came to Texas. Klaus one day said, “Hey, I’ve
been listening to some of your stuff on YouTube
and I think you need to come lead worship at
CFNI one morning. There’s not really a worship
leader here, and it’s kind of in limbo. I think you
need to come.” I said okay, and just led there
one morning at a chapel, he just gave me a set,
Klaus just stood there on the side and turned
me loose and that was it. Next thing you know
I moved there. In my previous time in Nashville
when I was doing stuff over there before this
season, I met Mark Harris. Mark Harris heard
that I was in town and at CFNI and was working
there, and he reached out and was like, “Hey,
we would love to have you at Gateway”. I was
already going there on the weekend just for
church. So that’s my reverse migration story,
thanks to Mom.
[WM] I recently visited with Cody Carnes and
Kari Jobe (May issue). They both have served
at Gateway as well. Did you all participate there
on the worship team together?
[Phil] No, not with them. I would love to do
that sometime, but I’ve not been up with them
as much as they come in. They’ve probably
been here three or four times since I was on staff
and a songwriter for the church. I really admire
and respect them. They really carry something
special. That would be fun to do that, I think it
should happen sometime, but we’ll see.
[WM] Early last year you co-wrote a song with
Rita Springer and Cody Rae Lee. The song is
called “Not Forgotten”, and it is a cry for the
unborn. Now I have to tell you that in a time
when many church songwriters visit the same
lyrical pool and concepts, you chose to write
something from the perspective of a pro-life
“social commentary”. Social commentary is a
form of music I am we
child of the 60’s and 70’
about this song?
Not Forgotten
[Phil] It’s funny that yo
that connection with the
that’s exactly what I felt
as I was writing it. I fe
song was just gushing o
was on a break betwee
and that song was just
26
June 2020