Gwen Phillips, Children's Pastor

Gwen Phillips grew up in the Baptist Church in Tennessee with parents who were very involved in the life of the church.  Her faith journey was a natural progression as she grew and learned about Jesus.  She made her profession of faith in Christ as a third grader and her parents and older siblings modeled for her what living a life in Christ could be.

Gwen’s undergraduate degree is in elementary education and she spent twenty years teaching second graders in Louisville, KY and here in Liberty.  She earned a master’s degree in education while teaching.  Gwen responded to a call to mission service as a young adult and spent two years at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, earning a Master’s in Christian Education.  She worked with Kentucky Baptist Convention as a consultant for Girls in Action and Mission Friends.          

With her experience in teaching children and working with children’s leaders, it was an easy fit to move into children’s ministry at Second.  Gwen serves part-time as children’s pastor, a position she began in July, 2010.          

Gwen is married to Harold and they have one adult daughter, Rachel who also lives in Liberty.  They have been in Liberty since 1987.  Reading is a favorite pastime.  Gwen has been in a book club with other teachers from Lewis and Clark for over 10 years.  Jodi Piccoult and Adriana Trigiani are favorite authors, but she loves mysteries and nonfiction as well.  Children’s books will always be on her “best ever” list with Kevin Henkes and Patricia Polacco being her favorite authors.  Movies are a delight and actually going to the theater to see the movie is half the fun!  Musicals, sappy love stories, suspense thrillers…she loves them all!          

Gwen and Harold were fortunate to be able to travel quite a bit with Rachel while she was growing up.  Because Gwen’s sister, Janie was serving as a missionary in Africa, they visited several countries and were able to do a short-term missions stint in Burkina Faso together.  Australia and Alaska are still on her bucket list to visit.          

A favorite interest of Gwen’s is simply the fun of being with people—laughing and enjoying each others' company.  It doesn’t get any better than that!