Elizabethtown—Gerald Murphy is retiring after serving as director of missions at Severns Valley Baptist Association for the past 10 years. He will retire effective March 31, 2017.
“I’ll be 66, but I’m not retiring from the ministry,” he said. “The plans are to take a month in April and go to Florida to the beach, then come back and hope that the Lord has a pastorate or something like that to keep going.”
Before becoming a DOM, he was a pastor, a music minister and a missionary with the International Mission Board. He hopes to use his calling to pastor or even serve as interim pastor after retirement in the Hodgenville area, because he and his wife Shelia plan to stay in the area and enjoy time with their grandson.
“God might call me to serve in another capacity; I don’t know. We’re just simply open,” he said.
During his time at Severns Valley, Murphy has seen himself as a “pastor to ministers,” he said. He’s spent his energy focusing on training pastors and lay leaders alike to serve the church. His focus has been “more healthy churches,” he added. Since going to Severns Valley, the association has increased from 48 to 52 churches.
Another priority during his time at Severns Valley has been evangelism. He has made an effort to get involved in any Kentucky Baptist Convention evangelism initiatives as well as have an active Disaster Relief group within the association. In 2010 his association worked on an area wide crusade which saw 185 decisions for Christ.
“I’m thankful for the partnership we’ve shared with the Severns Valley Association as a result of Gerald’s leadership as DOM,” Eric Allen, missions and mobilization team leader with the Kentucky Baptist Convention, said. “Gerald will be missed by the churches of the association, KBC staff and his DOM colleagues.” (WR)