About Phil’s Story

My name is Phil Messinger. I have learned the power of storytelling through sharing my own experiences. When I was just 7 years old, my father passed away from cancer at the young age of 36. My mom did her best to raise two boys, but as you might expect, there were tough times along the way. To date, I have spent more years in therapy than not. My childhood was marked by behavioral issues. Anger followed me everywhere I went for 43 years. One could say I rebelled a bit in my teens. From about the age of 13 – 16, I was groomed and molested by our Youth Pastor in my home church. At the age of 30, I found myself in a program for sex addiction recovery. Along the way, I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. This marked the beginning of a story that would carry over into my marriage. I found Jesus in 2016 and have been building upon His foundation ever since. It has been powerful, humbling, and absolutely awesome! By the grace of God, the unwavering tolerance, support and love of my wife and those who shared their stories, and a ton of hard work, I am now at peace in my life. Today I enjoy the Joy and Flow of God with my wonderful wife and family and my fellow Christian friends. I am grateful for all who have helped me along the way. My aim at Give Your Story is to use my story to give others what was freely given to me, in the hope that I might accompany and uplift you on your path with Jesus. I hope for you.