The Most Reverend Dr. Ricky J. Phillips is a devoted servant of Jesus Christ, an Apostolic Bishop, preacher, teacher, chaplain, author, Christian Hip-Hop recording artist, military veteran, and respected leader in both ministry and the hospitality industry. His life represents a remarkable journey of redemption, perseverance, divine healing, and unwavering commitment to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Archbishop Phillips serves as the Founder and Presiding Apostle of the United Apostolic Church International, a fellowship established to preserve, proclaim, and advance the authentic Apostolic faith. Through his leadership, he remains committed to uniting believers around the foundational doctrine of the early Church and restoring integrity, accountability, holiness, sound governance, and genuine servant leadership within the Body of Christ.

He faithfully proclaims the biblical plan of salvation as declared in Acts 2:38: repentance, water baptism in the Name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost. His ministry is firmly grounded in the Oneness of God, the authority of Scripture, the necessity of holy living, the operation of the fivefold ministry, and the responsibility of the Church to evangelize, disciple, and serve its communities without compromise.

Having been consecrated to the Sacred Office of Bishop on September 20th, 2014, Archbishop Phillips has devoted many years to episcopal ministry, church administration, ecclesiastical protocol, pastoral leadership, and the development of ministers. He has served the Church in numerous capacities, including Bishop of Protocol, Secretary General, pastor, apostolic overseer, teacher, and advisor. His work emphasizes that spiritual authority must never be reduced to titles, garments, ceremony, or personal ambition, but must always be demonstrated through humility, biblical order, accountability, sacrifice, and faithful service.

Archbishop Phillips is also a United States Army Infantry veteran who served with the 1st Battalion, 26th Infantry Regiment of the 1st Infantry Division, known as the “Blue Spaders.” His military service contributed greatly to his discipline, perseverance, courage, and lifelong commitment to protecting and serving others. He has also served in chaplaincy and public-safety leadership, ministering to individuals and families during moments of crisis, loss, trauma, and uncertainty.

His personal testimony is one of extraordinary survival. Archbishop Phillips is a survivor of Stage IV colorectal cancer, a stroke, and five heart attacks. Despite facing circumstances that could have ended his life, silenced his ministry, or destroyed his faith, he continues to stand as living evidence of God’s mercy, healing power, and sustaining grace. His testimony is not simply that he survived, but that God preserved him with purpose. Every hardship has deepened his compassion, strengthened his faith, and intensified his determination to proclaim the Gospel.

Beyond the pulpit, Archbishop Phillips is known professionally as a hospitality executive and consultant. He is the Founder, President, and Managing Partner of RJP Hospitality Management Group, LLC, through which he has worked to improve hotel operations, guest service, safety, accountability, staff development, and organizational performance. His leadership philosophy in business reflects the same values that guide his ministry: integrity, excellence, transparency, responsibility, compassion, and service.

As a Christian Hip-Hop recording artist, he ministers under the name Christian J., “The Street’s Apostle.” Drawing from his experiences of growing up in Southwest Detroit, surviving street life, serving in the military, overcoming serious illness, and answering the call of God, his music carries an uncompromising message of redemption and transformation. His artistry reaches people who may never enter a traditional sanctuary and reminds listeners that no history, failure, addiction, affiliation, diagnosis, or circumstance is beyond the transforming power of Jesus Christ.

Archbishop Phillips is passionate about reaching the forgotten, restoring the wounded, equipping ministers, defending religious freedom, strengthening local churches, and calling the Apostolic Church back to its biblical foundation. He believes the Church must be more than an institution or social gathering; it must remain a living, Spirit-filled body devoted to truth, holiness, unity, evangelism, discipleship, prayer, service, and the advancement of God’s Kingdom.

Through every area of his life, Archbishop Phillips seeks to demonstrate that titles do not make the servant—the servant must honor the office through character, faithfulness, and sacrifice. His mission is not to build a personal kingdom, but to serve the Kingdom of God, preserve the Apostolic faith, prepare the next generation of leaders, and proclaim Jesus Christ to a world desperately in need of hope.

His guiding principles are simple but uncompromising: “One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism,” “No Compromise,” and “G.O.A.T.—God Over All Things.”