Autumn Ifland

Autumn grew up in the forests of Michigan enjoying the outdoors—hunting, fishing, kayaking, and hiking. Her parents brought her up as a Christian, attending church regularly, but Autumn clearly remembers knowing she needed a Savior as a child. She understood her need for forgiveness but didn't understand how to receive it. A very loving and caring Sunday School teacher explained what it meant to accept Christ as her Savior, and Autumn fully put her faith in Jesus.

Understanding that a life of service to God for all He had done for her was the least she could offer, Autumn surrendered to full-time Christian ministry. After years of working in ministry with teens, she discovered a love for teaching and discipleship but was exhausted from focusing on works and deeds. Her service was based on doing, not abiding. After a tumultuous time in her life with several relationships imploding, she had only One person she could cling to with all she had.

Jesus began to work in ways she had never seen before. He brought her to the Collision Team, and she was able to help implement Collision in the youth group in her church where she serves in Illinois. With the support of many people she started to get to know from the Collision staff, she was encouraged to walk in the Spirit rather than just try to please her Creator. Jesus became more than just Someone she served—He became everything. This was the change she needed to live out the Christian life the way God had always intended.

Catching onto the vision Collision and its leadership had, Autumn wanted to do more. She joined the team to spread encouragement and training to the Chicagoland area churches where she serves. She is so excited to see the growth in other schools and churches like she's seen in her own youth group.