Having served in developing the ministry of Pilgrimage-Cedar Springs Camp in Ravenden Springs, AR, since 1998, Philip Pinto came to Village Bible Church in July 2011 to serve as part-time, interim pastor for the church and full-time with the camp. In February 2012, Village Bible Church voted to call Philip on a permanent basis.
Philip has been married to Melissa since March 25, 2000. They have four children (born 2005-2010). Melissa, who taught in the pubic school until she started having children, teaches the kids at home. She helps lead worship in the Sunday morning service, and is involved in many other ways with church ministries. She started a homeschool support group for families in Cherokee Village and the surrounding area, which serves a few dozen families with a variety of church backgrounds, and even some with no church background at all. Philip started studying master’s level Bible courses through Liberty University’s Distance Learning Program in 2004 and completed a Master of Theology through Anchor Theological Seminary and Bible Institute in October 2014. Koinoina Christian Fellowship (Imboden, AR) ordained Philip in May 2009, where he and Melissa served as active members until Village Bible Church called them permanently. In November 2016, Philip completed the requirements for credentialing with the Evangelical Free Church of America.