Al Phillips, Director of Missions
I grew up in Lyman, SC. In 1976, I married Rose Hammett and we have three children and nine grandkids who are the delight of my life. I graduated from Southwestern Seminary in Fort Worth, TX and served as pastor of Ben Avon Baptist and First Baptist, Arcadia in Spartanburg County for nine years before becoming the Associate Pastor of First Baptist, North Spartanburg, where I served for 22 years. I love travel, sports (especially Clemson football) and reading but my favorite thing is spending time with my family. I love the Lord Jesus and am passionate about the Great Commission.I committed my life to Christ in 1977 during a revival at my home church in Wellford, SC. I was 21 and, though I grew up in church, I had never committed my life to Christ as my Savior and Lord. That week, I realized that I was a lost sinner apart from God and understood that becoming a Christian meant repenting of my sin and committing my life to Jesus in faith. I got down on my knees in the pastor’s office on a Saturday night and prayed, asking Jesus to forgive my sin. That night, I trusted Jesus for my salvation and committed my life to Him. By His grace, God saved me and went to work transforming my life completely. Less than a year later, God called me to the ministry and I embarked on what has been an incredible adventure that brought me here to Greenville in 2015.
As Director of Missions, I lead our staff and mobilize the churches of our association to reach the unreached, revitalize our churches and reproduce new churches starting here in Greenville and going to the ends of the earth. I am a pastor to our pastors and I cast vision for the work we do together as GBA. I love my ministry and am more excited today than ever about what God is up to here!
