CHRISTMAS 2024

Ever precious greetings in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ! It is my great honor and privilege to share my heart with you once again. Bless the Lord for another joyfully fruitful year! My heart erupts with gratitude at all times…

It is written, “Bless the Lord oh my soul and all that is within me bless His holy name. Bless the Lord oh my soul and forget not all his benefits: who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth of all thy diseases; who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies; who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagles.” (Psalm 103:1)

Today—this verse is fulfilled in your hearing! I am so thankful for all of your loving, prayerful support for our work. I am afresh thankful to the Lord for his wonderful grace in releasing me from my prisons! First, from the eternal prison of my sins; secondly, from my physical prison brought about by my sin. It has already been 33 1/2 years since I met the Lord in that dark hole. Quite wonderfully, 2½ of those years I have been married to an angelic woman of God. Debbie and I are eternally “bound in the bundle of life” together, in our Lamb. (I Sam. 25:29) We used to serve together apart, but now we serve together—together. (smile) I will forever—-kiss the Rod that smote me.

As I like to tell the fellas in prison, I am a Christian terrorist. As such, I daily terrorize the kingdom of darkness with the gospel of the grace of God in Jesus Christ our Lord. The shirts that Debbie and I wear into the prison say, “Hope Dealer.” The prisoners and officers alike get a big kick out of it. Truth be told, I used to be a dope dealer with no hope—but now by grace, I’m a hope dealer with no dope! That’s how the Lord flips scripts! The enemy opposes everything we do though, but we take it as our battle cry! Resolved, that when in the center of God’s will—we must face opposition. Souls do not just fall off of trees, they are held fast by a strongman. But it is written,“…the kingdom of God suffered violence, and the violent take it by force. (Mt.11:19)

When I finally got out of prison, I immediately got a job. I worked as a landscaper for my best buddy, Scotty, and saved some money. After a very long 27 years, I wanted to take Debbie on our first date! I eventually purchased a used 2011 Toyota Tacoma with 111,000 miles on it. We prayed over the truck and committed it to the work of the Lord! It was now the Lord’s chariot!

It is written, “The chariots of God are twenty thousand, even thousands of thousands: the Lord is among them as in Sinai, in the holy place.” (Psalm 68:17)

Did you know that the Lord, throughout scripture, uses chariots to do His work? We see Elijah taken to heaven in a chariot of fire (2 Kings 2)—-not saying I’m going up in my truck but just an observation! (smile) We also observe Elisha surrounded by spiritual chariots of fire anxious to defend the Lord’s anointed. (2 Kings 6) Solomon too had 1400 chariots as unto the Lord! (1 King 10) For those with eyes to see, the Lord used a great fish, even an underwater living chariot as it were, to accomplish His purpose in Jonah! Might we say, the first submarine ride? (smile) The Lord Himself shall return with fire and chariots to judge. (Isa. 66:15-16) The first act of my chariot was to take Debbie on a date and court her properly before the Lord! Now, 3 years later, my truck has almost 170,000 miles on it. 60,000 miles of it—-all the Lord’s work!

My truck is a little long in the tooth now, so I’d like to trade it in while I can still get a little something for it. After prayer and bringing it before our Board, Debbie and I believe it would be wise (in light of my extensive rush hour turnpike traveling) to get a more dependable chariot. I drive back and forth an hour plus each way, usually four times a week. I go to the Hudson County Correctional Center in North Jersey, where the bulk of our ministry is done. This particular jail, as I have shared in the past, is a ministry of ministries for us. The Lord has swung the doors wide-open for us there. As such, I am praying for a more dependable vehicle with perhaps a little more room.

For your own understanding, as a pastor, my life is full-time ministry. If not in the jail, then I am doing discipleship, counseling, teaching, preaching at churches, men’s groups, evangelizing, street work and generally terrorizing the kingdom of darkness with the gospel of the grace of God in Jesus Christ our Lord. Thus, at the direction of our Board, we have created the “Chariot Fund” to put the need before the people of God. This is a new way for me, working for the Lord by faith and waiting on Him for provision. It is a different mindset for me after having worked with my hands all my life. It is the Lord’s way. Those of you who have tasted missionary life understand what we do. Most people though are not that inclined, nor do they understand “missionaries to prisons.” But we are called to this work and have chosen, in obedience, to live by faith and trust God for all. Our job is to work for Him with all of our hearts. His job, if I might be so bold, is to provide and care for us as we work. It is written, “The laborer is worthy of his reward.” (1 Tim.5:18) We don’t require much. As you may guess, we know how to live joyfully and fruitfully with little. I lived in a 6 x 10 ft. box for 30 years—Debbie always at my side! We did it with great joy and zeal in the power of the Holy Ghost!

As the Lord leads, would you prayerfully consider our chariot fund? If so led, kindly designate any donation specifically to the “Chariot Fund.” We are keenly aware of our stewardship over our vehicles and use them only for the glory of God. I am not buying a new vehicle; just one that’s a bit newer, more dependable, and with a little more room. I will continue to give a full account, as did Joseph. He was said to have “made ready his chariot” (Gen.46:29) for the work of restoration with Jacob, his father, bringing about God’s higher purpose for Israel. I, too, am making ready my chariot, by faith, in obedience to the great commission for the ministry of reconciliation in the jails! Even the Lord “…maketh the clouds His chariots…who walketh upon the wings of the wind…” (Psalm 104:3b) Sovereignly, all things serve as His chariots to bring about His good purpose! In all this, I remain accountable to the Lord, our Board of Directors, and to the pastor’s and elders at Cornerstone Church, under whose covering I serve.

By way of final observation, I note that the Ethiopian in Acts 8, like me, was under great authority. He was in a chariot. (smile) He was worshiping as he was about his Father’s business. He was also in charge of the queen’s treasury; thus, he was a good steward. He was also found sitting in his chariot reading the book of Isaiah, the word of the Living God, as is my habit! The Lord had provided him a chariot to worship. I am looking, by faith, for the Lord to provide me with a chariot that I, too, may worship him with my life service. May the Lord bless you and your families this season…

“MERRY CHRISTMAS!”

JOYFULLY IN JESUS,
LOVE, PHILIP