Faith exists to be a community that believes God's Word; is guided by God's Spirit; and lives out God's Purpose.
Faith started out as a neighborhood church called Wilmer Chapel in 1966. At that time, it was just the stone wing of the building, which was originally built in 1905. Wilmer Chapel facilitated the addition to the building and built the auditorium that we still use today. Wilmer Chapel eventually closed and was taken over by Pastor Fred Dilworth in 1975, who changed the name to Faith Independent Baptist Church. Pastor Fred retired in the early 90s and his son, Pastor Eric Dilworth took over. In 1998, Pastor Jack Tomkinson came on board and he renamed the church to Faith Baptist Church of Phoenixville. He remained the pastor until his retirement in 2022. Currently, Pastor Paul Auckland is serving as Interim Pastor, and the name of the church has reached its final form as Faith of Phoenixville Church.
We are grateful to introduce Pastor Deon Ehlert, who answered God’s call to serve as our pastor beginning April 1, 2025.
Born in South Africa, Pastor Deon brings with him a rich background of faith, ministry, and global missions. He is married to his wife, Lauren, and together they are blessed with four daughters. Their family is deeply committed to serving the Lord and modeling Christ-centered living in their home and community.
Pastor Deon received his theological training at the South African Theological Seminary, where he earned a degree in Theology and a postgraduate diploma in Educational Management and Leadership. His academic preparation is matched by years of practical ministry experience.
Alongside Lauren, Pastor Deon served as a missionary in Thailand and China, faithfully sharing the gospel and strengthening local churches. Following their time in China, he went on to lead a church in Klerksdorp, South Africa, where he continued to shepherd God’s people with dedication and humility.
Lauren is a qualified educator, holding a degree from the University of Pretoria, and now devotes herself to homeschooling their four daughters, nurturing both their academic growth and spiritual foundations.
Pastor Deon is known for his deep love for God’s Word and his sincere love for God’s people. He is passionate about seeing the lost come to faith in Christ and believers grow into mature, devoted disciples. His heart for biblical preaching, discipleship, and pastoral care reflects his desire to glorify God in every area of ministry.
We thank God for Pastor Deon and Lauren and look forward to all that the Lord will accomplish through their faithful service among us.
Hebrews 11:1 (ESV)
11 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
-
Faith of Phoenixville Church