Place of birth: Southern California
Role at church: Senior pastor
Favorite Bible verse: “Now to Him who is able to do
exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think,
according to the power that works in us...” (Ephesians 3:20)
Family: Phil is married to Joy and they have four children:
Niki, Karina, Judah and Hannah.
First church: Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa, California
Niki, Karina, Judah and Hannah.
First church: Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa, California
Interview with Phil on Golgota Radio: click here
In 1998, Phil & Joy moved to Hungary, after serving in the youth ministry at Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa. Phil planted and pastored the Calvary Chapel in the town of Kaposvar. He then became the director of the Calvary Bible College in Vajta, a position he still holds. In the summer of 2007, he became the senior pastor of our church.
Why did you decide to leave your country and become a missionary?
A year after I got saved, when I was 16, I went to a concert and saw how the Holy Spirit can work through a man. Then I prayed: “Lord God, use me. I don’t care where, I don't care how, just use me.”
It was then that God started to prepare my heart for missionary work. I had the idea of coming to Europe. First I went to Russia, in 1992. My heart was burning for Russia.
As a pastor what are your tasks?
It’s a special situation as I am not only the pastor of our church, but also the director of the Vajta Bible College, so I have to balance the two responsibilities. What do I do? I spend a lot of time praying. No kidding! And I study God's Word. I seek God's counsel. As a pastor my main responsibility is to tell God’s message to the people. The staff of the church in Budapest are wonderful. We have great elders and helpers, a wonderful team – so I don’t have to set up all of that. God has called me to be a leader.
I have a dream that goes for all the Calvary’s. Let them multiply! The more people grow up and plant new churches, the better. I’d love to see that. If we can do that starting out from Vajta: cool, if starting out from Budapest: great. I’d like to see the church grow. In quality and in quantity.
Do you plan to live your life here in Hungary?
The spiritual answer is whatever God wants. The practical one is that I do not want to leave this country, ever. My heart is here.
Are you learning Hungarian?
Yes. I already know a lot but I am still learning because I’d like to know more. I’d like to get Hungarian citizenship; I hope I will next year. I like this country. I am half Hungarian. I’ve lived here one third of my life. My kids grew up here.
Are you from a Christian family?
When I was a child my parents went to church but it wasn’t a real Christian church. We didn't really know the Lord. In fact, I was the first to get saved in my family. Today most of my family are saved.
What do you and your family do in your free time?
We love reading. The kids read a lot. We spend a lot of time outside, in the woods, we like cycling, we build things and play a lot.
What was your greatest experience with Jesus?
There have been a few. When I first got saved I strongly felt His presence on my entire life. It was so great that He was there with me. Then when my fist kid came along I felt that strong presence again. And since then whenever a new kid was born I felt God was with me. If you become a parent you start to worry: Will I be a good parent? But God then appears and comforts me that everything is gonna be all right.
What would be the greatest accomplishment that if you could ever reach, you’d be able to say: I did it, I reached my goal?
Very good question. I have no idea. But let me tell you why I don’t know...
When I first came to Hungary and we planted a church in Kaposvár my goal was to pass it onto a Hungarian guy. It was my main goal. And it happened. Back then I thought it was the greatest thing I could do. Then the Vajta Bible college came along, and now the church in Budapest. Every time I thought something would be the greatest ever, God surpassed all my thoughts and expectations. And where it’ll end? I cannot give you an answer. God is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think according to the power that works in us. (Ephesians 3.20).
Every time I thought I had reached the absolute top, He outdid what I thought. As far as my life is concerned I’d like to be faithful. I’d like to fight the good fight and finish the race. But I cannot venture to think of God’s plans for the future. I don’t put him into a box, I don’t want to hinder Him. I’ve never dreamt God would do such great things.
(Extracts from an interview with Phil for the Mentés Másként Magazine, issue #3)
It was then that God started to prepare my heart for missionary work. I had the idea of coming to Europe. First I went to Russia, in 1992. My heart was burning for Russia.
As a pastor what are your tasks?
It’s a special situation as I am not only the pastor of our church, but also the director of the Vajta Bible College, so I have to balance the two responsibilities. What do I do? I spend a lot of time praying. No kidding! And I study God's Word. I seek God's counsel. As a pastor my main responsibility is to tell God’s message to the people. The staff of the church in Budapest are wonderful. We have great elders and helpers, a wonderful team – so I don’t have to set up all of that. God has called me to be a leader.
I have a dream that goes for all the Calvary’s. Let them multiply! The more people grow up and plant new churches, the better. I’d love to see that. If we can do that starting out from Vajta: cool, if starting out from Budapest: great. I’d like to see the church grow. In quality and in quantity.
Do you plan to live your life here in Hungary?
The spiritual answer is whatever God wants. The practical one is that I do not want to leave this country, ever. My heart is here.
Are you learning Hungarian?
Yes. I already know a lot but I am still learning because I’d like to know more. I’d like to get Hungarian citizenship; I hope I will next year. I like this country. I am half Hungarian. I’ve lived here one third of my life. My kids grew up here.
Are you from a Christian family?
When I was a child my parents went to church but it wasn’t a real Christian church. We didn't really know the Lord. In fact, I was the first to get saved in my family. Today most of my family are saved.
What do you and your family do in your free time?
We love reading. The kids read a lot. We spend a lot of time outside, in the woods, we like cycling, we build things and play a lot.
What was your greatest experience with Jesus?
There have been a few. When I first got saved I strongly felt His presence on my entire life. It was so great that He was there with me. Then when my fist kid came along I felt that strong presence again. And since then whenever a new kid was born I felt God was with me. If you become a parent you start to worry: Will I be a good parent? But God then appears and comforts me that everything is gonna be all right.
What would be the greatest accomplishment that if you could ever reach, you’d be able to say: I did it, I reached my goal?
Very good question. I have no idea. But let me tell you why I don’t know...
When I first came to Hungary and we planted a church in Kaposvár my goal was to pass it onto a Hungarian guy. It was my main goal. And it happened. Back then I thought it was the greatest thing I could do. Then the Vajta Bible college came along, and now the church in Budapest. Every time I thought something would be the greatest ever, God surpassed all my thoughts and expectations. And where it’ll end? I cannot give you an answer. God is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think according to the power that works in us. (Ephesians 3.20).
Every time I thought I had reached the absolute top, He outdid what I thought. As far as my life is concerned I’d like to be faithful. I’d like to fight the good fight and finish the race. But I cannot venture to think of God’s plans for the future. I don’t put him into a box, I don’t want to hinder Him. I’ve never dreamt God would do such great things.
(Extracts from an interview with Phil for the Mentés Másként Magazine, issue #3)
