Eyes Wide Open
This week’s story takes place from Colorado Springs to Peru, and from death’s door to a young life filled with hope.
Every one of us has a story! As we dive into the story of Jesus this year as a church, we’re excited to share 52 stories — one each week — from the Woodmen community. This week’s story takes place from Colorado Springs to Peru, and from death’s door to a young life filled with hope.
“It was about fully giving my life to Jesus — not compartmentalizing my faith, but letting Him have all of me.” That’s how Collin Frye describes a life-changing night in the summer of 2017.
Raised in a faithful home, Collin’s parents, Tim and Suzanne, brought the family to church every weekend for as long as he can remember. Yet in that moment at camp, as the speaker simply presented the gospel, Collin’s eyes were opened and his faith became his own.
But that wasn’t the first time God saved Collin’s life.
FROM THE VALLEY
At just six years old, he was diagnosed with leukemia. Collin spent a year in the hospital, enduring chemotherapy, radiation and a bone marrow transplant. Three months into treatment, in what seemed like the darkest time of his young life, things got worse. Collin’s mom was diagnosed with cancer while pregnant with his little brother.
“I didn’t fully understand what was happening,” Collin says. “I remember a lot of joyful moments even in the middle of the hardship.” Looking back now, he knows those were dire days. His parents were told he’d most likely lose his life.
Today, Collin and Suzanne are both cancer-free. He doesn’t credit medicine alone for their healing. He gives the glory to God. He shares, “At least once a month, a stranger will come up to me and say they prayed for me during that season. I’m alive because God kept me here. He clearly has a plan for my life.”
TAKING A HIKE
Woodmen student mission trips have played a formative role in Collin’s journey. On a Guatemala trip the summer before his junior year of high school, Collin casually tossed out the idea of starting a hammock club — a time to hike, rest and read scripture in community. The Holy Spirit nudged him to follow through, and what began as a group of nine has grown into 100 young people gathering to be with God in His creation!
Each week they pick a local hike and set up hammocks along the trail. Collin and his crew enjoy spending time with the Lord and one another. “It’s a way of making space to slow down and be with God,” he says.
GOALKEEPER
On a trip to Peru three months ago, Woodmen Students Pastor Kirby Neely informed the team that the money donated for their trip was about the same amount needed to support one of the local Peruvian missionaries, Claudio, for an entire year.
That night, Collin prayed: Lord, show me how to make the most of this blessing. God called Collin to host a fundraiser for Claudio. Collin’s goal was to show support for the missionary’s ongoing work, sharing hope in difficult circumstances.
Soccer is a huge part of Peruvian culture, and Collin felt like the Holy Spirit led him to the idea of a soccer fundraiser. He had never organized an event before, and the logistics were challenging, but Collin followed God’s lead, undaunted. More than $7,000 was raised for Claudio’s work in Peru.
“That experience showed me what it looks like to step out in faith and trust God with the outcome,” Collin says. “It didn’t happen how I thought it would, but it went exactly how God wanted it to. Nothing I do is me. The glory is the Lord’s.”
COMING INTO FOCUS
Now that he’s graduated from high school, Collin is passing the leadership of the hammock club to a friend. He’s preparing to start a gap year program at Camp Elim, the same place where he first surrendered his life to the Lord. It’s where he learned to lead like Christ, with humility and love.
As he looks to the year ahead, Collin’s focus is fully on the Lord — on hearing His voice and seeing Him in unexpected places. Collin sums it up: “I know what I want to do with my life, but before I step into it, I want to dedicate this year to the Lord. I want to listen to Him more and talk less. I want my life to be about opening my eyes to see Him, because He’s already here.”
Return to Stories