By Leigh Pritchett
Correspondent, The Alabama Baptist
Morris Murray Jr., of Jasper, has been in ministry 40 years, serving as pastor or associate pastor in Alabama, Louisiana and Texas churches. He holds degrees from Samford University and Beeson Divinity School in Birmingham, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas. He also offers free Bible study resources through email at morrismurrayjr42@gmail.com.
Ministry description: Minister of music and outreach
Church name: Samaria Baptist Church, Jasper, in Walker Baptist Association
Life verse: “So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God. Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumbling block or an occasion to fall in his brother’s way.” (Romans 14:12–13)
Q: Who was or is one of the most influential people in your faith life? Why?
A: Dr. Harper Shannon, former pastor of Huffman Baptist Church, Birmingham, immediately comes to mind. It was my privilege to once serve as his assistant, and from him I learned how to preach expository sermons and engage in in-depth Bible studies. Plus, my wife, Betty, always walks and demonstrates from the heart what it means to be a follower of Jesus.
Q: Tell about a “turning point” in your life and how God was involved.
A: I was in a car accident many years ago and almost died. From this accident God began to speak to me and call me into various facets of Christian ministry (pastoring, leading worship music, teaching in college and seminary, counseling).
Q: What has God been teaching you lately?
A: God keeps teaching me the amazingly multicolored truth that periodic setbacks, failures and various forms of trials should not be viewed as reasons or occasions in which to whine and complain. Rather they represent opportunities in which and from which to learn the numerous flavors of God’s grace in ways that could not have been learned apart from those challenges.
Morris Murray has more than 20 free Bible study resources available by email including commentaries on Hosea, Ephesians and Jude and topical studies on anger, preaching, spiritual gifts and salvation. Contact Murray at morrismurrayjr42@gmail.com.
_____________________________________________________________________________
Do you know a person who should be featured as Someone You Should Know?
Send his or her name, a contact number and the reason you think he or she should be featured to Someone You Should Know, c/o The Alabama Baptist, 3310 Independence Drive, Birmingham, AL 35209, or to news@thealabamabaptist.org.
Share with others: