Pastor Phil was born in Tacoma, WA, where his grandparents had been one of the pioneer families of Bethel Pentecostal Assembly ( now Church For All Nations ). His maternal grandmother was, also, a part of the Azusa Street Revival. In 1959, his parents moved to Shoreline/Edmonds, WA and were one of the founding members of Westgate Chapel. As you can see, Pentecost and the pioneer spirit have deep roots.
During his high school years, Pastor Phil had a love for music and sang bass in a quartet called The King’s Pages. They ministered at youth meetings, camp meetings, small churches, and had the privilege of opening for the Couriers concert in Seattle and the Imperials concert in Vancouver, BC.
Pastor Phil and Donna have attended and served in local churches, such as Philadelphia in Ballard, WA; Westgate Chapel in Edmonds, WA and Cedar Park Assembly in Bothell, WA. As of April 2023, they will have been married for 50 years, they have 4 married children and 11 grandchildren.
In 1997, Pastor Phil began working with a world wide ministry, where God placed a burden on his heart to be the Lord’s hand extended to those who are sick, to those who are hurting, and to those who are broken hearted. Isaiah 61:1-3 became his call.
On December 20, 1999, the Lord spoke to Pastor Phil and said “I want you to start the foundation of a new ministry”. To begin a new ministry where others may come, grow and develop spiritually. He asked the Lord, “What would you have me call it?” The Lord laid on our hearts “Cleft of the Rock’. And thus, a pioneer work was born.
Pastor Phil ministered in a ‘church’ setting until April, 2021, when he was diagnosed with stomach cancer. At that time, he went on Sabbatical until his health was restored. Pastor Phil and Donna, also saw this as the Lord leading them in a different direction to be free to minister and help other smaller churches and individuals wherever the Lord opens the doors.
Pastor Phil has seen the hand of the Lord on his
life since he was a young child.