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Presenting Founding Pastor |
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Listen to an excerpt from a sermon (Aprox. 5 Min. - Requires Windows Media Player) |
A. Wilson Phillips
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| The senior
pastor and founder of Abundant Life Covenant Church is A. Wilson Phillips.
A look at his history—a path from heartache to rebellion to surrender to
victory—reveals the character of this messenger of God.
Wilson is the seventh of nine children of the late Raymond R. Phillips, a pioneering pastor of the Assemblies of God. Raymond served in various official church capacities, including presbyter and Assistant Superintendent of the Southern Missouri District. The death of Wilson’s mother when he was only six and other circumstances in his youth forged a strong character in him. Though he never lacked for any material necessity, the rigors were difficult for a child having to cope with life without a mother, the Great Depression years, and a father whose assignment from the Lord was to pioneer Pentecostal churches by holding tent and storefront meetings. Out of his fears and insecurities, Wilson hardened his heart toward the Lord, not understanding God’s goodness and purpose for his life. However, his father had put a good conscience in him. In 1950, Wilson took employment with the Union Pacific Railroad in Kansas City. In the workplace, his character surfaced easily, and his loyalty, hard work and enthusiastic personality soon began to be noticed by management. Being promoted frequently, he served as a switchman, tower yardmaster and finally in an official capacity as a terminal trainmaster. During these years, although he did not recognize God’s plan, his experience working in industry and with people at all levels of labor and management would prove to be invaluable in his eventual calling by God. On March 5, 1965—at a time in his life when his own natural, mental and emotional resources in dealing with life’s problems were exhausted—Wilson turned his life over to the Lord. Several months later, God called him to public ministry, leading him out of his employment of 17 years. Thirty-nine-year-old Wilson entered Central Bible College in Springfield, Missouri, at a time when two of his three children were teenagers. He and his wife, Patricia, experienced a deep work of God’s grace during these years of Wilson’s schooling. Through tribulations, God deepened their convictions, increased their faith and strengthened their character. Wilson graduated with a bachelor of arts degree from CBC in 1970. Pastor Phillips and Patricia were then led to a pioneer church in Sedalia, Missouri, where they pastored and also established a coffeehouse ministry for teenagers. They were there five years when God directed them to move to Republic, Missouri (just southwest of Springfield) to pastor the Republic Assembly of God Church. It was during Pastor Phillips’ eight years at Republic that God began to teach him Kingdom truths about love, acceptance, and forgiveness and the divine work of the cross. God instructed him to establish a body-life ministry in which these Kingdom truths could be implemented. Pastor Phillips taught his congregation-and demonstrated to them-the necessity of having open, honest relationships with God and one another. He brought many into victorious living by showing them their identity in and with Christ. His daily radio broadcast on KWFC helped the message get out into the Springfield communtiy. In March, 1983, Pastor Phillips and others who had the same vision formed Abundant Life Ministries in Springfield. Over the years the church has met at several locations; it now resides at 157 Park Central Square, the old Fox Theatre. The church believes that God placed them in this key central location to proclaim God’s message to Springfield and bring down political, social, racial, and religious barriers. Since the church has more than one pastor on staff, a few years ago the elders believed God directed them to give Pastor Phillips the biblical title of Bishop, overseer of pastors. Bishop Phillips and the Abundant Life family have a vision of seeing the city of Springfield come under the Lordship of Jesus. They understand that this starts with each person in the church surrendering to His Lordship, letting Him give him/her His vision and practicing transparent relationships with others. The word that the Lord gave to Bishop Phillips in 1981 keeps their hearts and minds committed to God’s vision for Springfield: "I have set a great open door before you; no man can close it. Those that enter therein shall reap an abundant harvest. You shall reap both within the body of Christ and without. You shall reap where others have labored and you have not sown." Because God has given Bishop Phillips an assignment and the anointing and authority to carry it out, the enemy constantly attacks him and the ministry. However, God has always been faithful to give Bishop and his church family His word to overcome all opposition. "He who walks in integrity walks securely." (Proverbs 10:4) "The integrity of the upright will guide them." (Proverbs 11:3) |
