Student Mission Trips That Change Generations: The Guatemala Legacy of Dr. Wes Collins

What can one missionary's faithfulness set in motion across languages, students, families, and generations? In this episode of Youth Worker On Fire, Doug Edwards remembers his friend Dr. Wes Collins and reflects on the extraordinary legacy Wes and his wife, Nancy, built through missions, Bible translation, education, and service among the Mam people of Guatemala. As a missionary connected with Wycliffe, Wes helped restore a written form of the Mam language and worked to translate the New Testament so that indigenous families could read Scripture in their own language. His ministry helped people reclaim a sense of dignity, identity, and the assurance that God loved them and valued the language He had given them. Wes also opened the door for Doug and generations of students to experience cross-cultural ministry firsthand. Over five years and six trips to Guatemala, students participated in construction projects, Vacation Bible School, medical outreach, and ministry among Mam families in the mountains. They also visited the Guatemala City dump, where thousands of people lived in extreme poverty—an experience that profoundly changed how many students understood faith, service, gratitude, and the world around them. In this episode, Doug reflects on: • The missionary legacy of Dr. Wes Collins • Bible translation and the importance of indigenous languages • How student mission trips can permanently change young lives • Serving the Mam people of Guatemala • Construction, children's ministry, and medical missions • What students learned from witnessing extreme poverty • The importance of trusted missionaries and responsible trip leadership • How one faithful life can influence people for generations This episode is for youth pastors, student ministry volunteers, parents, missionaries, teachers, and anyone who believes young people should experience a faith that moves beyond words and into service. Wes Collins' influence did not end with one translation, one class, one mission trip, or even one lifetime. It continues through the people he taught, the communities he served, the students he inspired, and the leaders who are still carrying that mission forward. Thank you, Wes and Nancy, for your faithfulness, sacrifice, hospitality, and commitment to helping others know that their language, culture, lives, and stories matter to God. Share this episode with a youth pastor, missionary, parent, or student who needs to be reminded that one faithful life can change generations. Listen to more episodes from the Youth Worker On Fire Podcast here: https://bit.ly/3saDyYq _________________________________________________________________________________ 📬 Stay connected: Email: [email protected] Rate ★★★★★ & share with youth workers who dream big for the Kingdom. Looking for a new student ministry resource? You can read my book "Burn Up Not Out: A Student Ministry Fire Builder's Guidebook" here: https://amzn.to/3PtBTIy EPISODE CREDITS Email us at: [email protected] Hosted by: Doug Edwards Theme Song: "The One and Only" by The 808 : Listen to more at https://bit.ly/3FTYIAJ Intro/Outro Voiceover: Michael Helms: https://www.youtube.com/@MichaelTheSoundGuy  Edited by: Secret Roots Music House PODCAST EPISODE TOPICS: Student Mission Trips, Youth Ministry Missions, Guatemala Mission Trip, Dr Wes Collins, Wycliffe Bible Translators, Bible Translation, Mam People Guatemala, Christian Missions, Youth Ministry, Student Ministry, Youth Pastor Encouragement, Missionary Legacy, Cross Cultural Ministry, Youth Mission Trips, Vacation Bible School, Medical Missions, Guatemala City Dump, Indigenous Language Translation, Next Generation Ministry, Youth Worker On Fire Podcast