2012 Guest Speakers: Phil Metzger

To introduce you to this year's guest speakers, we will bring you a series of short profile interviews with each of the pastors who have accepted our invitation to teach God's Word at this summer's conference.

One of the speakers who is set to make his Scandinavian debut this year is Phil Metzger. As pastor of Calvary Chapel (CC) Budapest in Hungary and director of CC Bible College Europe, he is well-acquainted with the challenges of teaching God's Word on hard soil.

He currently oversees church plants throughout Eastern Europe, Ethiopia, and Nigeria. He and his wife Joy has been on the mission field for 15 years, and they have four children: Niki, Karina, Judah, and Hannah. This summer's conference will be the American pastor's first ever visit to Scandinavia.

You're a busy man, involved in ministries across the continent. Why have you taken time out of your schedule to come to Scandinavia this August?
We have so many friends serving up there and we are always hearing about the good things God is doing. It's a joy to finally get to be at this conference.

When did you first know that God was calling you to pastor and teach the Bible?
When I was 17 and teaching my first Bible study I felt God's call. I'm pretty sure the Bible study was aweful, but God used it in my life!

For you, what is the most rewarding thing about being a pastor?
When God changes a life... it's like a drug!

What is the toughest part about being a pastor?
Probably two things: the disappointment of people rejecting God's wisdom and my own failings and weaknesses.

What books are you reading right now?
A Journey To See by Mary Chapman, and the story of Condeleeza Rice.

This will be your 1st Scandinavian conference. What do you expect?
My hope is for God to refresh all of us!

See also:
Guest Speakers 2012: Mark Walsh
Guest Speakers 2012: Nate Holdridge