Who is wintley phillips

He is the founder, president and chief executive officer of the U. Dream Academy, Inc. The Dream Academy program offers skill-building, character-building and dream-building activities in a safe after-school environment utilizing both one-to-one mentoring as well as state of the art technology to deliver on-line academic enrichment to children of incarcerated parents and those falling behind in school.

For his work at the U. Dream Academy Mr. In recognition of his positive global impact through speaking, The National Speakers Association awarded Phipps the prestigious Master of Influence Award. Phipps has been the featured speaker and performer for many notable occasions around the world.

He told me that my music had touched his life. He asked me to call together leaders from around the country and put our heads together to see what we could do to help. I could hardly believe it. I told him that was a dream of mine, too, and that I was already working on something. I was able to give him a page presentation about helping the families of prisoners.

He condensed my proposal down to just one page and made arrangements to go to the Oval Office to present my plan to President Clinton the next day. I spent some time then knocking on doors in Washington, D. In , Republican Senator Orrin Hatch of Utah who is actually a prolific songwriter, having written for Gladys Knight and other big names , agreed to host a fundraising dinner for the project.

Senator Hillary Clinton stepped up to co-host. I could never have done those things myself. God told me that if I would be faithful, He would do it. You have had wonderful opportunities to meet many influential people. You are one of the best-known Adventists outside the church.

But the church itself has not created this mission for you. You have represented the Adventist church around the world but not in an official capacity. For 25 years I had the honour and privilege of working with Billy Graham. They were world-famous evangelists — but not Adventists. Let me level with you: You need a patron saint in the field. You have to get in with the man who hires and fires.

Remember, it is not a call from God unless the committee votes it. Yet you were called to the General Conference because of the opportunities and recognition you had been given outside the church. But not everyone was happy about it. I was leaving with lots of plans in my head. I waited for the elevator, and when the door opened, I joined one of the top administrators at the General Conference who was already on the elevator.

When the doors closed, he told me that he would do everything in his power to get me out of that position. They had seen the unique relationships and access I had with political leaders and saw it as an opportunity for the church. But I went from being the pastor of a church straight into the General Conference without serving in a conference, union, or division position.

That almost never happens. Some said I leapfrogged over those who had been carrying the load and doing the work quietly. I was not viewed as someone who could do the work in the traditional way. Sometimes it seems the church is too focused on its own internal politics. We lose sight of the bigger picture and forget that the world is so much bigger than the Adventist church.

I have met many people before they reached their pinnacle of political achievement. And that gives you access. So all of those things have kept you within a system and a church that could not figure out a way to really use your gifts for music and relationship-building in a wider context. This church is an anvil that has worn out many hammers. People have told me I could start my own church. But my loyalty is unflinching. No, I was not asked. I never know when or how or if it might happen, but if there is an opportunity to provide ministry, I will.

The thing I am praying for most is leaders of Christ-like character. We have come through a very nasty season. But I believe we need a president, congressmen, congresswomen, and senators who have Christlike character. Christlike dimensions of character include faith, self-control, kindness, love, and patience. And frankly, it is my prayer that we will see a Christ-like character even more in our Adventist members and the leaders of our church. This is a great need among all of us.

And I stand at the head of the pack. I want to reveal the character of Christ in everything I do. This is true for our prophecy, too: what does it matter if you know the details, but in your character, are not prepared for the fulfilment of that prophecy?

We must always reflect, resemble, and reveal the character of Christ. Are you friends with Ben Carson, the Adventist who has gone the farthest in national U.

What advice would you offer Ben Carson as he takes up his appointment by the new president as head of the U. Department of Housing and Urban Development? My encouragement to him all through this process has been to focus on staying Christ-like. My counsel to Carson has always been to remember that the arc of the universe is long, but it bends toward justice, as Martin Luther King, Jr. The only thing that is impressive to God is that you in your character resemble his Son.

Never lose sight of the most important goal: resemble, reflect, and reveal the character of Jesus. Of the many people I have been blessed to know, the ones who have touched me, and whom I remember most, are not the ones with the biggest titles.

They are the ones who had a Christ-like character. Mother Teresa I will never forget. On February 8, , I landed in South Africa with a delegation.

The next day, I was in the office of President F. You are preaching to the choir. Because we just happened to be in South Africa at that time, I was in the crowd that welcomed Mandela when he was released on February 11 after spending 27 years behind bars.

That was an experience that will stay with me always. Nelson Mandela was unquestionably an icon and a tremendous human being — a giant of a man. I was fortunate to meet him a few times subsequently. I have always stayed connected to a pulpit but not full-time. My title is pulpit pastor. I primarily provide leadership and speak on a regular basis. But others on the pastoral staff do much of the day-to-day work of a pastor. You are involved in so many different things: preaching, recording, singing in concerts, speaking, mentoring, fundraising, the Dream Academy.

How do you have time to do so much? When I was getting ready to graduate from college at Oakwood, I realized that because of some miscommunication, two of the courses I still needed to graduate were both held at the exact same time. I wanted to graduate, so I signed up for both courses. That man is Wintley Phipps, a gospel singer and pastor that Oprah met back when she was a young reporter.

Since the two first crossed paths decades ago, they have become longtime friends. Phipps recently joined Oprah for an interview on "SuperSoul Sunday," and they reminisced about their fateful meeting so many years ago -- and hearing them retell it, it's no wonder that was a moment Oprah has never forgotten.

At the time of their first meeting, Phipps had just finished a gospel performance at the Baltimore Civic Center, which Oprah had attended. She quietly approached Phipps as soon as he stepped off the stage. The program provides mentoring, academic tutoring, and exposure to computers and the Internet. Bush, Bill Clinton, George W. He has appeared on programs such as the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Wintley Augustus Phipps, Sr.

He features a booming bass voice, usually singing inspirational gospel music. He is an ordained Seventh-day Adventist minister.