Phil's background

Phil was born in Gosport, Hampshire, in 1956 and lived there until the age of 18. When he was 17, God gave him the faith to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and in His atoning sacrifice, and Phil was born again into the family of God. This was just in time for God to turn his attitude around enough for him to scrape through some A-levels.

He was baptised in water when he was 18 and was baptised in the Holy Spirit at the same time.

Phil studied at the City University, London, where he obtained a B.Sc. (first class) in Mathematics and a Ph.D. in Algebra (yes, really). This amazed all those who had known him when he was still at school.

On leaving university, Phil worked in the Information Technology industry. In 1997, he joined the eldership at Stubbington Baptist Church. In 2004 he left the industry and spent two and a half years as a travelling Bible teacher. He also joined the leadership team of the healing Ministry at Acorn in 2004. He returned to industry in 2006. In 2008 he left industry again, to become the pastor of Stubbington Baptist Church. He then stepped down from the Acorn leadership team, because of time pressure. Life is never straightforward, but it is interesting.

Phil has been blessed with involvement in a number of different denominations over the years.

• When he was first seeking the Lord, and when he first came to faith in Him, Phil was attending a URC church.
• Some time later, he joined a youth group which was part of an Anglican church, and become a regular worshipper at that church (where he and Martine were married some time later).
• While Phil was at university, God led him to a Community Church.
• At the age of 27, Phil returned from London to Hampshire, where he joined Fareham Christian Fellowship.
• When Phil was 39, God moved him on to Stubbington Baptist Church.
• He has been involved with the Acorn Christian Healing Trust over the last few years.

These experiences have at least taught him this: No denomination has a monopoly on God's truth. Working as part of an ecumenical leadership team at Acorn has proved this and has emphasised to him that all Christians should respect all other Christians. Of course, when two people (or two denominations) disagree then at least one of them is wrong but it seems to Phil that no Christian is right about everything. No, not even him.