Join us in honoring Phil Hopwood’s retirement. He served GCI for more than 40 years in Canada and Australia.
Congratulations, Phil! We are very grateful for your many years of faithful service.
We wanted you to hear from Phil in his own words.
I was brought up in a Methodist church in Launceston, Tasmania. At 14 I was given a Radio Church of God booklet. I listened to The World Tomorrow and read The Plain Truth and booklets and was baptized in a mountain creek in early 1972. The cold water exhausted my lungs, which struck me as symbolic of my baptism into Jesus’ death, and being raised to breathe new life.
In 1972 I went to the United Kingdom for two years, attending services and studies at Bricket Wood. On returning to Tasmania, I became increasingly involved in the local congregations, including Spokesmen’s Club, organizing activities, and speaking at services.
In 1979 my pastor recommended I apply for Ambassador College. I studied in Pasadena from 1980-1983. They were three of the best years of my life and included a summer at the Jerusalem dig. Many current GCI leaders and pastors were fellow students. I was head usher at the Auditorium for a time and loved the concerts. It was a great feeling having the keys to that magnificent building in my pocket. I later worked in the personal correspondence department. This was useful during the changes when I was asked to answer hundreds of letters from Australia and Southeast Asia from members struggling with the new teachings.
