BIO:

"I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." Philippians 3:14

For the past nineteen years, Philip Meher has served the Lord in various local church and parachurch ministries. For three years he worked in youth ministry; for the past thirteen years he ministered as lead pastor in churches on both the east and west coasts. Philip has also been engaged in front line ministry to the poor and the hurting, teaching and counseling in an inner-city Christian Drug and Alcohol rehabilitation center in Chicago and in a homeless shelter in Bellingham, WA.

Higher Call is the name of the ministry the Lord has led Philip to organize - it reflects the passion of God evident in his preaching and teaching. The "call" is for individuals, families and churches to actively seek God and grow and mature in their walk with Him. The focus of this ministry is on discipleship and returning to the basics of the Christian commitment: prayer, the Word, and obedience to Jesus Christ as Lord. A special spotlight is placed on marriage and family issues. Solid content from the Bible is the hallmark of every sermon preached and every lesson taught. A few representative examples of messages include:

> Coming Home To God (Evangelistic)

> Five Virtues to Keep a Family Together

> Fixing Broken Relationships

> A Prescription for Spiritual Progress

> The Ministry of Encouragement

> Anger Management: A Christian Perspective

God has also called Philip to continue working on the front lines with the poor and needy nationwide. In the near future, Lord willing, mission trips will be planned with local churches to bring needed humanitarian relief and the gospel message to remote parts of the earth.

Philip has experience ministering in a variety of denominational backgrounds and possesses a sensitivity to minister in each situation appropriately. He has attended several helpful conferences, including Rick Warren’s Preaching for Life Change seminar and the Billy Graham School of Evangelism.

On a personal level, his hobbies include: baseball, nature photography (which can be worked into a message), reading, and skiing. Philip is married to Michele Meher (nineteen years); they have four children (ages four, ten, thirteen, and sixteen).

TESTIMONIALS

"I commend the Ministry of Philip Meher to you for your consideration. Philip is a Godly man who models the values he is seeking to share with others. He has proven himself over time to be a Pastor with a heart of compassion and love for his people, and a desire and ability to lead them deeper in their walk with the Lord. He is a valued member of the licensed workers of this district."
- Rev. Kevlin Gardiner
Superintendent, NW District of the Christian and Missionary Alliance

"Pastor Phil is one of the best pastors we've ever heard. We have learned so much from him. Every Sunday we would hear a sermon that would strengthen our walk with the Lord and challenge us to live for God, not the world. He always included many practical ways to put God first in our daily lives. We especially liked his sermons and series that focused on building strong marriages and families. His examples and stories have stuck with us. In fact, at a recent bible study most of the people remembered and discussed in great detail an illustration he had used in a sermon over a year ago……We always felt extremely comfortable bringing our unsaved friends to church. We knew Pastor Phil would explain salvation and preach a sermon that would be relevant to their lives. Overall, we think God has blessed Pastor Phil with the amazing ability to preach the truth from God's word and encourage deeper relationships with the Lord."
- Mark and Lisa Tiemersma, Lynden, WA