Testimony

Greetings in the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ,

Give thanks to the Lord, for He is Good; His love endures forever. Let me tell about myself so that it might be a blessing for you!

My Family
I was born in a Pentecostal Pastor’s family. My father’s name is Pastor, N C Philip and Mother Marykutty Philip. God has blessed me with two sisters and a brother. My eldest sister Jeny Philip is married to Amyson Varughese and are settled in Seattle, U.S. They have two beautiful children: Olivia and Noah. My younger brother, Jim Philip is married to Rinisha Rajan and are settled in Arizona, U.S. They have a gorgeous daughter, Abigail. My youngest sister, Jeffy Philip is in Bangalore pursuing her MASLP (Speech and Hearing). My wife’s name is Grace Rachel John and God gifted us a son, Asher Jerry Philip on April 15th 2016.

My Inspiration
My parents, N C Philip and Marykutty Philip are in God’s vineyard for more than 35 years. In Bangalore now, he is the senior most pastor in IPC in terms of arrival. I am not boasting but to tell about God’s faithfulness. Many couldn’t continue but God has led them with His mighty hands. The promises made to them, we saw it fulfilled during our times. I am proud to say that, my parents are prayer warriors. I am not exaggerating when I say that I have not yet seen anyone who pray and fast like my parents in-spite of diabetics. I have hardly seen them eat. The first thing they do after waking up is to the prayer room praising and worshiping God at the top of their lungs. They are an inspiration to us as children. The words are true, ‘Seek ye first and all these things shall be added unto you’. What we are is because of the commitment and faithfulness of my parents who sought God first than anything else. I was born and brought up in a parsonage. My parents always told us to be careful with the money and wastage of food because it is the help of God’s children. Please continue to pray for them.

My Childhood & Sickness
I was born on 6th December 1984. At the age of one and half years I had epilepsy. Once, I had epilepsy for nearly one and half hour and everyone in the room thought I was going to die. Even the church members were persuading my dad and mom to take me to hospital but they believed in the One who gave me to them and they earnestly prayed. Guess what! God healed me completely from that illness. Glory be to God. I want to proudly say that till date, I did not have that sickness in my life.

My Call
Although I received the call of God through several prophets, I received the direct call of God when I was in sixth standard. The calling was like the call of Samuel in the Bible. I heard the repeated call of my name in a loud voice. Being a small kid, I did not know the significance nor understood what it was. I ran to my father who was in the other room who told me that it was God who is calling. He dedicated me for the ministry in the middle of the night. From then on, I knew what I was going to do in the future.

My Education
I was not a book-worm nor interested in any studies. My marks were like mobile number in single digits. I used to receive beatings in whole sale J Although I was very upset to receive this manifold blessing, but now I am very glad that he did that or else I would have drifted away from God.

As I said before I dedicated my life for God’s ministry, God was personally interested in helping me move on in my studies since I was going to work in His vineyard. God helped me pass my 10^th standard with 56.16%. I know it is less but for me, this was a distinction or even a rank. I could not believe nor my parents or my teachers. I remember the verse “It is the Lord’s doing and it is marvellous in our eyes”.

My dad really thought I will not get admission in good college seeing my marks and even gave 500 rupees as advance in Krupanidhi College (One of the worst colleges then). But somehow, I was very optimistic and gave form in Christ College and St. Joseph’s College which were the top colleges in Bangalore. Since, I was interested in History, I opted for History, Economics, Sociology and Political Science (HESP). Finally, the selected students were listed out on the notice board and guess what! My name was there!!! My goodness, I could not believe my eyes. In my school, my Kannada teacher used to boast that only qualified students will get admission such as her son. I didn’t imagine that I would get admission. The cut off percentage for HESP was 56% and mine was 56.16% and God made it happen. I even got admission in St.Joseph College but decided to study at Christ College.

I finished my Pre-University Course and Bachelor of Arts (History) from Christ College. God gave me good marks in these courses. After my studies, I decided to go to Faith Theological Seminary, Manakala for my B.D. Studies. Since, my B.A. certificates didn’t come, the college officials asked me to come after a year promising my admission.

For a year, I worked in a US based company called memorystock.com in the customer service. I still cherish the good times I had in the office and my boss, Joby M John (member of IPC Mathikere). After a year, I went to Manakala and started my studies.

FTS– I had false assumptions of a Bible college, that they teach from Genesis to Revelation. But my first class was Preliminary Greek where they taught the basics of Greek. It was a horrifying experience and I even planned to go back. In the dinner time of the first day, the leaders announced that I am selected for the Mess Committee. I was very thrilled because I have only heard of Sunday School Committee and PYPA Committee. But the next day, when the leaders gave me huge vessels to wash, I understood the difficulty of being in mess committee. It was a painful and hard time for me to even wash the vessels or even chop the vegetables for the first time. My dad was in US when I joined in Bible School, and after a week, he called and asked my whereabouts, I told him that I am cutting fish. He commented, “Did I not send you to Bible School”?
Anyways, to make long story short, I learned many thing from FTS how to adjust with different people, theological disciplines, ministry experiences and many more. I was privileged to be part of Lifetime Vineyard Church, Adoor for two years.

DCPC- It was in my fourth year at FTS that I developed interest for Counselling. One of the statement which influenced me was of Dietrich Bonhoeffer who said, “Many are looking for an ear to hear…” I heard that Dr. Issac V. Mathew is running a counselling course in Thodupuzha through some friends and he was very kind in giving me an admission. I earned DCPC which is Diploma in Clinical and Pastoral Counselling in 2012 and it was a pleasant time where I could meet many aged men and women and talk to them. We were taken to a hospital and an old age home for our practical training. I was still part of Lifetime church and every weekend I used to come to Charlie E George’s house and stay. To mention, Alexi E George and family and Charlie E George’s family were a great source of help and support during my stay at Adoor.

M TH- I was not planning to study beyond B.D. but God opened ways for me to study at SAIACS, Bangalore. I completed my M.Th in Pastoral Theology and Counselling in the year 2015.

My Marriage
I was waiting on God when God will say, it is not good for Jerry to be alone…. It was on 4^th April 2013 that God united me with Grace Rachel John. Grace is the daughter of Pastor John George who is a missionary in Hanumangarh, Rajasthan for the last 28 years. Grace is a B.Sc Nursing holder from Bangalore. Her mother is Omana John and she has two siblings, Praise John and Joice John.
God gifted us a son on April 15^th 2016 and his name is Asher.

In August 18^th, Sunday 2013 I met with a severe accident when I was returning after dropping Grace to college. Both my bones on my right leg had multiple fractures. I had a plate for 2 years and by the grace of God, I got it removed last year. It was during these times, I came closer to God and experienced God’s grace throughout this phase of my life.

Ministry Involvements
-I was involved in Lifetime Vineyard Church at Adoor as worship leader and youth Pastor for two years.

-One Year at IPC Mathikere, Bangalore as Worship Leader.

-Two and Half years as Pastor of IPC Shalem Prayer Hall English Church, Rajapalya.

– Six months at STCS, Bhopal as Teacher

-I worked with  Fellowship Ashram Theological College (FATC) at Silvassa, Dadra and Nagar Haveli for a year.

Currently, I am the Chaplain of Bethel New Life College, Bangalore and Pastor of English Church, IPC Shalem Prayer Hall.

-I also play Keyboard Guitar and Drums on various occasions.

Although it is a lengthy testimony, I hope you are blessed with this testimony. Amen!