Philip P. Arendt

Dr. Philip P. Arendt Phil was born to Norbert and Celeste (Tessier) Arendt in Moorhead, MN, the sixth of seven children. The family moved from Minnesota to California when Phil was in second grade. Active in Boy Scouts, he achieved the rank of Eagle Scout. Phil graduated in 1973 from Grace Davis High School in Modesto, CA. As a college student, Phil committed his life to Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior and was called to full-time Christian ministry shortly thereafter. Phil earned his BA from California State University, Stanislaus. He met Peggy while they were college students and they were married in a garden wedding in Modesto in 1978. Phil earned his MA in Christian Education from Mennonite Brethren Biblical Seminary, studied further at Fuller Theological Seminary, and then earned his Doctorate of Missiology from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. During the 15 years that Phil served as an Associate Pastor at First Baptist Church of Modesto, he and Peggy welcomed their three children. From 1995-1999, Phil and Peggy served with SIM as missionaries in Ethiopia, where Phil became fluent in the Amharic language and developed deep and lasting convictions about empowering national Christian leaders. In 2000, the family moved to Spokane, WA where Phil served as Director of Ministry Development with Partners International. For the past three years, he served with ReachGlobal as International Leader: Global Equipping Division. Phil traveled to over 80 countries and to all 50 United States. He loved to hunt and fish and enjoyed being outdoors with his family. Phil was deeply committed to loving his wife and family, was a great listener and mentor, and influenced Christian leaders worldwide. Phil is survived by his wife, Peggy, his three children and their spouses, his grandchild, two sisters and four brothers. Memorial services will be held in Spokane, WA on Friday, November 6, 3:00 pm, at Life Center North Church, 8303 North Division Street and in Modesto, CA on Saturday, November 14, 1:00 pm, at CrossPoint Community Church, 1301 Twelfth Street. Memorial contributions in Phil’s honor may be made to EFCA/ReachGlobal Vision Partners, 901 East 78th Street, Minneapolis MN 55420 or to the University of Washington Brain Tumor Research Fund, Box 359505, Seattle WA 98195.