S7:E22 | Philip Miller

Cedarville Stories

Reluctant and Faithful

2004 alumnus Philip Miller never wanted to serve as a pastor, and now, he’s serving in one of the most high-profile pulpits in America.

Philip began serving as senior pastor at The Moody Church in downtown Chicago in July 2020. He follows in the footsteps of 16 legendary men of God, including long-time Cedarville friend and guest chapel speaker Dr. Warren Wiersbe, whose personal library is housed in the Warren and Betty Wiersbe Library and Reading Room at the Center for Biblical and Theological Studies.

Philip’s first inclination was not ministry. His grandfather served as a pastor, and the struggles he faced caused Philip to pause. He resisted the Lord’s urgings toward ministry as a high schooler, but he was moved toward his calling during his undergraduate days at Cedarville. While here, he met his wife, Krista, who is also a 2004 graduate.

Philip graduated from Cedarville and pursued further training at Dallas Theological Seminary. He was ordained at Stonebriar Community Church in Frisco, Texas, in 2010. From 2013 to last year, he served at Westwood Baptist Church in Olympia, Washington.

“Cedarville has a special place in my heart because it’s where I was first grounded in the Bible in terms of my education,” he shared with Cedarville University public relations in 2020. “This is God’s story. He is the author and perfecter of our lives and histories. We’re just looking forward to the adventure!”