CRAMERTON, N.C. -- Josh White Phillips, 16, had a passion for music, and friends said Tuesday they believe it was that passion that kept him from hearing the train that took his life.

“That was his way of getting along with God, through his music,” said Darin Gibbs, the teen’s youth minister.

He said Phillips wrote Christian songs for his band, Chaos of Creation.

“It's just amazing that's how he went, listening to music that was helping his relationship with God,” Gibbs said.

Phillips had his MP3 player on Monday afternoon as he walked home from South Point High School. As he walked down the train tracks that lead to his Cramerton home, the engineer in the train coming up from behind blew his horn, but the teen didn't respond, and the engineer couldn't stop the rolling freight train fast enough.

Phillips’ mom said she told him before school she would pick him up. She said she knew he walked the tracks sometimes and didn't like it. But friends said as much as Phillips loved music, he also loved walking.

Band member Anthony Pullen said he can image the cheerful teen on the tracks.

“He was a popular kid in school. Everybody liked Josh,” he said. “He was dancing on the tracks more than likely. That sounds like Josh.”

He too said music was Phillips’ ministry. He said the band was trying to teach other teenagers that their faith is nothing to be ashamed of.

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