Laurel Phillips

I can remember working for BC Ferries and standing on the flying bridge of the Queen of Capilano feeling so tired. I was a single parent, worked full time shift work, and was taking care of my elderly neighbour. I looked at my deck uniform and it hit me. I'm dressed like a man! I was trying to fill both the mom and dad roles. Single parents have it hard! I prayed that God would take over the 'dad' role. I asked him to please let me go home to be with my son. I so missed my son. Please be my husband.

Missions work was his solution. I would go to work with him and for him.

My missions training was through Youth With A Mission (YWAM), and my base was in Kona, Hawaii. I took a Discipleship Training School (DTS) in 1999, then travelled to Colorado to take the School of Strategic Missions (SOSM) on 2000. I was then asked to join a team to bring the SOSM back to Kona from Colorado. 

I've worked in our community as a Social Worker, Program Coodinator, Program Developer, Counsellor, and Narrative Therapist for many years. I still volunteer in these fields. When I retired from secular work in 2023, the Lord said to me, "We don't retire." I knew what he meant.

I have been married for over 20 years and have raised three amazing children. 

I have an undergraduate degree in psychology and Masters degree in Narrative Therapy and Community Work from the University of Melbourne.