Carpenter's Shop Church (CSC) Ministers Relations Initiative (MRI) Church Ministries Consulting   Carpenter’s Shop Church (CSC) For the past eighteen years, Wallace and Joy Phillips have served as Senior Pastors for Carpenter’s Shop Church – a multi-cultural, multi-staffed ministry based in Ahoskie, North Carolina. Carpenter’s Shop Church, an Assemblies of God fellowship, has multiplied to three locations under the Phillips’ leadership. With churches located in Winton, North Carolina and Gatesville, North Carolina the ministry proves to have a heart for growth and development in the region in which it is located. You can hear the amazing story of one of the church plants by visiting http://nothingstoohardforgod.org/forgiveness.   Wallace and Joy began their journey with 12 people in 1992 and today enjoy adherents in the hundreds. One factor in the ministry’s development is that of its openness to all people. Carpenter’s Shop is uniquely positioned in a four-county area of North Carolina that is predominately African-American. Their willingness to embrace inclusion and open the doors to “A Church Where All Are Welcome” has been a major factor in the ministry’s success. Carpenter’s Shop Church has been featured in national publications and on TBN’s “Praise the Lord” program for its position on reaching the community in its entirety. Known for reaching outward in all of its ministry efforts, Carpenter’s Shop Church has engaged in many practical ministry opportunities such as food provision, health education and screenings, and the provision of a Youth and Community Center that correlates with the area’s public school systems. Carpenter’s Shop Church has produced ministry candidates that have been identified and raised up under the leadership of Wallace and Joy Phillips. Some 15 ministers today have come from the ministry and serve in pastorates, specialized ministries, and as missionaries in foreign countries. The ministry offers two Sunday morning services weekly and a vast array of ministry opportunities throughout the week. Visit the church online at www.cscministries.com .   Ministers Relations Initiative (MRI) Wallace & Joy Phillips have always had a heart for those who serve. Much of their ministry time is given to pastors and churches facing hardship and difficulty. Raising up ministers and releasing them has meant offering wise counsel along the way; making certain that those who started were assured a good finish.  In addition to enjoying a fruitful ministry in their own right, this ministry couple has been sought out by pastors and churches in the region for encouragement and enrichment. Wallace and Joy have even opened their home to others in ministry for times of refreshing and sabbaticals. Recently, Wallace was gripped with a story of a Baptist minister in Texas who killed his own wife. Staging her death as a sleeping pill overdose, the pastor then smothered his wife with a pillow; supposedly freeing him to move on with a proposed relationship with another woman.  Wondering just what happens in the life of a “man of God” that causes this kind of collapse, Wallace began to look into the statistical data of people who serve in ministry.   Many start out in ministry only to succumb to the schemes of the evil one and end up in ruin. Separations, divorce, extramarital affairs, drug addiction, pornography, etc. all seem to find their way to those who are supposed to live lives above reproach. This troubled the heart of Wallace & Joy Phillips. Troubled by continual awareness of such ministry failure, MRI was formed. Ministers Relations Initiative offers holistic care for those who serve. MRI seeks to meet the needs of ministers from all walks of life --- 1)      PHYSICALLY – Healthy ministers will minister longer. MRI provides consultation, education, and accountability to those in ministry through the means of capable health professionals and physicians who volunteer their time to evaluate, educate, and effectively improve the health of those in ministry. 2)      EMOTIONALLY – Ministers live life at “high stress levels”.   MRI provides consultation and opportunity for ministers to refresh themselves through a network of MRI partners who provide places of retreat for weekends, week- long encounters, or 30-day sabbaticals. MRI also employs the use of professionals to consult in matters that require more serious resolution 3)      SPIRITUALLY – It would seem that those who devote their lives to the spiritual life and well being of others would themselves be spiritually equipped. MRI seeks to offer opportunity for ministers to experience times of spiritual refreshing without the pressure of financial responsibility.   MRI accomplishes this by way of qualified ministers who network to provide practical means of ministering to the spiritual needs of those in ministry (networking, conferencing,  pulpit supply, etc.). 4)      RELATIONAL – MRI provides relationship for those in ministry. Pastors and pastor’s wives often need to network with others who understand their life and calling. MRI provides a network of ministers and trained professionals who specialize in relationship enhancement. “For Men Only” & “For Women Only” weekends are arranged to offer relationship enrichment in ministry marriages.   Counsel and conflict resolution are also offered. Networking and accountability also sets up a platform for success in ministry relationships. Ministers Relations Initiative seeks to offer holistic care to those who serve in ministry. If you are interested in receiving information on MRI ministry services, or volunteering your services to MRI, please contact us today.   Church Ministries Consulting Wallace & Joy Phillips are available to congregations for consulting in the following areas: 1)      Conflict Management 2)      Staff Acquisition & Development 3)      Church Growth & Development 4)      Unity & Multi-cultural Ministry 5)      Church planting and multiplication   If you are interested in consultation in these areas, please contact us today.