Grandmothers the world over are the same—grandchildren are precious to them. No matter the simplicity of lifestyle or the troubles that must be endured, life is good when grandchildren come to visit.

In March, Philip and his family made the arduous trek to Chin state for the memorial services of his father, who was laid to rest five years before. Since the father’s death, Philip’s mother has remained in the hometown where Philip grew up and his father is buried.

More than 600 believers attended the memorial service, at which Philip spoke of his father’s legacy. The father was the first of his village to accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior in 1954 and was active in the Baptist church until his death at the age of 86.

As a result of his dad’s witness, Philip was led to serve the elderly, widows and orphans with his time and resources. On every trip into the remote areas to share the Gospel, he takes money, blankets and clothing for the elderly, While there, he and his team wash their laundry, cut their grass, haul and split firewood and any other task that is hard for a frail person to do.

Philip writes about how the work has brought many to Christ: “To those of us who give this humble service to widows and elderly people, godly characters have been brought and it’s no wonder that many of the people who took baptism during those trips that we made between 2006 – 2009 were mostly more than 40 years of age. Some of them were more than 60. The Lord truly has blessed this service.”

Although Philip’s inspiration comes in part from his father, he is also living the model of the first century church. In the words of James, brother of Jesus, “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.“
—James 1:27

EDITOR’S NOTE: We want you to come to know Pastor Philip as we know him—man of God, husband, father to many children in addition to his own, pastor to his flock., missionary, student of the Word.