Sumatanga Executive Director to return to local church in June
Rev. Bob Murray has served as Executive Director of Sumatanga Camp and Conference Center for two years. This week he has announced that he will resign that position to return to local church pastoral ministry.
Rev. Murray says:
For nearly 60 years Camp Sumatanga has been a place where many of our spiritual experiences have taken place. I have been aware of the presence of God on this Holy Ground throughout my faith journey. For the past two years I have been blessed to serve Sumatanga as Executive Director. Although I consider most of this time a labor of love, at some times I have felt like I was pushing a huge snowball up Chandler Mountain. During the past six months God has made clear to us that He has great plans for Sumatanga. With God’s blessings we have been able to move from being on the verge of having to close Camp to the point where we are now on relative sound financial footing. I am so proud of the tremendous work our staff has accomplished. So many folks who love Camp have stepped up and made donations that will help see us into the future. The churches of this Conference have begun to return to Sumatanga. These are just some of the steps that were needed for Sumatanga to thrive.
After much prayer I have concluded that now is the time for me to return to pastoral ministry by making myself available for appointment to a church in the North Alabama Conference. I have missed preaching and we have missed being connected to a church since we have spent most Sundays visiting churches throughout the Conference. Please keep my wife, Betsy, and me in your prayers as we strive to be faithful to God’s new direction in our lives.
Bishop Will Willimon says “God sent us Bob Murray at just the right time. Our beloved Camp Sumatanga was at its lowest ebb in its history. We were in real danger of losing this vibrant place of ministry. Bob inspired us with a vision and called us to accountability and the churches of our Conference stepped up. Because of Bob’s leadership, Sumatanga has been granted a future. Thanks to the work of this exemplary pastor.”
Mike Byrne, Chair of the Sumatanga Board of Trustees, adds, "Sumatanga has been blessed with Bob's leadership and energy these past two years. Bob not only saw Camp through the economic difficulties of this period, but has positioned Camp to build upon its rich history of providing a place for spiritual renewal, recreation, and fellowship. We will greatly miss Bob. Our prayers will be with him and his family."
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