Philip was born and raised in New York City in a large family of deeply committed Christians, who instilled in him a powerful vision of what it means to serve Jesus with one’s entire life.
 
At a summer camp when he was ten, Philip realized that having a Christian family and engaging in Christian activities did not actually make him a Christian. He decided to personally place his trust in Jesus and, in the years following, his love for God and his understanding of the Bible grew as he was mentored by youth group leaders. 

It was also through youth group that Philip met his future wife, Linda, with whom he now has two adult children. After many years in New York, Philip and his family moved to Massachusetts, where Philip attended Gordon-Conwell Seminary and entered full-time ministry at a Boston church. 

Philip and Linda now live in Pasadena, the beautiful Los Angeles suburb known for Craftsman architecture, the Rose Bowl, and Van Halen. They first attended Reality LA when their daughter invited them to visit one Sunday, and soon they decided to put down roots and begin serving at the church. Philip currently teaches Bible and theology at a Christian high school in Pasadena and is deeply passionate about sharing the beauty and love of Christ with his students. 

An avid cyclist, Philip enjoys exploring LA’s many scenic bike routes, and he hopes one day to complete a full Ironman triathlon, “before getting too old to walk around the block.” In addition to his love for studying the Bible and appreciating the great outdoors, he likes working on home improvement projects and reveling in LA’s dizzying variety of delicious restaurants.