Background

     Grew up all over Texas and graduated from L.D. Bell High School in Hurst, Texas. Graduated from Abilene Christian University with a B.A. in New Testament and M.A. in Biblical studies.  

Family

     In June of 1977, Phil married Donna Nelson of Dayton, Ohio. They met at Abilene Christian University while both were attending college. Donna received her B.S. degree in Education and has taught in public and Christian schools for 15 years. Donna completed her M.A. in School administration and served as an assistant principal in the Pflugerville ISD. She is currently working as assistant director for the A.C.U. reading lab and with Heartlight handling donor relations and daily site management. Donna has written for Image Magazine as well as HEARTLIGHT, spoken at women's retreats, taught classes from cradle roll through High School, as well as teaching women's classes. She also is part of a women's speaking ministry known as "The Coffee Group." She serves on the HEARTLIGHT Board.

     Phil and Donna have two children, Zachary and Megan. Zach graduated from Abilene Christian in December of 2001 and married Mandy Moran. They currently live in Lexington, Kentucky where Zach works as a computer programmer and developer and Mandy is a Physical Therapist. Megan is a graduate at Abilene Christian University, has served as a counselor and Co-director for ACU Leadership Camps, and is currently studying in the Hardin-Simmons University Physical Therapy program.

Ministry

     Phil began his preaching ministry with the Southern Hills Church in Abilene, Texas in March of 2004. Phil previously ministered with the Westover Hills congregation for 22 years and Elgin Church of Christ for 3 1/2 years. 

     In addition to his preaching ministry, he has been involved in Heartlight, Inc., written regular articles for a number of newspapers and radio programs as well as Restoration Quarterly, Image Magazine, and Wineskins.  Phil previously taught for seven years as adjunct professor of practical ministry at the Institue of Christian Studies (now the Graduate School of Theology) in Austin. He has also served as an adjunct teacher in the Bible department at ACU. Phil helped co-write Bible Alive, a computer learning tool for ages eight and up.

     Since 1996, Phil has been very involved in Internet ministry through online devotionals, Scripture backgrounds, articles and a variety of websites. In addition to Heartlight.org, a leading non-profit Christian online resource with 3.5 - 5 million page views per month. He has previously managed and produced transending.org, m6trix.com (called matrix 6 communication), firstfollowers.com, and communityfrontporch.com. Phil has spoken at web conference both inside and outside the church community and is focusing his attention these days on communicating visually using video, graphics, drama, and other key visual resources — the word imagenriching is used to refer to these visual resources.

     Over the years, Phil has spoken at seminars, lectureships, retreats, missionary field training, community events, encampment meetings, and special campus outreach events as well as writing a number of contemporary hymns for congregational worship. Phil has recently completed two books, What Jesus Did: 365 Devotionals from the Gospel of John and a study guide on 1 & 2 Thessalonians in the Streams of Mercy series, both by Leafwood Publishers.

Organizations

     Phil previously served as Kiwanis Youth Services chairman and founder of the Elgin Christian Athletic League and was selected several times as one of the Outstanding Young Men in America. He has helped coach soccer as well as Little League baseball, basketball, and softball.

    He is currently President of Heartlight, Inc., and editor of Heartlight.org, a ministry dedicated to bringing practical resources to help believers live victoriously for Jesus in today's world. HEARTLIGHT Internet Magazine reaches hundreds of thousands of different people each month with encouraging messages, images, and devotionals. In addition to his blog (thephilfiles.com, Phil has written two sets of daily devotionals on four year cycles. These are Today's Verse and What Jesus Did!. These are regularly sent to hundreds of thousands of people each week in over 170 countries. His Scripture graphic PowerPoint backgrounds are used by hundreds of churches each week.

    Phil is also Past-President of the Abilene Christian University Alumni Advisory Board. For his work with Heartlight.org, Phil has been awarded the Pioneer in Internet Ministry award (1998), the A.C.U. Lamp Award for Excellence in Mass Media Ministry award (1999), and the Change the World award (2006).

Hobbies

     Phil enjoys traveling, bowhunting, fishing, golfing, sailing, reading, and working with graphic images on his computer.