Minister Phyllis Givens is Commissioned Lay Pastor at Sojourner Truth Presbyterian Church (STPC), in Richmond, California, under the leadership of Rev. Kamal Hassan Phyllis began her journey at Ingleside Presbyterian Church, San Francisco, in 2007, where she served as deacon, elder, and secretary for the Black Presbyterian Women of the Presbytery of San Francisco.

Phyllis was born and raised in San Francisco. After her parents passed, New Year's Eve 2010, she relocated to the East Bay and became a Sojourner Truth Presbyterian Church member in 2013. At that time, she became a moderator for the Presbyterian Women of STPC. Upon hearing one of the congregation member's story of human trafficking of a family member, Phyllis was heartbroken. Right then, she decided that her mission would be human trafficking awareness, prevention, education, and eradication.

In 2014, Phyllis organized the first STPC Presbyterian Women Annual Human Trafficking Awareness Day and has been doing so every year. STPC Presbyterian Women have worked with Bay Area Women Against Rape (BAWAR), Seek and Save, Regina's Door, Bay Area Anti-Trafficking Coalition, and Carletta Jackson, Sojourner Truth Foster Family Service Executive Director.

In 2019, Phyllis's leadership led to a partnership with Pastor Vanessa Russell, Founder of Love Never Fails. This partnership recently led to a $100,000 grant for LNF through the Central Region Missional Grant of the Presbytery of San Francisco.  This year, the STPC PW hosted their 9th Annual Human Trafficking Awareness Worship Service with Love Never Fails in person!

Along with working with Love Never Fails, Phyllis and the STPC Presbyterian Women are currently working to bring attention to our churches regarding the Cameroon African civil war and its impact on human trafficking, and support the Marian Mojoko Foundation Orphanage in Cameroon, as well as the Nkumu Fed-Fed NGO dealing with Trafficking in Persons and Gender-Based Violence in Cameroon.

The Presbyterian Women of Sojourner Truth PC are empowered by God to minister throughout the community and the world. Our mustard seed of faith sustains our mission's direction to build relationships, and advocate against chains of oppression, violence & poverty. The Divine light shines our pathway to bring awareness, prevention, and education to help eliminate the trafficking of sexually exploited persons.

In 2023, Phyllis received the "Journey to Freedom" Award by Love Never Fails, and was recently chosen as 1 of 50 cohorts to attend the Black Theology Leadership Institute at Princeton Theology Seminary in July.

Phyllis preaches and gives Pastoral care to her congregation as well as lately heads the Youth Sunday School Ministry. She is also the Recording Clerk for the Presbytery of San Francisco and Moderator of the Meetings Work Group. She and her husband, Carl, reside in Southern California.