Posted on

Pastor of the Week: Phil Tague

By: Emily Neideck

—

Phill Tague is the lead pastor at The Ransom Church in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. He and his wife, Stephani, planted the church in 2009, and the church has flourished since.

Tague attended Wesley Seminary’s online program for his Master in Ministry. His group was one of the first cohorts to go through the online program, and although his time on campus was limited, he stated, “The program allowed me to not just feel like I received my degree, but that I actually graduated from Indiana Wesleyan.”

The Ransom Church began in a movie theater with only a few people. Tague said, “Since then, we have watched this church grow into only something that only God can get the credit for.” The church now has around 2000 people, two campuses and ministries in nursing homes, as well as a local jail.

Tague stated, “The words we most hear people saying as they enter our church are ‘authentic, relevant, real.’” The Ransom Church focuses application of The Gospel to everyday life, whether in sermon, small group or service. “We are trying to show them how Jesus is part of everyday life. It isn’t in a bulletin on a random Sunday. It is a lifestyle.”

Tague’s call to ministry came the summer before college when he was attending a youth camp. He said, “I did not want to study ministry. I went into the program kicking and screaming. I was playing all the stereotypes in my head.” He spent the majority of his freshman year studying ministry while talking himself out of his faith. All he had seen from Christianity was hypocrisy.

One day, the Holy Spirit softened Tague’s heart. He realized that his answer for hypocrisy shouldn’t be hypocrisy. Tague corrected his fault and began to pursue Christ with his whole heart and mind. “I haven’t looked back since,” said Tague.

Wesley Seminary played a large role in Tague’s journey. He said, “My time laid a foundation for me and gave me the desire to not just be the best pastor, but to also be the best leader that I could be.” Seminary blurred the lines between leadership and ministry for him. Tague stated, “If there is a season when you’re not putting out fires, then you’re not moving. As long as you are chasing what God has for you, you’re going to face difficulties, but you’ll grow, too.”

Tague will speak in Chapel at Indiana Wesleyan on October 4th.

Check out his interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gSWQqIuvhJQ.

 

—

Written by Emily Neideck, writer for the Alumni Center and a junior Writing major at IWU. She is active on the cross country and track teams. She is passionate about using her writing skills to share the good news of Christ with others and writes often on her personal blog at www.emilylehner.wordpress.com.

Posted on

Homecoming 2017: Phill Tague

By: Emily Neideck

—

Phill Tague, photo courtesy of Facebook via The Wesleyan Church
Phill Tague

Each Fall, Indiana Wesleyan University awards one outstanding individual with the Distinguished Wesley Seminary Alumni Award. This award is granted to an alumnus or alumna of the Seminary who has exhibited excellence in serving his or her profession, community, church, or alma mater in the spirit of Jesus Christ.

This year, Phill Tague of The Ransom Church in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, is the recipient of this award. Tague and his wife, Stephani, planted The Ransom Church in 2009, and since then, the church has grown abundantly.

Tague was called to ministry at church camp after his senior year of high school. He said, “I spent much of my freshman year of college studying ministry, while also talking myself out of my faith.” He believed that many Christians he had met were hypocritical, and eventually, Tague fell completely away from his faith.

However, one day, Tague felt the Holy Spirit nudge him, saying, “So, your answer for hypocrisy is hypocrisy?” Tague realized his fault and began to pursue Christ with his whole heart and mind.

Tague received his bachelor’s degree from Oklahoma Wesleyan University and went on to pursue his Master in Ministry at Wesley Seminary. He stated, “I was especially interested in Indiana Wesleyan’s graduate program because the degree was called, ‘Christian Ministries and Leadership.’”

Phil Tague on a missions trip
Phil Tague on a missions trip

Tague attended Wesley Seminary through the online program, but believes the online experience did not hinder his IWU experience in any way. He was the first of many online graduate cohorts, which allowed him to grow in relationship and wisdom.

Tague, his wife and another couple started The Ransom Church. Originally, the group met in a local movie theater. Now, with two campuses, 2,000 people, ministries in 6 nursing homes and a ministry at the local jail, Tague said, “The Ransom Church has truly grown into a thing that only God can get the credit for. It has been an incredible journey of church planting and growth.”

The Ransom Church focuses on authenticity and making the Gospel applicable to people’s everyday lives.  Tague stated, “Church isn’t something you attend. It is something that you become.”

Wesley Seminary provided Tague with a hunger to sharpen himself and keep growing. He said, “I used to think of ministry in one category and leadership in another. What I started realizing is that there are tensions in ministry between being a shepherd, a leader, a pastor, etc. These are tensions that need to be managed. Wesley seminary helped me blur those lines in a good way.” Tague learned that being a good leader means leading others to understand growth and chasing what God has in store for them.

Tague said, “This award is super humbling. The list of people I can think of who deserve this award more than I do is long, and it is humbling to think that because of something God doing through you, you might get recognition.”

Check out his interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gSWQqIuvhJQ.

 

—

Written by Emily Neideck, writer for the Alumni Center and a junior Writing major at IWU. She is active on the cross country and track teams. She is passionate about using her writing skills to share the good news of Christ with others and writes often on her personal blog at www.emilylehner.wordpress.com.