Cheryl Collins is a veteran and the creator of Jitterbug media where she is a video producer creating great media to be used in churches world-wide. Number one I’d like to thank Cheryl, and all our other Veteran’s out there who are risking their lives, giving their time and giving their talents to serve our great nation. I was thrilled to be able to interact with Cheryl and learn more about her background, passions, and desires. When you are finished reading the article, be sure to check out Cheryl’s latest work, Veterans Day – Answer the Call on SermonSpice.
1. Tell us a little about yourself, your background and what you are doing now.
My first job was working at a large Southern Baptist missions agency on their video team where we created sermon illustration and mini-documentary features about missions, used by churches. About 10 years ago, I formed Jitterbug Media and created my first content for Sermonspice in 2007. I LOVED seeing how God used the videos around the world. I’ve always had a passion for our military due to several close friends serving in the Navy. I heard about their amazing adventures and wondered if there was a way to combine video production and also serve our country at the same time. I found out about the Navy Reserve and their public affairs officer program. It was a perfect fit! I was commissioned as an Ensign in the Navy Reserve in 2008 and continue to serve this great country today!
2. Tell us more about your service in the military, the relationships you made, and the bonds that were formed.
When I joined the Navy Reserve, my recruiter said it would not be a matter of IF I deployed but WHEN. She was true to her word because I was called up to serve in Afghanistan in 2011. I was nervous about serving in a war zone, so my family and friends created a prayer team to have people praying for me daily while I was deployed for 8 months. I was put in a multi-national setting working for a German boss, with American, Dutch, Bosnian and Albanian team members. I literally made friends from around the world whom I still keep up with today. Their were long days, but I can honestly say it was one of the most rewarding experiences of my life.
I personally saw the sacrifices that our men and women of the armed forces made to protect our freedoms, including the dignified transfer of three National Guardsmen who were killed by a suicide bomber during my last week in Afghanistan. Seeing their flag draped caskets put on a plane showed me the ultimate cost for our freedoms. I will never take that for granted.
3. Tell us about your experience of putting together your latest mini movie, “Veterans Day – Answer the Call”.
As a veteran, I think it’s important to honor our vets on Veterans Day. It may not seem like a big deal to have all the vets stand during church service in recognition of their sacrifices, but it MEANS THE WORLD to those vets. I have been to services where there was no recognition and I left feeling a bit down. I wanted to create a Veterans Day video where we actually heard from veterans and why they still feel it’s important to be remembered.
I had the honor of interviewing Mr. Hank Freedman who is a World War II veteran and participant in the Battle of the Bulge. He was taken prisoner for 5 months. When I went to interview him, this 94-year-old man bubbled with excitement to get to talk with a fellow vet about his service. True heroes like this individual are the people I wanted to recognize in this video.
4. What do you hope people learn/experience from the Veterans day content you have created?
It’s my hope that when people watch Veterans Day – Answering the Call, they are moved to recognize veterans around them and thank them for their service. And not just on Veterans Day, but any time we see someone in uniform or wearing a veteran ballcap. They have made sacrifices of spending time away from family, friends, and jobs to protect us. I hope that churches will see the need to not only recognize but to minister to these heroes that have served and that continue to serve today.
Cory lives in Richmond, Virginia with his wife and 3 beautiful children. He loves getting to serve local churches and pastors in his role with Salem Church Products.
