Bay City Baptist Church of Green Bay, WI

 

MINISTRY TITLE: School Administrator

HOMETOWN: Fredericksburg, VA

INTERVIEWER: Can you please give me a short life history so we can get to know you a little better? And how did you end up in the ministry?

MR. PHILLIPS: Shellee and I both had the great privilege of growing up PK's, that's short for pastor's kids, in the North (Shellee in Ohio. I, in Michigan). I moved south first when my dad took a church in Fredericksburg, VA. Here in center of the Confederacy I lived my formative years. I attended a Christian school and participated in every sport, sang in choir and played the trumpet. It wasn't Mayberry, but it was nearly perfect. Because of the life and testimony of my parents, I accepted the Lord as my Savior when I was seven years old. Of course, there were struggles in my walk with Christ but I have always had a desire to serve the Lord in whatever capacity He desired. I thought at one time it would be in chemistry at the FBI (that's years before CSI fame,) but God put a love and passion in my heart for helping Christian parents raise their children to serve our God. I am blessed to have been doing that since the day I graduated from college.

 

INTERVIEWER: What's the best part of your role here? What gets you out of bed in the morning?

MR. PHILLIPS: My alarm clock gets me out of bed every morning, but in full disclosure, the snooze button is my best friend much to the frustration of my lovely wife. Realizing that's not what you meant, I am thrilled to be able to come to school every day, to work with great people on the church staff, to interact with students, and to be involved with a great local church. The opportunities to help families, although sometimes frustrating, indoctrinate their children to walk with God is incredible.

 

INTERVIEWER: Can you tell me a little about your family?

MR. PHILLIPS: My wife and I met at a dinner table assignment while students at Bob Jones University. Although I only asked her out on the second date to earn extra credit for speech class, we have been happily married since 1985. I can truly thank the Lord for His goodness in providing me with a wonderful wife who loves the Lord and wants to serve Him with me. We have four fantastic children. Carol, Jessica, and Amy are the girls. They have all graduated from high school and are at various stages of completing college. Twelve years after Amy was born, the Lord blessed us with a son, Wesley. We call him the heir to annoy his sisters - not that he doesn't annoy them enough on his own. We enjoy classic movies and always visit National Parks on our family vacations especially if there is a Civil War site nearby (it's a being raised in Fredericksburg thing.)

 

INTERVIEWER: When you get away from the office what do you like to do...hobbies, sports, and stuff? No fact too small here..whatever.

MR. PHILLIPS: Obviously spending time with family is what I look forward to most when away from the school. I love sports...Washington Capitals, Detroit Tigers, Washington Redskins, Wolverine Football, Duke Basketball...who cares about pro basketball, and my family actually plays along. I umpired softball for over 25 years, coached basketball and volleyball, and I like riding my bike (pedal not motorized.) My wife forces me to do chores around the house so that would be the ‘whatever.'

 

INTERVIEWER: Let's talk about food. OK, suppose you could have free dinner tonight at any restaurant...where would you go and why?

MR. PHILLIPS: Depends on whether or not my wife is attending. I like food, except liver which I don't know if organs should even classify as food, so I'd go anywhere. My wife loves steak and potatoes so with her it would be Texas Roadhouse. When she is not with me I always go somewhere that she doesn't like. That way she's not as mad at me for going out without her. In those cases Mexican or seafood would be delightful!

 

INTERVIEWER: Let's talk vacations. If you could go anywhere on the earth right now, where would that be? You don't have to say Jerusalem or anything spiritual. Maybe pick something fun.

MR. PHILLIPS: I wouldn't say Jerusalem because my dad and I went when I was a sophomore in college. I even now tell my wife, "I've been there" when we see slides or maps from the Holy Land in church. The Lord has given me great opportunity to travel: Israel, Micronesia, around the USA. However, Shellee and I still want to go on a cruise to Alaska.

 

INTERVIEWER: Of course I have to ask the obligatory "favorite color question." Favorite color?

MR. PHILLIPS: A majestic blue, not that sissy baby blue that the Carolina Tar Heels use.

 

INTERVIEWER: Agreed, that is a sissy blue. What would you say is the best invention in the last 50 years?

MR. PHILLIPS: It would have to be the personal computer/technology age including cell phones. The cell phone industry is absolutely amazing. Add to that the dawning of tablets and how that will change education, it is staggering. I remember computer games that were blips on a screen!

 

INTERVIEWER: What else do you want people to know about you?

MR. PHILLIPS: Although not where I should be in my spiritual walk, my heart's desire is to faithfully serve God until He calls me home. I have told my family I would like to have sung, "May the Lord Find Us Faithful" at my funeral if I finish my journey on earth in a way that God will say, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant."

 

INTERVIEWER: Is there anything interesting that people might be surprised to know about you?

MR. PHILLIPS: I messed up my wedding vows by saying, "With this wing, I thee red."  The whole wedding party was quietly chuckling for the remainder of the ceremony. I think the vow still counted.

 

INTERVIEWER: Thank you for your time today Mr. Phillips. It's been good to get to know you better.

MR. PHILLIPS: You are welcome. So it's Texas Roadhouse? I'll call Shellee!