Living Among the Poor: R. Joshua Collins on Faith, Homelessness.
Living Among the Poor: R. Joshua Collins on Faith, Homelessness, and Speaking Up for the Marginalized
When most people think about homelessness, they think about crisis, instability, and survival. R. Joshua Collins has lived that reality – but he has also chosen to step into it on purpose, turning his experience into a lifelong mission of faith, activism, and service.In this conversation, Collins shares how living among the poor shaped his understanding of Christianity, why he spent more than a decade homeless by choice, and what he has learned from fighting for homeless rights in places like Las Vegas and Anaheim.
He also talks about his book, his legal battles, and why he believes compassion has to be paired with responsibility.If you want to understand what it looks like to live out faith in public – not just in words, but in streets, courts, and city council meetings – this conversation offers a powerful window into that calling.
Why R. Joshua Collins Chose to Live Among the Poor
R. Joshua Collins did not come to this work from a distance. He stepped into it after a personal transformation that changed the direction of his life.He explains that he grew up in Spokane, Washington, earned a math teaching degree from Eastern Washington University, and was not raised in church. His faith changed during college after difficult events reshaped his heart.
From there, his life began moving in a very different direction.He first taught at a Christian high school, then worked in a men’s home, and eventually made a radical decision: he lived with the homeless by choice for more than 10 years.That decision was not random.
It was tied directly to his belief that following Christ sometimes means leaving comfort behind. As he puts it, Jesus had nowhere to lay his head, and many biblical figures were called to leave behind careers, security, and familiar routines.For Collins, that became more than theology – it became a way of life.[IMAGE: R. Joshua Collins speaking in an interview about faith and homelessness.
R. Joshua Collins discussing how faith led him to live among the homeless]A faith decision, not a lifestyle experimentA lot of people might hear “lived homeless by choice” and assume it was an experiment or a hardship challenge. Collins presents it differently.He describes it as a faith journey rooted in trust. He believed God was leading him into that life, and he trusted that if God called him there, God would provide for him there too.
That kind of trust is not casual. It asks you to believe that obedience matters more than comfort.That perspective shaped the rest of his story. By living among people experiencing homelessness, he says he learned things he could not have understood from the outside. Related post on how faith can shape public service and advocacy]
Living Among the Poor with R. Joshua Collins
Hollis Chapman talks with Pastor, math instructor, activist, musician, and author R. Joshua Collins about his journey from Spokane to years of intentional homelessness, street preaching, and legal battles in Las Vegas and Anaheim. The conversation centers on faith, courage, homelessness activism, and how Collins turned personal hardship into public advocacy.Collins shares why he lived among the poor for over 10 years, how that shaped his worldview, and how he came to write his book Preaching of Persecution in Sin City. He also explains the practical side of helping homeless people, the limits of aid without accountability, and why he believes communities must pay attention before the system reaches their doorstep.
Key topics
- In this episode: Hollis Chapman introduces R. Joshua Collins as a pastor, math instructor, activist, musician, songwriter, singer, and street preacher with a powerful personal story.
- Collins explains how he was raised in Spokane, Washington, earned a math teaching degree from Eastern Washington University, and later came to Christ through difficult life events in college.
- He describes choosing to live among the homeless for more than 10 years as a faith journey, saying he wanted to follow Jesus’ example of having nowhere to lay his head.
- Collins details his activism in Las Vegas, including city council appearances, street-preaching arrests, and representing himself in court on his 24th arrest.
- He says the book Preaching of Persecution in Sin City grew out of stories people told him after hearing his experiences and encouraged him to document them for others.
- In Anaheim, Collins says he helped expose housing and enforcement issues affecting homeless residents, including laws around storing property in public spaces.
- He discusses working with city meetings, attorneys, and Judge Carter on homeless-related lawsuits and says he is still pushing for safer options for people living in vehicles.
- Hollis asks about the mindset behind choosing homelessness, and Collins says faith, Scripture, and trust in God sustained him through it.
- Collins reflects on being single after divorce, saying solitude can bring peace, freedom, and focus, especially when serving the kingdom.
- The conversation closes with a warning about ignoring the suffering of the poor, because, in Collins’ view, the same system that targets them can eventually reach everyone.
Timestamps
(00:00) Connection check and show intro
(01:29) Special guest introduction – R. Joshua Collins
(02:11) From Spokane to faith, education, and ministry
(03:04) Living with the homeless by choice for over 10 years
(03:34) Las Vegas arrests, street preaching, and activism
(04:27) Why he wrote Preaching of Persecution in Sin City
(05:26) Moving the fight for homeless rights to Anaheim
(06:53) Working with lawsuits, shelters, and the riverbed response
(07:22) Vehicle parking, seniors, veterans, and families without shelter
(08:50) Hollis asks what made him choose homelessness
(09:45) Why Luke 9:58 shaped his view of living among the poor
(11:13) Saturday outreach, police filming, and staying engaged
(12:29) Why he chose math and how his family shaped his career
(15:32) The peace and purpose of being single
(17:02) The moment in Las Vegas that pushed him toward activism
(19:22) Immigration, corporate power, and unequal enforcement
(21:08) Where to find his book, music, and ministry contact info
(22:54) Book cover symbolism and the story behind the artwork
(24:30) Representing himself in court and learning the law
(26:09) Courage, mindset, and not quitting before the breakthrough
(27:23) Rejection, street preaching, and prayer changing hearts
(29:09) Responsibility, addiction, and helping people who truly want help
(33:02) More places to follow and contact Collins
(33:57) Final takeaway – noticing the poor before the system reaches you
Key frameworks
- Faith as a call to radical trust
- Living among the poor as a form of ministry and solidarity
- Helping with accountability, not enabling
- The idea that injustice moves upward from the most vulnerable to everyone else
Notable quotes
“I had no idea about the war against the poor until I became homeless myself.”Copy
“It’s a no lose situation really.”Copy
“We have to not wait till the enemy is at our doorstep.”
What Living Homeless Taught Him About the System
One of the strongest themes in Collins’ story is that homelessness is not just a personal struggle – it is also a political and social issue.He describes being in Las Vegas during some of the hardest years of his life, where he says he experienced intense harassment from police and city authorities simply for being homeless or street preaching. He says he was arrested multiple times, and that the experience pushed him toward activism.
That activism eventually expanded into city council meetings, legal defense, and direct advocacy for the homeless. He says the more he saw, the more he realized how many people were being mistreated simply because they had no power.Las Vegas: where persecution became a turning pointCollins says Las Vegas was especially painful because of the way the homeless were treated there. He describes repeated harassment, including being told how to sit on a bench and being threatened with arrest for minor or subjective issues.
At one point, he says he was arrested on his 24th arrest and beat the city while acting as his own attorney.That moment became more than a personal victory. It became a symbol of what he believes can happen when ordinary people learn their rights and refuse to be silenced.He also says the experience helped inspire his book, Preaching of Persecution in Sin City, which documents both the spiritual and legal battles he went through.Anaheim and the fight for housing and property rightsCollins says his activism continued in Anaheim,
California, where he saw a similar pattern: the homeless were being pushed aside while the city failed to provide enough shelter or support.He explains that local laws prevented homeless residents from storing their belongings in public, which effectively criminalized basic survival. Instead of stepping back, he got involved in council meetings, filming, organizing, and connecting people with attorneys.
According to Collins, those efforts helped force the county to build shelters and create more responses for people in crisis.Still, he says more needs to be done, especially for seniors, veterans, and families living in vehicles. Timeline of Collins’ homelessness advocacy in Las Vegas and Anaheim
Timeline showing R. Joshua Collins’ activism work in Las Vegas and Anaheim
Faith, Courage, and the Reality of Rejection
A big part of this conversation is about courage – not the dramatic, movie-style kind, but the kind that keeps going when you are misunderstood, rejected, or hit in the face.Collins says street ministry and activism are both full of pushback. Some people ignore him. Some mock him. Some become violent.But he does not see rejection as proof that he is failing.
He sees it as part of the assignment.He points to the Bible’s teaching that believers should expect persecution and that suffering for righteousness can still be a blessing. In that framework, there is no true loss if you are standing for what you believe is right.
When rejection became part of the mission One of the most striking stories he shares is about a man in Venice Beach who punched him in the face while he was trying to witness to him. Instead of retaliating, Collins says he stayed gracious, prayed for the man when he encountered him again, and eventually saw a change in the relationship.
The man later told him he would defend him.That story captures a major part of Collins’ worldview: your response matters. In his view, grace can change an encounter far more effectively than anger can.He has seen that same pattern in his legal and public advocacy work.
He says persistence, patience, and a willingness to keep showing up are often what eventually change outcomes.The legal victory that changed his confidenceCollins also talks about representing himself in court. He says he had already defended himself in prior cases, but the 24th arrest was different because he finally won.He describes it as a surprising victory after a long string of losses and setbacks.
That win strengthened his belief that endurance matters.If you keep going long enough, he suggests, you may eventually reach the moment when everything shifts.That lesson applies far beyond courtrooms. It applies to advocacy, ministry, recovery, and any long struggle where the outcome is not immediate. Related post on perseverance in faith-based advocacy.
Helping the Homeless Without Enabling Harm
One of the most practical parts of the conversation is Collins’ view of how to help people well.He makes an important distinction: not every person who is homeless wants the same kind of help, and not every situation should be handled the same way.That matters because good intentions can still become harmful if they reward destructive behavior or ignore real needs
.Why compassion has to include wisdomCollins says he learned the hard way that giving money to someone on the street is not always the best solution. In one case, he gave money to a homeless friend and later saw that the money was used to get high.That experience changed how he thinks about support.Now he emphasizes food, clothing, access to services, and direct connection to resources. In his view, that approach helps people without enabling addiction or irresponsibility.
He is also clear that homelessness is not a single story. Some people are struggling because of addiction. Others are single mothers. Others are veterans, seniors, or people with physical or mental health challenges.If you want to help well, you have to stop flattening all homeless people into one category.Who he focuses on nowCollins says he tries to focus his energy on people who actually want help and are willing to take steps toward stability.That does not mean ignoring people in crisis.
It means using limited time and resources wisely.He gives the example of working to get women with children in front of city leaders so they could be seen and heard. In his experience, that direct pressure often moved systems faster than back-end paperwork or waiting lists that never led anywhere.This is a useful reminder for anyone doing service work: empathy is essential, but discernment is too.:Related post on how to support homeless neighbors responsibly.
Why His Story Matters Beyond Homelessness
Collins’ final message reaches beyond homelessness and into the bigger social picture.He argues that people often pay attention only when suffering reaches their own doorstep. But if you care about the vulnerable now, you may help prevent wider harm later.He warns that systems of power often move downward – first affecting the poorest, then the people living in cars, and eventually the middle class. In other words, the people most ignored today may be a preview of what others face tomorrow.
That is why he believes compassion should not be reserved for people whose stories are easy to understand. It should be extended to people who are inconvenient, messy, or politically unpopular.The bigger lesson: don’t wait until it’s your turnCollins’ message is simple but challenging: if you see injustice somewhere else, don’t assume it will stay there.That idea is what gives his work urgency.
It is also what gives his faith public meaning. He is not just preaching about care – he is trying to live it, even when it is uncomfortable.For readers, the takeaway is not necessarily that you should live on the streets or become a courtroom advocate. It is that faith, compassion, and courage can become visible in the way you show up for people with less power than you. A person helping a homeless neighbor with food, clothing, or resources]
Compassionate support for a homeless neighbor with practical help]
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Preaching of Persecution in Sin City about?It is R. Joshua Collins’ book about his experiences preaching, being homeless, facing persecution, and fighting legal battles in Las Vegas. The book combines personal testimony with advocacy and spiritual reflection.Why did R. Joshua Collins choose to live homeless by choice?He says it was part of his faith journey and obedience to God.
He believed living among the poor would help him better understand their lives and needs.What kind of activism does he do in Anaheim?He has worked on homelessness issues through city council meetings, legal advocacy, filming incidents, and connecting people with attorneys and services.
He has also pushed for safer options for people living in vehicles.How does he think people should help the homeless?He encourages practical help like food, clothing, and access to services rather than simply handing out money. He also believes help should go toward people who are ready and willing to receive it.Where can people learn more about him?He says his website, social channels, book listings, and music are all available online through his official website and social profiles.
- Link to R. Joshua Collins’ official website for the book, audio version, and music
- Link to Amazon listing for Preaching of Persecution in Sin City
- Link to a credible local or national homelessness resource for readers who want to help
One-Sentence Summary:
R. Joshua Collins shares how living among the poor transformed his faith, fueled his activism, and taught him that real compassion means standing up for the vulnerable with both courage and wisdom.