The Collins

Ben Collins planted Antioch Church in San Luis Obispo, CA in 2022. He and his wife Erica have three children: Keller, Clay, and Hope. Ben grew up in SLO and was saved at the age of 10. After marrying Erica, they both did their graduate work in MN until 2015, when they returned to the Central Coast. Ben worked as a Campus Pastor in Arroyo Grande for six years and then felt called to plant a church in San Luis Obispo. Antioch began as a prayer that God would bring about new 

faith to the people of SLO and foster true Christian friendships, and He has answered both prayers. The church started as a Bible study with their neighbors, and since then they've seen hearts and households transformed by Jesus. They've heard moms and dads pray for the first time, seen the gospel shape marriages, and they expect the Lord to continue to bring life and light to and through the people of Antioch to the city of SLO.

The Lord has been transforming hearts and households in San Luis Obispo. We've seen non-believing couples come to faith, reshape their marriage, parenting, reason for working, friendships, and find ways to serve and care for the people of God. We've seen God open doors that were shut on the very day we began fasting and praying as a community of faith -- that door was a new location to gather on Sundays. We've also seen God raise up new leaders and renew their vision for life in community outside of Sundays as multiple midweek groups have formed. We've also seen God sustain faith in the ICU and mobilize his people to care and comfort those in troubled times

2025 has been a heavy year for our family. We recently lost a local family member, my mom was diagnosed with an aggressive breast cancer and is six weeks into her battle, a very dear friend from Antioch was brought to and back from the brink of death due to respiratory failure, and because of sickness in our own home, I think our whole family has been present at church once in the last five or six weeks. Satan loves to attack on Saturday nights with sick kiddos. Pray for strength and comfort in these days. Pray for fresh encouragement and evidence of God's working despite my limitations and weaknesses. Pray for others to keep stepping into the clear voids that I simply can't fill myself. Pray for real rest, delight, and worship weekly for me and my family.

Such a good question. Truly, however he wants to work is fine with me. But I can see our need to grow in our understanding and engagement in God's call for us to renew the culture of the Central Coast by how we live, work, rest, and worship.