RELIGION
Pastor from Vero Beach ministers presidents
and prisoners with love and a song
Pastor Wintley Phipps found his voice, a voice rich
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in timbre and purpose, thanks in large part to Sir
Tom Jones.
The story of how a native of The Republic of
Trinidad and Tobago and a current Vero Beach resident
enlisted the vocal chops of a Welsh pop singer to help him in
his mission to serve God — and along the way sang before six
presidents and countless celebrities — is the stuff of movies.
The Palm Bay Seventh-day Adventist Church he leads
knows the treasure he is and happily wishes him well
whenever duty calls to spread the word of the Lord singing
around the world.
“They think of me not just as a pastor of the church, but
also a pastor from the church,” he said.
“I am very blessed to be part of a church that prays for me
wherever I go into the world.”
Like many a child of the 1960s, Phipps once dreamt of
becoming a rock star but realized there had to be more to
greatness than just money and fame. He kept hearing an
unforgettable voice in the radio and began trying to mimic
this compelling bass baritone. Decades later, he invited wife,
Linda, to that star’s concert.
“I bought plane tickets and concert tickets and sent him a
note that he had been my musical North Star,” Phipps said.
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SPACE COAST SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
Phipps appeared with the Space Coast Symphony Orchestra in back-to-back concerts in Melbourne and Vero Beach.
WINTLEY PHIPPS
In his youth, Phipps listened to Tom Jones and got to meet him after sending
Jones a note explaining what an important role he played in Phipps’ life.