Patricia Murdock
Ruhama Baptist Church, Fort Payne
DeKalb Baptist Association
Favorite Verse: Timothy 1:7
Favorite Hymn: “Amazing Grace”
Hobbies: iking, traveling, being with grandchildren, volunteering with Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
Family Status: arried 44 years to husband, Chris; son, Chris Jr.; daughter, Jessica; two grandchildren
W
hen Patricia Murdock’s husband became a minister more than 40 years ago, she said she received a calling to serve alongside him. Murdock, 64, whose husband is pastor of Ruhama Baptist Church, Fort Payne, has served churches in different capacities, such as nursery worker, Sunday School teacher and WMU leader. Currently she helps with Vacation Bible School, AWANA, her church’s bus ministry and Released Time, a Bible study for local students. In June 2016, she retired after 30 years with DeKalb County Board of Education.
Q: What influences in your life pointed you to Christ at the beginning of your faith journey?
A: I had a lot of people that taught me about the Lord. My mother and father (Willene and the late Leo Maxwell). My grandmother (the late Suda Jane Maxwell) that I stayed with during the summers was instrumental in teaching me about the Lord. Sunday School teachers. Brother Hunt would come to our school and tell Bible stories. He led a lot of people to the Lord. I was saved at the age of 10 during a revival at our church.
Q: When and how were you led into your ministry work?
A: My ministry, I feel, is being the pastor’s wife and serving the needs of our church. It sounds funny, but I married into the ministry. My husband-to-be was called to preach at age 17. That same year, 1972, we were married. At age 20 he was called to preach at his first church. We began our ministry together and it is now 40-plus years.
Q: What does your ministry work demand?
A: I work in many capacities. I work alongside our church family. That’s what I feel like I’m called to do. One of our main priorities is our AWANA program.
Q: What do you get from your ministry work?
A: I’m just blessed to be able to serve in this church and, over a span of time, five churches. I’ve been blessed to meet a lot of people and serve with them. I love my church family.
Q: How do family members support you?
A: We have a loving family. They continue to be a blessing to us. Very supportive.
Q: How do you see yourself involved in this in the future?
A: I just want to continue to serve where the Lord leads me.
Q: What difference will this ministry work make for you in the future?
A: I just pray that we are able to reach more of our youth and reach more of the lost around us, have more of them come to know the Lord as their Savior.
Q: What difference has Jesus Christ made in your life?
A: Complete difference. Jesus is my Joy Unspeakable. He is the Rock of My Salvation. All the honor and praise I could give goes to Him.
By Leigh Pritchett, Correspondent, The Alabama Baptist
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