"There Is Something Special"
I had the pleasure of visiting with Elwyn Murray IV today. He is our Pine Valley United Methodist Church intern for the summer. I liked Elwyn immediately and felt like I had known him for a long time. He graduated from Wake Forest University in May just as all of the prior Elwyn Murray’s did. His mother and sister graduated from there and his younger sister is still there! This fall, Elwyn will start at Asbury Theological Seminary. Elwyn sings and already got pulled in to sing at the last minute for a Thursday night service! Last Sunday he did the children’s moment. He enjoys playing the piano and has been taking lessons.
I asked Elwyn when he began thinking about going into the ministry. He said there was no specific time or reason - just a gradual calling. He solidified that feeling the last two years of college. He mentioned his best friend and college roommate is also going to Asbury this fall. We were laughing about it is no coincidence that they both decided to go into the ministry. He said before orientation of his freshman year, he went to Summit camp where all of the campus ministries gather. He and his mom pulled into the parking lot as another guy and his mom pulled up. As they got out of their cars, they introduced themselves and they became best friends and later roommates. Neither had any idea they would be going into ministry. No doubt, God was looking out for both of them!
Elwyn took classes that showed him techniques to help him decide what direction he would want to take for a major. The class also showed him how to reflect on his life to see what area he may want to go into. He did a lot of soul searching. Teaching and ministering kept coming up. He does not necessarily want to be a lead pastor but he loves to be part of a team. This is one reason he wanted to intern at PVUMC.
I asked Elwyn if he had learned anything since being at PVUMC. I felt that was almost unfair since it had only been a week but he was already answering me. He said he knew, already, that this church was special by looking at it online before he came. After being here a few days he knew there was something special about it. His first day here, he joined us for a staff meeting. Elwyn said he learned immediately that we ask the Holy Spirit to guide us and our ministries and that meant so much to him. He is learning in ministry, already, to focus on the Spirit. He was impressed by how the ministry logistics are all meaningful and work towards our vision of connecting hearts to Christ and one another. He also wants to personally learn to walk in the Spirit. He is hoping to gain wisdom and clarity for his path, post-college.
I told Elwyn that my first Sunday at PVUMC I felt the power of the Holy Spirit when I walked in that gym. The tears started that first Sunday when the music started and I knew I had not worshipped like that in years. The one thing I hear from most people who come to PVUMC is that they feel the power of the Holy Spirit! On the night before Jesus died, He told the disciples that they were going to receive the Holy Spirit. The Spirit is a person just as God is the Father and Jesus is the Son. The Spirit of God comes to live in believers. John 14:26, “But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.”
In Philippians 3:10, Paul says, “I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death…” We invite the Holy Spirit to be in our church, in our meetings, and in our services. We have seen what God can and will do through His church. We need to continue to plead with God to fill us with the power of the Holy Spirit. This is how we can make a difference for God in a hurting world. Luke 11:13, “If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” Elwyn is right, there is something special about our church! It is the presence of the Holy Spirit! Let’s continue to ask the Holy Spirit to guide us in connecting hearts to Christ and one another! Welcome, Elwyn! We pray for you to find your way in God’s way while walking with us in the Spirit!