with Jesus, and I pray
that God uses me to reach my generation.” ■
“I LOVE HEARING THEIR STORIES OF
HOW OUR SONGS HAVE TOUCHED
THEIR LIVES AND HELPED THEM
THROUGH HARD TIMES.”