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Phil Pins went home to be with the Lord on Friday, June 7, 2024. Philip John Pins was born to Albert and Esther Pins on June 20, 1947, in Dubuque, Iowa. He met his wife, Joyce, in college, and they have been married for 55 years. Together, they have four children and 13 grandchildren. Phil grew up in the town of Dyersville, Iowa. He helped his family on their acreage and was the oldest of six children. He was a starter on the high school football team and was nicknamed "Bear Paws" by some due to the size of his hands. While in his second year of college, his father had a stroke that required Phil to leave school and come home to help provide for the family. He later completed a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering, the Army Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC), and a Master of Science in Environmental Engineering at Iowa State University. His patriotism led him to volunteer during the Vietnam War, and he was commissioned as a captain in the U.S. Army toward the very end of the war. Phil trusted Christ as his Saviour in 1975 while working in St. Paul, Minnesota. He felt God’s call to ministry in 1980 while attending the First Baptist Church of Rosemount, Minnesota. After their pastor recommended he consider attending Hyles-Anderson College, Phil and Joyce moved to Indiana in August 1981. While attending college, he began working in the Asian community in Chicago, reaching Cambodian and Vietnamese refugees. He completed the Pastor’s Refresher Course in 1983 and a Master of Education degree in 1984. He was asked to teach Greek in the fall of 1984. Phil was awarded an honorary doctorate from Hyles-Anderson College in 2015. Phil served as the Asian ministry leader at the First Baptist Church of Hammond, Indiana, for 40 years. He reached Asians of many nationalities, especially many Chinese in the last 25 years. He has been on many mission trips, seven of which have been to China. He is known for his passion to share the Gospel. While teaching at Hyles-Anderson College, Phil ran a side lawn care business. He was known by his employees as a tireless worker and a kind leader. His sense of humor was not seen by most due to his reserved manner, but those who worked alongside him got to enjoy this endearing side. His mowing company was responsible for mowing over 100,000 yards, and he had one customer for whom he mowed for over 25 consecutive years. Phil taught Greek, Hebrew, Bible, English, and linguistics for 40 years at Hyles-Anderson College. His goal was to prepare Christian workers who would rightly divide God’s Word as they served throughout the world. Phil’s favorite Bible verse was II Timothy 2:15: "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." His life was marked by consistency in his walk with God, by his passion for winning souls, by his love for his wife and family, by his genuineness, and by his commitment to integrity. Phil is survived by his wife, Joyce (Schares); his four children: daughter, Emily (James) Riley; daughter, Bridget (Derek) Morgan; son, John (Jennifer) Pins; daughter, Esther (Robert) Osgood; his thirteen grandchildren: Meghan (Jacob) Bayliss, Alyssa Riley, Kaitie Pins, JP Riley, Travis Pins, Trevor Morgan, Ethan Osgood, Levi Osgood, Grant Morgan, Brooklyn Pins, Stacy Osgood, Eric Osgood, and Russell Pins; his siblings: sister, Kathy (Terry) Telger; sister, Mary (Lee) Walters; sister, Betty (Ray) Flores; brother, Tim (Mary) Pins; and brother, Chris (Sharon) Pins; his in-law siblings: Russ and Connie (Schares) Exstrom and John and Nancy (Schares) Jacobs; and many nieces, nephews, and dear friends. Friends are invited to meet with the family for a time of visitation on Thursday, June 13, 2024, from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Memory Lane Funeral Home (6305 W. Lincoln Hwy, Crown Point, IN 46307). The funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, June 14, 2024, at Hyles-Anderson College (8400 Burr St., Crown Point, IN 46307) and will be preceded by a viewing time from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m."

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Philip Pins

June 20, 1947 - June 7, 2024