Mysterious Ways

Mysterious Ways

Many say that God works His wonders in mysterious ways. Nick Phoenix and his ministry are an excellent example. Pastor Phoenix has the North Main Street Baptist Church in Jacksonville and operates the Words to Works Ministry. He also has a business, Go Inflatables, which its website calls "Jacksonville's premier inflatables and party game resource."

Pastor Nick Phoenix

Sound interesting? The Pastor is successfully ministering to many in the inner city of Jacksonville and getting help from church groups all over the United States to do it.

Pastor Nick, who was born near Chicago, calls himself "…a Yankee who likes sugar on his grits and tomatoes." His father, Arthur Frank Phoenix, a business man, has passed away but taught Nick much about business. Nick's mentor "Papa G" taught him to run the business God's way. His mother, Donna Becker, a Norwegian, is still living in Wisconsin.

He attended North High in Fort Myers but, for various reasons did not graduate. Seeing the necessity, he continued his education by obtaining a GED and then went to Gulf Shore Christian College to receive a BA in Biblical Studies. In 1995 he went to the Baptist College of Florida and then continued his formal education at the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary.

"I am a life long learner who reads and studies personalities, trends, business and urban concepts," Pastor Nick reported. He felt "the call" in 1979 and was licensed and ordained a minister at the Suncoast Baptist Church serving a trailer park community in Fort Myers, FL. "I wanted to take the good news to the world but mostly the hurting homeless and hopeless of this society."

Pastor Nick pointed out he had served in every position in the Baptist Church, except women's group leader, and has been senior pastor in three Florida Baptist Churches.

He married Teresa Moss, Plant City, FL, 25 years ago in December and they have four children: Jessica, 20; Melissa, 17; Elijah Daniel, 13; and Josiah, 3.

Arriving in Jacksonville and becoming senior pastor of North Main Street Baptist Church in 1996, Nick realized he could continue ministering to the poor of the inner city. One problem he had to face, however, was that this ministry cost money, more than his church could support.

Realizing that the equipment used to help bring in the people he wanted to help was costing the most, he decided to acquire the equipment and start his own business. It worked and Go Inflatables helps support his Words to Works Ministry.

Take a look at his websites: http://www.goinflatables.com  and http://www.wordstoworks.com  to find out more.