Pastor Philip Chryst
Warren's Grove is a Student-Pastor lead Church. What that means is that Warren's Grove is helping to train and equip the next generation of Pastors to be in service to God and the Church. Reverend Philip Chryst is the Pastor of Warren's Grove. He is a native of Minneapolis, Minnesota, but at the age of 9 his family moved to Charlotte, North Carolina. When Philip graduated from East Mecklenburg High School in 1993 he then moved to Wilmington, North Carolina. He graduated from UNC-Wilmington in 1999, majoring in Communication Studies with a minor in Philosophy. In October of 1999 Philip married the former DeAnne Ace from Raleigh, NC. In 2000 Philip began working for S&D Coffee Inc. as a sales representative. After 6 years God called him into full-time ministry. In July of 2005 Philip was invited to be on staff, at Faith Harbor United Methodist Church in Surf City, NC, as the Minister of Discipleship. During his time at Faith Harbor he helped begin a Beach Church Service that is still going on today. Also he started regular meeting times for the youth group at Faith Harbor—that came to be called b.A.s.i.C (Brothers and Sisters In Christ). After serving at Faith Harbor for a year, Bishop Alfred Gwinn assigned him to Warren's Grove in Roxboro, NC. In conjunction with that he also began studying at Duke Divinity School in the fall of 2006. Attending Duke has always been a dream for Philip. He grew up being a big Blue Devils fan, while at the same time it has been truly a pleasure to study with some of the most well-known theologians of the 21st century.
While working to get his Master of Divinity degree Philip is living in Roxboro and serving as the Pastor at Warren's Grove. Philip has loved his time serving the congregation of Warren's Grove. This is a Church that truly wants to serve our Lord and savior Jesus Christ—rather than just playing Church. Warren's Grove has warmly embraced him and we all look forward to what God is going to do in the years to come. Philip and DeAnne have three children: Peter, Emma and Ryan. They have come to fall in love with Roxboro and thoroughly enjoy Hyco Lake, Huck Sansbury Park, American Hero Restaurant, Church Softball and Duke Basketball.
Two of Rev. Chryst sermons. Laughing at the Devil Tried by Fire