Vital Conversations: Lessons Learned from the Margins.

Name: Philip White

Spouse: Tara White

Kids/Grandkids:

Rickey White (and wife Nina) of Cleveland, TN – with our granddaughter, Elodie.

Rachel Hendrick (and husband Ben) of Bluefield, VA

Church: Bluefield Church of God – Where Mercy Lives!

How long have you pastored this church? I have been the lead pastor of Bluefield for 2 years, and was an associate pastor here since 2019.

Other churches you have served?

Bluefield First Assembly of God

Victory Church Lakeland Florida

East River Church

Highlands Fellowship

Nemours Church

1. How has God confirmed His calling on your life?

- God has always been ever so patient but also very persistent in His call on me to pastor. Even in the times when I ran from it in bitterness, pain, and fear. He has continuously put me around people that needed shepherding. He placed mentors in my life that spoke the truth to me and it kept me accountable.

2. How has God proven His faithfulness in your ministry?

- In regards to Bluefield Church of God… when I stepped in as the lead pastor, my wife and I, along with the church leadership team began to pray a three part prayer:

A: Lord, send workers for the harvest

B: Lord, send seed sowers for the harvest

C: Lord, send hurting people through these doors

Without fail, He has answered and continues to answer that prayer every day. We had been in quite a bad position as a church 2 years ago, but God has taken us from a place of having lack to a place of being a refuge with resources for our mission. That mission is to be the place WHERE MERCY LIVES.

He has also given me , in my wife Tara, the best partner in ministry that I could ever ask for. She has giftings and discernment in places where mine may not be as strong. She truly is my partner in fulfilling the call of God.

3. Why do you enjoy pastoring your local congregation?

- Because the people of this church have given themselves to the mission of making Bluefield Church of God the place where mercy lives. They are people who have been loved and changed by Jesus and they want to love people with that same love. The mercy that changed them is living in them and they want to share that same mercy.

4. Why is your local congregation vital to your community?

- Because there are people in our church and in our community that wouldn’t have experienced the love of Jesus if people in the church had not been committed to the walking in that love. This church has come to be known as a place of refuge.

5. What is one valuable lesson you’ve learned from a misstep or mistake in handling a situation?

- I have learned to lean on scripture and the leading of the Holy Spirit when addressing a situation in the church. Sometimes we want to prove how right we are rather than letting God do the work of conviction, persuasion, and reconciliation. His ways are always so much better than ours.

6. Have you had to think “outside the box” to accomplish a task or mission in the church and what was it?

- Rather than simply holding a fundraiser when the church has had needs, we found a way to give to someone else in need. God has honored that and supplied the church with what was needed.

7. What are some of the future ministry goals for your church?

- To grow our Mercy House ministry where we help supply basic necessities to people who are hurting and in need.

- To create a hunger in the unchurched community for hearing and studying the Word of God.

- To encourage and facilitate community involvement.

- To raise up a congregation of believers who are concerned with more than just what is in the four walls of the church building.

VITAL Conversations with Pastor Philip & Tara White