Dr. Lawrence H. Phipps is the leader of It’s Life Ministry (ILM). Dr. Phipps and wife, Karen, transitioned from 36 years in pastoral ministry to begin ILM. The purpose is to lead & inspire fruitful evangelism. ILM wants to help churches reach people. The underlying goal is to encourage ministers and their spouses.
Dr. Phipps has been pastor of churches in both Kentucky and Alabama. In 1994, he left the growing First Baptist Church of Enterprise, Alabama, to become the founding pastor of Vaughn Forest Church in Montgomery, Alabama. The church grew from 38 people to over 2,500 in 19 years. During his tenure at Vaughn Forest, the church baptized 2,313 people. A phenomenal growth of the church came from focusing on prayer, evangelism, discipleship and a commitment to small groups.
Dr. Phipps has written the book, It’s LIFE, and developed all the accompanying materials to help churches disciple people to share their faith. Before developing It’s LIFE, Dr. Phipps was a Senior Clinic teacher for Evangelism Explosion and Lead Teacher for FAITH Sunday School/Evangelism Strategy. LifeWay Christian Resources commissioned him to write Praying in FAITH, describing how prayer and evangelism work together.
To follow up with new believers, Dr. Phipps wrote More Abundant LIFE: 100 Days to Start or Restart your Christian Walk. It has now been translated, but not published, in Spanish.
Dr. Phipps has served in a variety of capacities in the local association, the Alabama Baptist Convention and the Southern Baptist Convention.
He is a graduate of Opelika High School, Auburn University, and holds Master of Divinity and Doctor of Ministry degrees from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, in Louisville, Kentucky. He is married to Karen McMoy Phipps and has two daughters, Heather Denise Phipps, and Lauren Phipps Finkelstein (married to Tyler).
His favorite word from the Word is Matthew 6:33: “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” (NKJV)
