You #All In? Exec Challenges Authentic Christianity

BATON ROUGE, La. -- Somewhere between 75 percent to 80 percent of Americans say they're Christian. But how many actually live up to that claim and not just talk the talk?

That's the question that prompted Mike Phillips, a loving husband and a devoted dad, to quit his job as the chief operating officer of one of the country's fastest-growing hi-tech firms to take a major leap of faith.

"I was just going through life doing the best I could," Phillips explained. "And then God just got a hold to my heart and said, 'I have something that I want you to do.'"

A Test of Faith

With no income, financial support, or formal Bible training, he launched a Christian ministry challenging believers to walk fully in their faith in Christ. It was a mission that tested his own faith.

"[God] let me know, 'You're not all in,'" he recounted. "'There's an area of your life that you have withheld from me.' I was trusting in the provision He had given me, instead of trusting in Him as my provider."

It also tested those closest to him.

"I thought I was faithful [to God] before," Phillips' wife, Cheri, explained. "Now, I know what it really means to be faithful."

Cheri said they knew early on in their marriage that their lives would not follow an ordinary track.

"Even on those tough days we knew way back then that there was something else," she said.

Phillips acknowledged the sacrifice his journey has been on the couple.
 
"It's one thing to be the person that God gave this vision to, and it's another thing to be that person's spouse," he said.

In the summer of 2012, Phillips cashed in all of his company stocks to fund his calling. He even gave away his truck to a stranger whom he says needed it more -- all to reflect his renewed commitment.

#ALLinMovement

He believes if America's 230 million self-identifying Christians really did their part, it would lead to national revival.

So now he is preparing to launch a campaign for Christians to be "all in" in an effort to mobilize believers across the country to show the love of Jesus Christ to others.

Phillips is promoting a national day of service and tying it to a date on the calendar he thinks shows the ultimate picture of love.

"What better way to introduce the country to an authentic Christian movement than by challenging them on Good Friday, the day that Christ served us, to serve others and love others?" Phillips asked.

Whether it's buying a cup of coffee for a stranger or helping a stranded driver along the road, he believes there's no act too big or too small.

"When they're asked why, the answer is simple," he explained. "It's because I'm all in. I'm an authentic Christian, and I'm serving because Jesus Christ served me."

Phillips developed a mobile app (All in Movement) for Christians to share what they've done, upload videos, and keep track of their service.

Several well-known athletes, performers, and government leaders are backing the campaign.

"What intrigued me about this is sometimes Christians are known for what they're against. We're not known as much as what we're for," explained former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, who is the national chair of Phillips' "Do Good Friday" national day of service.

"When this concept came of doing good on Good Friday, I thought, 'What a great way to do something positive [and] uplifting.' It actually helps people, does something charitable and kind. We need more of that," Huckabee said.

Making a Difference
 
The movement's main message -- authentic Christianity -- is about making a difference in people's lives.

"When you're fully committed to Jesus Christ, he changes your heart, and you can't help but to love others. It becomes your purpose. It becomes what you're about. But we don't see that going on. We see people living selfishly," Phillips explained.

Church leaders agree.

"You look at the divorce rate. You look at people quitting their jobs, dropping out of school -- people, they give up. They're not living all in," said Greg Beatty, who serves as a pastor at Abundant Life Church in suburban Baton Rouge.

"They're not fully committed to what they do and the people who are fully committed, many of them are committed to the wrong things," he added.
 
Phillips believes his "ALL IN" movement has the potential to change people's perception about Christianity.

Phillips says the movement will break down traditional barriers, spanning race, age, political affiliations, and church denominations.

"We won't agree on every issue, but we're held together by a common set of values and a single purpose and that's to show the love of God to other people," he said.

The national day of service, or Do Good Friday (#DoGoodFriday), launches next month on April 3, 2015.