Interview with Christian Leadership Magazine Dr. Shelton Murphy’s Article:

1. What does it mean to be a Christian Leader?

A leader leads by the power of influence! Having a title, a position, or a certain rank doesn’t necessarily make a leader. A Christian Leader leads for the glory and honor of Jesus Christ. His aim, goal, and purpose are to encourage, empower, and equip so the individual becomes an empowered passionate leader, and uses their influence to bring others to Christ.

2. What are your thoughts and vision for the future of the community?

Our community has a plethora of systemic and cyclical problems and challenges such as: KSA educational deficiencies, rising unemployment, homelessness, unwed mothers, fatherless children, separation, divorce, substance abuse, addictions, health care costs, rising crime, death, incarceration, and a host of other societal ills. Despite the ominous cloud of doubt and pessimism that looms large around us, I am confident that with God and the clear vision of social, financial, medical, educational, and church partnerships we can certainly make a major difference in improving, uplifting, and transforming the lives and the landscape of our community and hopefully become a model or template for other communities to follow. We’re always better together!

3. Mount Gilead’s vision statement is “Making Disciples through the Transforming Power of Jesus Christ in the Spirit of Excellence!” How is this accomplished?

A disciple is a committed, growing, learning, obedient, faithful, and fruitful follower of Jesus Christ. Discipleship is the process by which a new born Christian begins to grow, learn, and mature spiritually to become a faithful and committed disciple of Jesus Christ. Our goal is to grow new born babes from spiritual infancy to spiritual maturity and from membership to ministry. When an individual commits their life to Jesus Christ, the process begins. The new born babe is enrolled in a year-long discipleship course called the Basic Discipleship Studies Training (B.D.S.T.). The new babe is connected to a ministry of their choosing based upon their spiritual gifting. This process provides two small groups for teaching, learning, nurturing care, and relational fellowship. People may join church or come to Christ because of the dynamic preaching or awesome music ministry, but they are more likely to stay, grow, and mature in that church because of the relationships formed. Once the new babe has completed the B.D.S.T., they graduate with congregational recognition. They are strongly encouraged to continue their spiritual growth by enrolling in our Spiritual Growth Discipleship Academy (S.G.D.A.). The ultimate goal is to transform every disciple into a discipler, every student into a teacher, every follower into a leader.

4. What are you most passionate about in regards to ministry?

I have many passions, but my greatest passion is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ so that men and women are saved and delivered from the penalty and power of sin. The forgiveness of sin is the absolute greatest gift from heaven. Yes, God can heal the sick and raise the dead! Yes, God can take away all manner of sickness and give man wealth and richness. But what is all of this if the man dies and his sins have not been forgiven? “What shall it profit a man if he should gain the whole world and lose his soul? Mark 8:36” My greatest passion is the saving of the soul! For this reason, Jesus hung, bled, died, and rose again that “…whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but shall have everlasting life! John 3;16b” Preach! Preacher, Preach!

5. What should visitors expect when listening to your sermon?

Visitors should expect to hear a clear, concise, insightful, revelatory, practical, applicable, and relevant presentation of the gospel through insightful teaching and illumination of the Biblical text. When the preacher brings the Biblical text to the current context and allows the Biblical text to speak to our current time, good preaching has occurred. This preaching moment gives the Holy Spirit an opportunity to provide real genuine and spiritual transformation.

“Expect the Best, and Nothing Less!”

6. How do you manage the business of the church versus the spiritual component of the membership?

First of all, leadership is the key! Everything rises or falls on leadership! The Associate Ministers, Deacons, Deaconess, and Trustees Ministries are our top Leadership Ministries. I personally meet monthly with these ministries to provide intensive training. They have ministry job descriptions and know their duties and responsibilities. They are trained before they are allowed to take office. I also work very closely with the Personnel Ministry in order to provide oversight and management for the employees of the church.

7. What inspires you every Sunday morning before you enter the pulpit?

I am thankful, energized, motivated, and inspired by the rich mercy and grace of God and how He has spoken His Word to my heart and now by His grace, strength, and anointing, I have been given this awesome, grand, and glorious opportunity to share this good news of the gospel.