On July 1, 2018, President Dennis Lyn Phillips and Sister May Lan Lo Phillips began their three-year assignment for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints presiding over the China Hong Kong Mission. They replaced President Maurice Lam and Sister Elizabeth Lam who served in that role since 2015.
Mission presidents typically supervise and train on average from 170 to 180 missionaries during any given time within the geographical boundary of their mission, but they will work with a total of approximately 300-400 young people during their assignment in directing their service of preaching the gospel. Most missionaries are between the age of 18 to 25, serving for a full-time lay ministry of 18-24 months.
This is a heavy responsibility that the Phillips did not apply nor get paid for. As parents of two children, the Phillips said it is a humbling experience to be like second parents for all these missionaries.
“We will love them as our own and do our very best to help them develop the skills that will give them the best opportunity for success,” he expressed. “Above all, we will be diligent in ensuring that their assignments are made with inspiration according to God’s will. He knows them, the missions they are to fulfil and where they are to be assigned.”
The Phillips are no strangers to Hong Kong, as they both served in the Hong Kong Mission in the mid-1970s, but never expected that they would be called to preside over the Mission one day. They expressed how emotional and excited they were to be returning to Hong Kong.
“The call took us completely by surprise,” President Phillips said. “We had planned to continue in our current church roles and careers for another three years or so and then retire to serve a mission.”
They quickly got their affairs in order—President Phillips was released as the Stake President of the Mount Olympus Stake and took a leave of absence from his job as the director of the Church’s Information and Communication Services (ICS) Department, and Sister Phillips sold the family engraving business.
Now in Hong Kong, they are anxiously engaged in doing what the Lord has called them to do, including going out with the missionaries to find and teach those who are interested in learning about the gospel.
While out street-contacting with an elder from his former stake, President Phillips said to him, “Just a year ago, we were sitting in our stake’s mission preparation training. Little did we know we would now both be here serving together in Hong Kong.”
Experiences like this have helped President and Sister Phillips immediately feel the spirit of their calling. Likewise, the missionaries already feel the Phillips’ profound love and commitment to serving.