Philip Tesarek

Pastor Philip and his wife, Ernestine, feel blessed to be part of the Desert Chapel family. Philip was born and raised in Houston, Texas, and graduated from Texas A&M University, while Ernestine was born and raised on the Navajo Nation and graduated from Arizona State University. Together they have three adult children, four cats, and have proudly called Mesa, Arizona, home since 1998.

Philip's journey into ministry began with a simple opportunity to preach on Scout Sunday. Since then, God has faithfully guided him through service as a Certified Lay Speaker, Certified Lay Minister, and now Pastor. His passion for ministry centers on sharing the message that we are united as children of God and often have far more in common than what divides us. When he is not serving the church, Philip enjoys woodworking, embracing each project as an opportunity to learn new skills and take on fresh challenges.