Overview
Pastor Philip Mantofa was born in Surabaya on the 27th of September, 1974. From his birthplace, he went on to study abroad in Taipei, Singapore, and finally, he repented during his high school days in Vancouver, Canada.
Two years after he received his undergraduate degree in theology from Canada, as riots broke out in Indonesia in May 1998, he decided to return to his homeland for the sake of preaching the Gospel. The Rose of Sharon Church he leads has become one of the fastest-growing churches with around 100,000 members found in numerous locations nationwide and beyond. To date, strong local churches have been planted throughout Asia, in Australia, Europe and the USA. Currently, he serves as the senior pastor of the church network and organization. His vision is to build 1000 strong local churches with 1,000,000 disciples of Christ. His heart’s burning desire is to see nations experience and encounter the love of Jesus Christ.
In addition to his passion for revival, he started painting professionally in 2014. Thereafter, hundreds of his dreams and visions have been depicted by his own fingers on canvases, and they have deeply spoken to, impacted, and anointed the lives of many. Not until he turned 40 when he realized that painting is a great way to preserve visually his prophetic insights which carry powerful messages that are life transforming. He unflinchingly shares his spiritual revelations and illustrations with the purpose of leading and drawing men into the hope and power of Christ’s redemption. He is also the author of "Before 30," “Warrior For Revival,” "Holy Spirit, My Best Friend," and many other best-selling books.
Pastor Philip is happily married to Irene Saphira, and they are blessed with 3 children: Vanessa, Jeremy, and Warren.
My Spiritual Journey
I was about ready to leave the sanctuary of a church in Vancouver, Canada, when they challenged us non-believers to accept Jesus. Right before I put my hand on the door handle, to my surprise, an audible voice called me loudly, “Philip, if you are not saved today, you will never be saved!” I was shocked and I lifted my hand and ran to the front like a little child. That was God’s voice for sure! My spiritual journey began right after that altar call in 1992 when I was 18 years and it has affected me until today.
My Background
I was born as a healthy and normal baby, but there was an accident that led me to grow up frail along with short term memory. I fell from my bed when I was only 2 months old. Since then, my body often shook and my legs were weak so that I needed leg braces and a pair of shoes made of iron that are usually used for people who get polio. The condition of my brain wasn’t strong either because I had difficulty memorizing simple things such as classes or even the spelling of my own name.
All of those conditions were changed when the power of the Holy Spirit anointed me on my way to my school in Taipei, Taiwan. God listened to my mother’s prayer in Indonesia and He miraculously healed me. I didn’t become a good person even though I was healed. In fact I was involved in many juvenile delinquent activities which included fierce fighting where I almost lost my life in many occasions and took the lives of others as well. It wasn’t until 1992 when God saved me in Vancouver, Canada.
My Ministry
God entrusted me with a heart of a shepherd and with an evangelist's anointing to win my generation. "Army of God" was born from that calling -- a great movement and youth revival fire emerging from Surabaya. I experienced a tragic vision about hell in the year 2000 and that testimony has caused the wave of repentance everywhere I preach through crusades called "A Trip to Hell".
From the rain of salvation, God then led me to the healing river through the ministry known as “The Festival of God’s Power” to prove that miracles still exist and happen today. The Holy Spirit’s fire that was set ablaze in 2000 has never died down ever since. Moreover, it has spread around Asia and all over the world. Just as Paul's handkerchief in his ministry, our media ministry keeps reaching out with the Gospel of peace to everyone in Indonesia and beyond!
My Vision & Mission
If you ask me why I work so diligently in the Lord's harvest field, the answer couldn't be simpler: because my eyes are fixed on a vision from Heaven! Through a personal encounter with Jesus Christ in 2003, I received the burden for Mawar Sharon Church organization to build 1000 strong local churches with 1,000,000 disciples of Christ! That's my life's mission.