Our chaplains come in all shapes and sizes … enter Phil Dixon
Our chaplains come in all shapes and sizes, different backgrounds and experiences, and one of our finest chaplains hails from the south, allow me to introduce you to Phil Dixon.
Phil is the Port Adelaide Cycling club chaplain. He has been there as chappie since September 2015 and is there “to give back to the sport that has given me so much. As a Christian it’s a unique way I can help my sport.’ Cycling events have now become less about the racing and more about the people.”
Phil got into chaplaincy from a nudge from his wife. Renee heard about the SCA training and said ‘that’s for you. He got trained, appointed and is now not only the chaplain at his club but is also a part of the SA key team and working with the other guys to see sports chaplaincy grow across South Australia.
When asked about his motivation for chaplaincy, Phil said he just does it to love his community in a practical way and that Jeremiah 29:11 is a life verse for him: “For I know the plans I have for you” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not disaster, to give you a future and a hope”
What I love about the SCA network is that we have chaplains at all different stages of life and different stages along the chaplaincy journey. For us younger ones coming along it is so great to have some of the heroes of chaplaincy go before us. We asked Phil who is the chappie he looks up to and this was his response: “Without a doubt it has to be Roger Johnson, that guy is so humble, thoughtful, kind and caring. Muz (Murray Lydeamore) is also a stalwart of the cycling community and if I could be Jesus to the racing community as well that’d be great.”
And then finally as one of our guiding principles is a ‘catalyst for growth’, Phil sees himself outworking this through his local church. In his words: “We need to get people acting on their passions and hopefully that gets the sporty people in our churches into Sports Chaplaincy. Having a home church that embraces Chaplaincy is also a great advantage and support.”
Well there it is – an introduction to Phil – a man who is passionate about chaplaincy, and who, thanks to his wife Renee, got off his seat and engaged. There is a whole community of cyclists who are very thankful for that, as is Phil – he has seen it impact his life, his family and his church.
Thanks Phil for being you and serving the Port Adelaide Cycling Club, we appreciate you!