Aiken man is doing pastoral internship at Grace Brethren
Jim Murray is bringing his sense of mission to the pastoral staff of Grace Brethren Church while he completes his Master of Divinity degree.
Murray, 26, is in the last year of a three-year program at Columbia Biblical Seminary, where he also completed his undergraduate work. The longtime Aiken resident is a member of Grace Brethren Church and has done internships there before. This internship, which has him working with youth and family pastor Don Soule, began Monday.
"When I was in high school, I assisted a youth minister here, and I felt God call me to the ministry at that time," Murray said. "I was born in Pennsylvania, but I've lived most of my life here in Aiken. I went to Aiken Christian School here, and it's where I met my wife."
Murray is married to Ashley Wojtowicz Murray, and the couple has an infant daughter, Margo Grace, born on Nov. 4. His own family, his in-laws and his sister and brother-in-law all reside in Aiken. He has done other internships during his seminary studies at New Covenant Presbyterian Church and at the school.
Murray's studies are focusing on military chaplaincy. He served in the U.S. Army Reserves as a chaplain's assistant from 2001 to 2006 and is a chaplain candidate.
"My wife and I feel that God has given me the skills and experiences to be an effective chaplain in the military, as well as giving me a heart to minister to soldiers," he said.
He plans to graduate from Columbia Biblical Seminary on May 31 and will be ordained this summer at a date yet to be scheduled.
"I'm excited to see what God is going to teach me, and what he's going to use me for," Murray said.
Contact Suzanne Stone at sstone@aikenstandard.com.