Circle of Friends: Reverend Susan Phillips of First Presbyterian Church

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The Morning Routine with Rocki & Lacey was joined this week by Rev. Susan Phillips of First Presbyterian Church in Springfield. Susan has long been known for connecting faith with community action. As reverend with her church, she has encouraged conversations about justice, compassion, and service, drawing on both local and global experiences in ministry. We connected about how she came to Springfield through the Presbyterian Church and how she has helped shape the changes that have been brought to the inside and outside of the building.

Her commitment to community action was on display through the recent Survival Revival event held at Comer Cox Park in Springfield. The gathering grew out of training hosted by the Kairos Center for Religions, Rights & Social Justice and was designed to bring together residents, activists, artists, faith leaders, and community organizations around shared challenges and opportunities.

While the weather was a bit warm that day, the family-friendly event focused on addressing issues such as housing insecurity, voter education, mutual aid, and community empowerment. Attendees enjoyed free food, live music, speakers, information booths, and activities for children while learning about ways to strengthen Springfield and support one another.

For First Presbyterian Church and Rev. Phillips, the event reflects a broader vision of faith in action: bringing people together, addressing real-world needs, and inspiring hope for the future. As Springfield continues to face social and economic challenges, community is the basis on which we need to learn to rely on for raising up those around us.