Travis Phillips was raised throughout the United States, Canada and Great Britain. Though “un-churched,” as a teen he came to faith in Jesus Christ through the Protestant Youth of the Chapel program of the nearby base chapel. This initiating spiritual event proved life-changing for him. As a young adult, he studied communication theory and history at Wright State University in Ohio. During this time he received his calling to serve Jesus in ministry. Completing university studies, he relocated to Asbury Theological Seminary in Kentucky for theological training. During this time he also pursued ordination and ecclesiastical endorsement for military chaplaincy in the United Methodist Church. As a senior in seminary he was commissioned an Ensign in the U.S. Navy.
Upon completing seminary studies Travis was appointed as Associate Pastor of a large suburban church in northern Ohio. A few years later he was reassigned as the Charge Pastor of two small churches in Amish country in Ohio’s snow-belt.
Travis was then called to active duty as a chaplain serving the U.S. Navy. This began a chain of assignments that saw him serving aboard an aegis cruiser, as the pastor of a naval base chapel, and onboard U.S. Coast Guard cutters. He went on to serve a United States Marine Corps infantry division and expeditionary force command. From there he served a forward-deployed submarine command, as the pastor of several USMC chapel congregations, and as the director of a retreat ministry serving an entire Navy region in the Pacific, and more.
Travis is married and has 5 daughters. Upon his retirement from the military service the Phillips family moved to Culpeper County, Virginia. There he adjusted to civilian life and together they work their small farm. Travis also attended and taught classes at the local United Methodist Church.
When the UMC bishops began leading their denomination into apostasy, a part of the abovementioned congregation withdrew from their local UMC church because they wanted to remain Bible-based, Christ-centered Christians. Travis helped them process their loss and grief during this initially painful dislocation and transition. In 2023, the congregation asked him to be their pastor while they explored what God was calling them to be and do. A year later they became Stand Firm Christian Church and meet in Reva, Virginia. Their vision is: “We are Bible-based, Christ-centered, Holy Spirit Led: Becoming More Like Jesus… God’s Humble Servants in the World."