Philip Stairs was born in 1941 and raised in a United Pentecostal (UPC) pastors' home in New Brunswick, Canada. Early on, it became clear that Phil's faith and gifting meant he would follow in the footsteps of his parents, Wynn and Margaret. As Phil grew in his faith, he became increasingly uncomfortable with Pentecostal style worship and the practice of speaking in tongues as evidence of the baptism of the Holy Spirit.