Reverend Phil Ressler
Lead Pastor
Biographical Info
Pastor Phil Ressler was born and raised in Northern Illinois. He was baptized and confirmed at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Belvidere, IL where he also attended elementary school. He is a graduate of Rockford Lutheran High School and Concordia University, St. Paul, MN. He graduated Concordia Seminary, St. Louis in 2000 and completed his vicarage in Alexandria, VA.
He has served as pastor of Bethany Lutheran in Waynesboro, VA which is the 2nd oldest congregation in the LCMS having been founded in 1772. He has also served at Lord of Life in LaFox, IL and Good Shepherd in Old Bridge, NJ before coming to Brandon.
Pastor Phil has a number of accomplishments as a pastor of which he is proud. He authored an Amazon best-selling Christian devotion book titled “40 Things to Give up for Lent.” He has led several mission trips to Haiti and initiated a community meal packing event that sent almost a half million meals to Haiti. He helped to launch Comfort Dog ministries at his congregations in Illinois and New Jersey. He also served as a Vice President of the New Jersey District.
Pastor Phil is a widower but was recently married to his lovely wife Christine who is a Lutheran Elementary School teacher. They have six children between them – Isaac(24), Eli(22), Solomon(21), Abby(18), Thomas(13), and Jacob(13). Christine and Phil look forward to making their home in Valrico together with Thomas and Jacob. Their other children have moved out of the home and are in college or in the work force.
Outside of ministry Pastor Phil has a passion for photography and drones. You can check out some of his work at youtube.com/greaterthingsmedia. He also enjoys playing golf and running for exercise.