PHOTOS: Preaching the ‘whole word of God’
The Rev. Maurice Phillips and his wife, Lady Carrie Phillips, started Kingdom Ministries in their living room in 2008. The small nondenominational church preaches the “whole word of God” to its members, according to Phillips.
“I’m a martyr and all I do is speak what he tells me to speak,” Phillips says to an audience of about 50 people.
The church is inside an industrial building in downtown Las Vegas. Congregants sing, dance and listen to the passionate sermons from the pastor.
Phillips is the son of a pastor from Arkansas and his church celebrates in the emotional style of many Southern evangelical churches. Worshippers at Kingdom Ministries describe their experience as being overtaken by the word of God. During the anointment on a recent Sunday, one new member was brought to tears by the power of the service. Another woman shouted “Hallelujah” in an uncontrollable manner.
After church, people chat over stewed meat with corn. They ask about each other’s families and talk about an upcoming conference in San Diego. Moments before, Sister Evelyn, now speaking with a woman enjoying the stew, was writhing on the floor, her body completely being controlled by the Spirit.
In his closing words to the church, Pastor Phillips warns his followers: “Don’t let a minor scrape turn into a major wound.”
Good advice for a city with so many temptations.
▶ photos by justin yurkanin/las vegas review-journal
