Dr. Lawrence Phipps began It’s Life Ministry (ILM) in 2013. He and Karen transitioned from leading one church to helping multiple churches share the gospel of Jesus and make disciples. They left the growing First Baptist, Enterprise, AL, in 1993, to start Vaughn Forest Church, Montgomery, AL. The last fifteen of their almost twenty years were marked by over 2,000 baptisms. The growth was attributed to both a focus on prayer and a ministry to disciple believers to share their faith. Lawrence guides churches using one or more books that he wrote for the “LIFE Process." 

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In 2016, Dr. Phipps became the Interim Pastor of First Baptist Gulf Shores. During this time, the Bible Fellowship groups (Sunday School) doubled in attendance, 231 people joined the church, and 57 people were baptized. In October 2017, the congregation voted Dr. Lawrence Phipps in as the Senior Pastor.