Rev. Philip Gai

Senior Pastor

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Philip Gai came to Canada as a refugee from South Sudan in 2000. Philip was the Director of Ministry to Africans in Canada at African Inland Mission. He went on to complete four years of seminary education through Concordia Lutheran Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri, and was ordained as Associate – Sudanese Pastor on August 20, 2017, to the delight of everyone at St. Mark’s and many Sudanese people across southern Ontario!

In July 2024, Philip accepted a call to serve as our Interim Lead Pastor as our previous pastor (Jeff Miskus) filled in for and eventually accepted the position of President/Bishop of the English District of the LCMS, the larger church body to which we belong.  St. Mark’s grew very attached to Pastor Philip, and we were delighted when, in October 2025, he accepted a call to become our Senior Pastor.

As a Lutheran, he has over 10 years of church ministry experience at St. Mark’s, serving both our original and our Sudanese congregation, and he also served at World Vision Canada as Ontario Church Advisor for nine years. He can speak the following languages: English, Nuer, Dinka, Arabic (Juba Arabic), and Shilluk.

Philip and his wife Rachel have five children: Andrew, Nyalieb, David, Jacob and Nyamal. His interests include preaching, singing, helping newcomers resettle well in Canada, counseling parents and youth, and playing basketball with his kids.

Philip’s life verse is Ephesians 4:3 – “Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.”