Phil was raised in the small rural farm community of Convoy, Ohio as the youngest of three children in a single-parent home. Much of his early childhood was spent with his grandparents on their family farm assisting with day-to-day tasks and farming with his grandpa. Phil experienced the unique call to student ministry while he was in high school following the wisdom and leadership of several key mentors and pastors who served faithfully in his home youth ministry.
Phil earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Pastoral Ministries and Youth Ministries from Taylor University in Fort Wayne, IN. In 2008, Phil enrolled at Asbury Theological Seminary in the beautiful town of Wilmore, Kentucky where he began his Master of Divinity degree.
A year and a half into his Divinity studies, Phil accepted the position to become the next Director of Student Ministries at Calvary Evangelical Church in his hometown of Van Wert, Ohio. For one year Phil excelled in that role, developing Element (26) Student Ministries with a grassroots approach.
In August of 2010, Phil accepted the position as Student Ministries Pastor at Faith Community Church and relocated to Waupaca, Wisconsin with his high school sweetheart Elizabeth. Phil & Elizabeth are expecting their first child (baby Emerson James Wells) in March of 2013!
Phil comes to Faith Community Church with over six years of professional experience in effectively leading cutting-edge student ministries developing fully devoted students for Christ. His giftedness exists in the areas of: preaching/teaching, administration, and team leadership.
Phil & his exceptional crew of adults & student leaders head up the Student Ministries Department here at Faith Community Church, which consists of The Grind (HS) and Elevate (MS).
Phil is currently attending Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary (Lynchburg, VA) working toward the completion of his Master of Divinity degree with a specialization in Pastoral Ministries.
Phil is most passionate about his wife Elizabeth, their families' and everything to do with The Ohio State Buckeyes (O-H-I-O!) He greatly enjoys weight training, music, sports, coffee, the outdoors and is passionate about empowering students and leaders for exponential impact on today's every-changing student culture.