“I’ve Grown Up with Jesus,” Philip Kirabira ’25 Happily Admits.

Born in Uganda to parents in ministry, Philip was introduced to Jesus from the very beginning. Even in stressful moments, like a hospital stay as a young boy, his desire for spiritual comfort was clear.

One night after surgery, he cried inconsolably, asking repeatedly for someone called “Aunt Bible.” Nurses and family puzzled over the request until they realized he meant his Aunt Nivas, a key figure in his early faith formation. When she arrived, Philip lit up, not because he wanted toys or comfort food, but because he wanted to pray and talk about Jesus before bed.

It was the first of many moments that affirmed how deeply Jesus was woven into the fabric of Philip’s life.

From the time he could walk, Philip was involved at church. He led worship for the first time at age 7, joined the production team at 8, and by age 10, he was managing bilingual presentations during services. He adjusted slides in real-time to make sure the Luganda-speaking congregation felt just as seen and ministered to as the English-speaking one. It wasn’t just about excellence; it was about ministry.

Building a Life

At 12, Philip began attending a Christian boarding school, where Saturday nights were marked by student-led worship and fellowship. Upperclassmen mentored younger students, modeling faith, leadership, and service.

Though he joined primarily for production, Philip gradually taught himself to play various instruments just to ensure soundchecks went smoothly. What started as a workaround became a full-blown passion.

By 15, Philip’s musical gifts and production instincts were impossible to ignore. He joined a prayer group, started reading the Bible for himself, and recognized God calling him into ministry, not just as something he did, but as someone he was becoming.

Though he was also gifted in math and physics, Philip never wavered in his conviction: “I knew that my life would forever be leveraged for the life of the local church.”

After graduating top of his class with an engineering focus, Philip took a gap year to work full-time at his father’s church. It was the first time he saw ministry not just as a weekend rhythm, but as a vocational calling.

That same year, while leading worship at a conference, he was awarded a full-ride scholarship to a Bible school in Sydney, Australia. The opportunity was life changing. “I realized that, yes, I’m in Bible school, but I have to know God personally, not just as a scholar,” he says. His time in Sydney solidified his calling, but just as he was preparing to apply for a bachelor’s program, God shifted the course again, calling him back not into ministry, but into engineering. “And frankly,” he laughs, “I was mad.”

He applied to schools around the world and was only accepted to one: Grand Valley State University in Michigan. He took the open door and moved halfway across the globe. It didn’t take long to discover that the engineering industry wasn’t the right fit. But even then, God was at work. Philip got involved in campus ministry through Cru, helped build the production team, and spent the summer of 2019 on staff at Grace Adventures, drumming, mentoring, and making connections. It was there he met students from Grace Christian University. Curious, he caught a bus from Allendale and attended chapel on campus. The community, he says, was warm, grounded, and full of purpose.

He applied to Grace and another Bible college, and though both accepted him, he sensed clearly that he should stay in West Michigan. “God said to stay local,” Philip says. “And wherever He sends us in the world, Michigan will always be home. ”He began classes at Grace Christian University in the fall of 2021, and three weeks in, he had a job as a worship leader.

More than that, he had a renewed clarity of mission. “Most people figure out who they are during their bachelor’s,” he says. “But for me, Grace was like a master’s program in calling. I already knew who I was; I just needed the space to live it out.”

Building a Family

Grace became the place where Philip sharpened his identity and walked fully in his gifts. He never had to apply for jobs during school; every opportunity found him. One of the greatest of those opportunities came not in chapel or on a stage, but through a person sitting next to him in a Dr. Sam Vinton ’55 class. Her name was Ayondria. “I wasn’t looking to date anyone. I even thought about wearing a fake wedding ring!” he says.

They sat side-by-side for six weeks before he realized she was the one God had for him. But when they finally connected, it was undeniable. “It’s a miracle how God has woven our story together,” he says. “My ministry life is so much better for knowing and being known by Ayondria.”The two married in 2024, graduated in May of 2025, and had baby Hannah shortly after.

After serving on staff at Rush Creek Bible Church for several years, he stepped away from full-time ministry to return to the root of his faith: just being with Jesus. “It’s the invitation to be that kid again, the one who just wanted Aunt Bible so he could pray before bed.”

The Next Adventure

While the Kirabiras weren’t looking to move away, Philip received four different job offers in Ludington, Michigan. It became clear Ludington was the next destination.

Philip will be the Worship Director at Radiant Church. He says he’s both nervous and excited—“nervoucited”—and a bit sad to be leaving Grand Rapids, where so much life and growth happened. “But we prayed for this, and the Lord has provided!” Philip says. “We’re excited to be stepping out in faith and obedience because that is ALWAYS the best place to be with God.”

As Philip reflects on everything God has done, from Uganda to Sydney, Grand Valley, Grace, and now in Ludington, he sees a clear thread: God’s grace, guiding every step.“Grace Christian University has been a place where I lived into my mission and purpose. God gave me the opportunities I needed and sharpened me to be who I know I’m meant to be.”

And for Philip, that purpose has never been clearer: to live a life where the spotlight fades from him and shines on Jesus. Just like he hoped as a child, when all he wanted was five minutes to talk about the Savior who’s been with him all along.

About the Author: Stephanie Maendel ’26 is a Communication & Christian Studies student at Grace Christian University. She’s passionate about missions and inspiring her generation to live out the Great Commission. After graduation, she hopes to pursue ministry and community outreach, serving and empowering individuals and families locally and globally.