It
is with great honor that I introduce to you, Rev. Steve Phillippi of the Western N.C. annual Conference
of the United Methodist Church. I would just say, of Monroe, N.C., but as a UM pastor, Steve and his family have ministered
all over western N.C. He belongs as much to Cherokee, N.C. as he does to Monroe, N.C.!
I met Rev. Steve Phillippi in the late '80's. I was waiting to receive my first appointment as a pastor, and was an
active Red Cross volunteer in of disaster response and relief. Because I was a pastor, I attended the local minister's
association meetings. It was inter-denominational and my counselling elder, the late Rev. Billy Clinard (an awesome saint!)
invited me to the meetings. I met Steve there, and before long we were working together to found an inter-faith disaster relief
council. We worked many hours together, along side of Billy Clinard and a few others, night and day, to respond to the ravages
of Hurricane Hugo and a series of tornadoes that hit Union County that year.
Steve is one
of the most dedicated pastors I know of . He gives tirelessly to his church congregation and his community. For
about seven years Steve and his precious wife, Reina, lived among the Cherokee in the Great Smoky Mountains of N.C. and Steve served
as the pastor of the Cherokee United Methodist Church. He and his family are cherished by many in the Cherokee
Nation.
For as long as I have known Steve several qualities have been clearly evident
about him. I want to share those with you. Steve is a family man who loves his wife and children.
Steve and Reina have five children-- Eric, Rebecca, Mason, David, and Mary Kate. David and Mary Kate are "the twins".
On any given day, you will find Steve taking the kids to school or to extra-curricular activities, off to college or collecting
them back from college, or any other of a myriad of "dad things". He is a dedicated family man.
Steve is a dedicated pastor. This man loves God
and he loves Jesus, and he lives to share that love with others. He ministers in a down-to-earth,
"let me come out and help you with your troubles" sort of way. He lives the words of Jesus, "If you do
it to one of the least of these, you have done it to me." Steve has certainly been ministering "Jesus Christ"
everywhere that he has been sent to serve, not only in the church -- but in the community at large. He is a great example
of John Wesley's proclamation, "The world is my parish!".
Steve
has a heart for missions. I believe Steve lives to extend the Gospel beyond
the four church walls! Regardless of whether it is out into the rural areas of N.C. or to an island such as Barbados -- he
will go! Steve has a missionaries heart. He wants to share Jesus with the world, to live out the great commandment to take
the Gospel to the four corners of the earth, to the highways and the hedge-ways.
Steve
has a heart for hurting people. He is not "Rev. CEO" as many pastors are today. He is "pastor",
and he cares for his flock and for those around him. There have been many times over the years when I have seen
this pastor carrying the weight of someone else's sorrow on his shoulders -- and, yes -- sometimes it has even been mine.
Steve is a great friend -- no, a brother! From the time that I met Steve and Reina,
they became more than friends to me - they became family. There have been many hours when Reina and I have shared
troubles over the phone, talked about what was on our hearts and laughed together. Reina is a strong part of who
Steve is, she's a deeply spiritual woman. Steve and Reina have been like a brother and sister to me. I've been
so blessed to call them my friends, and to share our lives together. We've watched each other's children
grow into adulthood. When my late husband Gary died, it was Steve and Reina that I turned to. Steve officiated at Gary's
funeral, and Reina read a poem that I had written and read to Gary at our wedding. I couldn't read it at his funeral,
so I turned to the only other person who I would entrust that to, Reina. She was gracious enough to say yes. If
I had to have one male friend (besides my husband) who would have my back, it would be Steve Phillippi. He's a friend
who would lay down his life for you. Jesus said that there was no greater friend than this. It is also Steve and Reina's
son, Eric, whose original music is featured on our Lydia Ministries videos and Eric has partnered with this ministry in the
past to perform concerts in Africa for our pastors!
Steve will bring something
to this journey that is beyond words -- experience (not only as a pastor but as a building team leader),
pastoral leadership and spiritual awareness, inclusivity, dedication, humor, down to earth ministry and so much more. Steve's
role as Building Team Leader will be to supervise the team members in the building and renovations stages, ensuring that every
team member is engaged and participating. We want every team member to feel included! He will assess member gifts and
talents and help coordinate with the Building Team Contractor Leader to best utilize the skills and experience of each
team member. He will minister to the team members and to the Maasai and Kenyans whom the team encounters. He will be aware
of situations and circumstances and help to create a unity and cohesive bond within the team. He will also work with the Maasai
leaders to encourage, enable, and empower every member of the Maasai Tribe to have the opportunity to engage with
the building process and with the team. Also, he will communicate the needs of the building team to me, the director
and coordinator of TEAM KENYA 2009, in order for me to be fully aware of the teams needs. We pledge to do our
best to assure that each TEAM K- team member has the opportunity to have a "Journey of Lifetime".
Each of our TEAM KENYA 2009 team members must raise his or her own support. Most
team members are donating their vacation time to perform this work. If you would like to sponsor Rev. Steve Phillippi,
or any other team member, then please click on the donate button on their page. You may also send
a check to: Lydia Ministries International, 290 Half Timber Drive, Marion NC 28752. Please note on your check if you are helping
to sponsor a team member, of if you are donating toward TEAM KENYA mission, or the general fund. Lydia Ministries International
is a 501(3)(c) ministry. Your donations are tax deductible. Thank you for helping to make this mission possible. The
Maasai have prayed for the day when someone would come to them and build a church-school for their families and children.
Be part of the answer to their prayer -- join us today.
