Philip Gammon

Was born of missionary parents in Angola, West Africa, receiving his early schooling in Africa and England. He is a graduate of Moody Bible Institute, Wheaton College and New York University. He also studied at Northwestern University in Chicago and The London School of Medicine.

As a young man, Philip was active in children’s evangelism in England and with Scripture Union on South Africa. It was during his studies at Moody Bible Institute in Chicago, while producing radio broadcasts at Radio Station WMBI, the voice of Moody in radio waves across the world, that he met the “Singing Lady”, Elizabeth (Libby), who eventually became his lifemate. They have two daughters, Heather and her husband Bob with their two grandchildren Kate and Steve, and Robyn and her husband Rémy.

Ordained as a Minister, Philip served as Associate Pastor of the Wheaton Bible Church and later Calvary Baptist Church in New York City. He then became Senior Pastor of the Northern Valley Evangelical Free Church in New Jersey, the First Baptist Church in Minnesota and an the Christ Chapel on Cape Cod. He also served as Executive Director of the American Tract Society publishing Christian literature and Director of the Africa Evangelical Fellowship, and a Mission Society serving throughout Africa, the Women’s Missionary Union Society, a mission in Asia. He was honoured in the Who’s Who in Religion for these and his writing and editing and active service on numerous other mission Boards.

Philip and Libby worked together in fulltime Ministry during their lives, simultaneously pastoring, visiting and supporting missions and missionaries in numerous capacities, active members of numerous Mission societies and Boards that enhanced the work of Christ’s love - touching lives all over the world.

For many, retirement years mean a slowing down, a welcomed self indulgence into pleasures of life that only come with the cushion of a life well-worked, a bank account offering travel and hobbies, pleasure of leisure and repos.

But for Philip, retirement meant a continuation of God’s work, travelling round the globe, driving across mile after mile of road to share about the needs of the poor, the sick, the aching souls of humanity. Attending missions conferences and across College campuses and church congregations, he encouraged men and women to devote their lives to the work of God to change hearts and be vessels of God’s love.

Then, in 1999 at 74, after suffering a massive stroke, against all odds of medicine he clung to life, and though confined to a bed or wheelchair, with those intense crystal blue eyes that could no longer well see, Philip would not be indifferent to the love of Christ raging in his heart and soul –and in his gentle loving manner spent every hour of his waking life exuding the love of God.

Philip had a kind word to all that entered his chamber, a smile for each passer-by, a witty quip to brighten each person’s day. With an amazing power of intellect, he learned and recalled each individual’s name – and if not, would replace their name with a connection of their life, an endearing quality that touched the soul.

For the nearly 8 decades that preceded his stroke, Philip sang the great hymns of the Church – lines such as:

“Were the whole realm of nature mine,

That were an offering far too small:

Love so amazing, so divine,

Demands my soul, my life, my all.”

Little did Philip know just how God would cause him to live such words: to share so deeply in the sufferings of Christ - requiring him to depend so fully on the grace of God.

To traverse the fiery crucibles of suffering and disappointment yet still unfailingly proclaiming God as his source of power and the life-blood of his deep inner peace.

Closing in upon his 85th year, his body ravaged by years of suffering and weakness, God freed Philip from his prison and took him to Celebrate with Him on high. To ascend to the gates of Heaven and welcomed by His God and Maker and to hear those tender words so poignantly deserved, Welcome, my beloved, my good and faithful servant, welcome Home.

Arrangements under the direction of Olinger Chapel Hill Mortuary & Cemetery, Littleton, CO.