Phillips, Steve & Patricia

Steve’s Testimony Imagine a self-centered rebellious Eastern mystic with no Christian upbringing getting blown out of an exploding building at age 19. Good. Now imagine that same conceited philosophy- lover, now convicted by the Holy Spirit of Christ’s resurrection, praying, “Well, Lord, I guess this is it; I want you to be my Savior.” That was 1969. Floods of cleansing washed that heart, light illuminated that benighted mind, and commitment to the King of Glory immediately replaced the squalor of those darkened chambers. Three things became readily apparent from that moment: [1 Commitment to Truth is foundational, [2 Jesus is Lord; He dictates to me, not vice versa, [3 The Bible has the answer to all of life. And thus commenced devouring of the Scriptures heretofore unknown - four, five hours daily, weekly one-on-one discipling in the Word - six, seven hours at a sitting, and a spontaneous sharing of the glad tidings - friends, family, on campus, at parks. One could describe it as a well of water springing up to eternal life. From the earliest recollection of those days, this passage simmered its fire deep within: “And thus I aspired to preach the gospel, not where Christ was already named... as it is written, ’They who have no news of Him shall see’” [Rom.15:20,21]. Years followed of preaching, testifying, counseling, teaching the Word of Life: in the USA, Canada, Mexico, Peru, Honduras, Senegal, and Gambia. Then, in 1998, the desire of his heart was realized. Patti’s Testimony I was brought up in a Christian home. At a very early age I developed a sensitivity to sin, feeling the pull of temptation, but not wanting to head down that path. I confided my troubled heart to my loving mother and she gently shared the Word of God with me. She pointed me to Christ as we prayed together and I received Him at age nine. It is with fondness that I look back on all the messages from the Word of God heard each Sunday. Singing praises, Sunday School, and enjoying missionary study classes filled my early years. Bible camp was always a favorite and I later counseled at camp, taught Sunday School, and always loved listening to various missionaries around our family table. Since I was eleven years old, my heart’s desire was to be a missionary somewhere to devote my whole life to His service. That ambition had to wait many years, however, as my father did not think it advisable for a single woman to venture forth on the foreign field alone. But thank God, at age thirty I met and married a wonderful man who shared my heart’s desire to bring the love of Christ to other parts of the world. My aspiration was to be a godly wife and mother in order to live the life of Christ as a fragrant aroma, and preach the gospel to one and all. Together After Steve’s return from Senegal, we met a student from Nigeria here. A year and a half of discipleship took place in our home until he returned to his land. Now what? “Why don’t we pray about whether the Lord wants us to go to Nigeria,” I said to my better half. And so we did for one and a half years. Then this passage blazoned its light unmistakably in our hearts: “Behold, I have made him a witness to the peoples, a leader and commander for the peoples. Behold, you will call a nation you do not know, and nations which know you not will run to you, because of the Lord your God” [Isa.55:4,5]. We informed the brethren, asking them to pray whether this seemed good to them and the Holy Spirit. Six months later they unanimously concurred, and two months afterwards we arrived in Nigeria with five children on a one-way ticket. That was 1998. Ten years in West Africa followed full of bush evangelism, intensive discipleship, establishing home churches, teaching, advising, writing books, and producing a gospel film. Now that our grown children are settled in their various endeavors, we’re heading back for more of the same. Pray for us, brethren, that the Lord will open a door for effective service, for there are many adversaries. Blessings on you.