Philip Mantofa (born September 27, 1974, in Surabaya, Indonesia) is an Indonesian charismatic pastor, author, and YouTube preacher who leads Gereja Misi Sharon (GMS Church), formerly known as Mawar Sharon Church.
Known for a dramatic personal testimony of healing and conversion, Mantofa built one of Indonesia’s fastest-growing church networks and became one of the country’s most-watched Christian voices online, with more than a million YouTube subscribers.
Philip Mantofa – At a Glance
| Personal | |
|---|---|
| Full name | Philip Mantofa |
| Born | September 27, 1974, Surabaya, Indonesia |
| Age | 51 (as of 2026) |
| Nationality | Indonesian |
| Ethnicity | Chinese-Indonesian (Tionghoa) |
| Spouse | Irene Saphira (m. 1999) |
| Children | Vanessa Mantofa, Jeremy Mantofa, Warren Mantofa |
| Parents | Hardi Mantofa (father), Suzanna Lindawati (mother) |
| Siblings | Maxixe Mantofa (brother), John Mantofa (brother) |
| Education | |
| School | Ho Bu Guo Xiao, Taipei, Taiwan |
| College | Columbia Bible College, British Columbia, Canada (graduated April 20, 1996) |
| Ministry | |
| Title | Senior Pastor |
| Church | Gereja Misi Sharon (GMS Church), Surabaya |
| Denomination | Charismatic Pentecostal |
| Since | 1998 |
| Career | |
| YouTube | Philip Mantofa channel, 1.3M+ subscribers |
| Books | Before 30, Holy Spirit, My Best Friend, and others |
| Net worth | Unverified online estimates only; no reliable public figure exists |
Early Life and Childhood
Philip Mantofa was born in Surabaya, Indonesia, on September 27, 1974, the second of three sons born to Hardi Mantofa and Suzanna Lindawati.
His older brother is Maxixe Mantofa and his younger brother is John Mantofa. His early childhood was marked by a serious accident: at just two months old, he fell from his bed, an incident that led to recurring seizures and weakened legs.
As a young child he had to wear leg braces similar to those used by children affected by polio, and he also struggled with short-term memory problems, including difficulty remembering simple things like his own class or the spelling of his name.
According to his own testimony, his mother prayed fervently for his healing and made a vow to dedicate him to God’s service if he recovered.
His parents sent him to school in Taipei, Taiwan, partly for his education and partly to access better medical care, and he later continued his studies in Singapore.
Conversion and Calling
Mantofa’s spiritual turning point came in 1992, at age 18, while he was living in Vancouver, Canada. By his account, as he was about to leave a church service without responding to an altar call, he heard an audible voice say, “Philip, if you are not saved today, you will never be saved.”
Shaken, he turned back and gave his life to Christ that night. He later credited pastor Sonny Mandagie of the Emmanuel Indonesian Christian Fellowship with guiding him spiritually in the years that followed.
That experience led him to formal theological study. He enrolled at Columbia Bible College in British Columbia, Canada, earning his undergraduate degree in theology and graduating on April 20, 1996.
Ministry Career
Return to Indonesia and Early Ministry
In May 1998, as riots broke out across Indonesia, Mantofa made the decision to return home rather than remain abroad.
He began serving at GBI Jemaat Mawar Sharon in Surabaya, the church where he had first met his future wife.
Under his leadership, and alongside a broader team of pastors, the congregation grew rapidly, eventually reaching tens of thousands of members.
The 2003 Vision and Church Growth
A defining moment in Mantofa’s ministry came in 2003, when he described a supernatural encounter in his bedroom that left him with what he called a burden for church planting.
He spoke the words that would later become his ministry’s guiding vision: “We will build You 1,000 strong local churches with 1,000,000 disciples!”
hat vision has shaped the direction of Mawar Sharon, and later Gereja Misi Sharon (GMS Church), ever since, with the network expanding to roughly 70 local churches and well over 100,000 members across Indonesia and into Asia, Australia, Europe, and the United States.
Books and Media
Mantofa is a prolific author. His book Before 30 (also released as Warrior for Revival) tells the story of his healing, conversion, and early ministry, and he has written additional titles including Holy Spirit, My Best Friend.
His preaching has also reached a large digital audience through his self-titled YouTube channel, which has drawn more than 1.3 million subscribers and hundreds of millions of views, making him one of the most visible Indonesian Christian voices on the platform.
Rise to Prominence
While still in his twenties, Mantofa became known for leading city-wide revivals in Indonesia that reportedly led more than 100,000 people to make professions of faith, with many young people going on to plant their own churches.
That early wave of growth, combined with his personal testimony of healing and his later reach through books and YouTube, built his reputation as one of Indonesia’s most influential young charismatic leaders.
Personal Life
Philip Mantofa met his wife, Irene Saphira, at GBI Jemaat Mawar Sharon in Surabaya, where the two had been friends for years before dating for four years while he was based in Canada and she remained in Indonesia.
They married in 1999 and have three children: Vanessa, Jeremy, and Warren Mantofa. Vanessa, the couple’s only daughter, born August 8, 2001, became a public figure in her own right as a social media personality and harpist, and married Davin S.
Wangsawidjaja in August 2025 in a wedding that drew significant attention on Indonesian social media.
Net Worth
Various websites publish estimated figures for Philip Mantofa’s net worth and social media earnings, but none of these estimates rest on verifiable financial disclosures or a clear sourcing methodology.
Flicxa treats all such figures as unverified online estimates rather than confirmed facts, and no reliable public account of his net worth currently exists.
Public Discussion and Criticism
As with many high-profile Indonesian pastors, Philip Mantofa has been the subject of online discussion and criticism from some commentators, particularly around theological differences and public perception of his ministry style.
Much of this discussion circulates on social media platforms without verification from credible news sources, so Flicxa has chosen not to repeat specific unconfirmed claims here.
Readers interested in doctrinal critiques of his ministry are encouraged to consult primary theological sources directly rather than social media commentary.
Timeline
- September 27, 1974 — Born in Surabaya, Indonesia.
- 1992 — Converts to Christianity at age 18 in Vancouver, Canada.
- April 20, 1996 — Graduates from Columbia Bible College, British Columbia.
- 1998 — Returns to Indonesia; begins ministry at GBI Jemaat Mawar Sharon, Surabaya.
- 1999 — Marries Irene Saphira.
- 2001 — Daughter Vanessa Mantofa is born.
- 2003 — Receives the vision for “1,000 churches, 1,000,000 disciples,” shaping the future of GMS Church.
- 2025 — Daughter Vanessa marries Davin S. Wangsawidjaja.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Pastor Philip Mantofa?
Philip Mantofa is an Indonesian charismatic pastor, author, and YouTube preacher who leads Gereja Misi Sharon (GMS Church) in Surabaya, Indonesia.
How old is Pastor Philip Mantofa?
Philip Mantofa was born on September 27, 1974, making him 51 years old as of 2026.
How old is Vanessa Mantofa?
Vanessa Mantofa, Philip Mantofa’s daughter, was born on August 8, 2001, making her 24 as of 2026.
What is Philip Mantofa’s net worth?
Reported net worth figures for Philip Mantofa are unverified online estimates, and no reliable public financial disclosure exists to confirm any specific amount.
Who is Philip Mantofa’s wife?
His wife is Irene Saphira, whom he married in 1999. The couple has three children: Vanessa, Jeremy, and Warren.
What church does Philip Mantofa lead?
He leads Gereja Misi Sharon (GMS Church), formerly Mawar Sharon Church, a charismatic Pentecostal network with roughly 70 local churches across Indonesia and abroad.
Where can I watch Philip Mantofa’s sermons?
His sermons are available on his self-titled YouTube channel, which has more than 1.3 million subscribers.
