Baptism of Fire: The Astonishing True Story of a Man of God

by Frank Collins

Book by Collins, Frank.

Genres: Christian, Biography

374 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1997

Reviews

[Alan · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting read. This is Franks story from growing up in Tyne & Wear through joining the military through his SAS years, on into his Christian fanaticism years & then through his training as an Anglican priest.
Being interested in both psychology & the military, Franks period of fundamentalist obsessive Christianity was interesting, but due to his driven nature, not that surprising.
Having read this book, it is maybe easy to see why it was not appreciated by the military & why they dropped Frank as a padre. As maybe throwing people out of a helicopter at 2000 feet as an interrogation method, for one example, is not the image they want people to have of how the British military behave. Even if it is true.
This book feels like a very honest & believable account of life in the SAS & in the private security business.
Frank was to commit suicide after loosing his roles as padre for both 23 SAS & the Parachute Regiment as a direct result of this book.

[Elliott Rodgers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read

Frank writes of how he was transformed from a troubled teen into soldier then into SAS trooper. From there he goes into security work and then Church of England minister.

It's a unique career path and Frank writes well and in an endearing way that made this a pleasurable and hard to put down.

[Alan]

A very interesting read. This would get 5 stars but a lot of pages are dedicated to Franks period of born again Christianity & very little is focused on his period of theological collage & life as a priest.
But it's an interesting story & an easy read.
Like far too many ex special forces men Frank took his own life.

[Gary Shaw · Rating 4 out of 5]

I grew up with the man petty crime tosh we know better boy I loved to know more about his conversation must have been powerful b good everyone m shaw

[Matthew Okuhara · Rating 4 out of 5]

A slow start. Almost too personal but this is followed by the story of a capable and intelligent soldier who is later called to serve the Church of England.

[mike lammas · Rating 5 out of 5]

inspiring

An inspiring true story of how a man’s life turned around. Thought provoking and hard to put down. I have read this book numerous times over the years

[Rachelle Seymore · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an amazing account of Frank Collins' life. His childhood is one that one hears of so often - of children who don't get affirmed by their parents, especially his father. He craves recognition and approval but never gets it. He continues with his growing up years and joins the SAS. It is quite a challenge as he first enters as a signal/communications man (it is apparently hard to progress from that position to being part of the inner core of the SAS). A large part of the book describes his life and training in the SAS, which I find very interesting. He continues with life and eventually finds God. At first he cannot reconcile his life in the SAS with Christianity and later leaves the world of the armed forces behind. After many years of falling around job-wise, but growing in his faith, he feels he has a calling to become a Minister in the church. His life takes a full circle when he eventually becomes the Chaplain for the SAS and once again serves in the forces, albeit in a different role; but being able to help the young men with what they have to go through there.

In the introduction Rev Heinze describes that Frank Collins later took his own life and according to the internet, he was fired from being the Chaplain of the SAS after this book, which reveals so much about the SAS, was published. It is a tragic story, but throughout the book it is clear that he is not an ordinary man; he does what is right, he takes up the challenges in life, but one wonders why he lost the struggle to fight and to leave a young family behind.

[Jo Reid · Rating 5 out of 5]

Frank Collins is my hero! I, too, served with the Royal Signals; I didn't serve with the SAS! though! I, too, left the Army and became a priest; I, too, joined the RAChD as a Padre (to the ACF).
He's an inspiration! Being a Christian in the Army isn't easy, and Frank found the views of his soldier colleagues difficult sometimes. They love to challenge Bible Bashers, Jesus Freaks, and the God Squad!
He writes honestly and openly about family, Army, faith, and church.
How sad that he took his life! I would love to have met him!

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finished this book today.

5*/5 must say i really enjoyed it, i was expecting it being all about him becoming a vicar, it wasnt. It was well wrote, starts off with his upbringing in the North East, about him becoming a soldier to evetually moving on to being an SAS Operator.

It is wrote in mostly chronological order. Would highly recommend it.

RIP Pilgrim

[Matthew Okuhara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Slow to start, slow to finish but overall a good read! I think his celebrity(ish) status at the time made it necessary to have a lot more personal details than you would normally expect in this kind of book. RIP Father Frank 🙏

[Nick · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one of the most inspiring books that i've ever read. Made even more poignant by what happened to the author after he had written the book

[Cody · Rating 2 out of 5]

Amazing story. Loved it!