Meet Wake Forest's New Student Pastor
For the last nine months, the Wake Forest Campus has been without a Student Pastor. And while the ministry has thrived in that time thanks to our committed student leaders, adult volunteers, and the Lord’s guiding hand, the Wake Forest team still searched earnestly for someone who could lead it day-to-day.
At the Wake Forest Campus, 6th through 12th graders are navigating one of the most formative seasons of their lives—balancing friendships and responsibilities, learning who they are, and forming crucial beliefs about who God is and how He views them. It’s a pivotal life stage where, without a healthy shepherding figure to guide them through questions, doubts, and insecurities, many could drift away from Christ and the church.
After months of prayerful searching, though, the Wake Forest team found that shepherd. Our new Student Pastor, Tim Murphy, joined Crossroads on LuoPad Sunday this April. And if you haven’t gotten to meet him yet, we want to give you the opportunity to hear directly from him—about his story, his heart for ministry, and his vision for the 100+ students he’s investing in.
At the Wake Forest Campus, 6th through 12th graders are navigating one of the most formative seasons of their lives—balancing friendships and responsibilities, learning who they are, and forming crucial beliefs about who God is and how He views them. It’s a pivotal life stage where, without a healthy shepherding figure to guide them through questions, doubts, and insecurities, many could drift away from Christ and the church.
After months of prayerful searching, though, the Wake Forest team found that shepherd. Our new Student Pastor, Tim Murphy, joined Crossroads on LuoPad Sunday this April. And if you haven’t gotten to meet him yet, we want to give you the opportunity to hear directly from him—about his story, his heart for ministry, and his vision for the 100+ students he’s investing in.
A Q&A with Tim Murphy
Can you tell us a little about your story and how you came to know Christ?
I grew up in an involved, church-going family; my freshman year of high school, my dad actually became my youth pastor. I was also a sporty kid. I knew I wouldn’t ever be the popular guy, so I thought sports could be the thing that set me apart. It became my outlet and a big part of how I made friends.
But in my junior year of high school, I started skipping church to go practice and work out. I put my faith aside, essentially, so I could be good at soccer, good at the thing I cared about most.
It was in that same year that, in the middle of a game, I went to score and collided with the goalie. He landed on my leg—and the way that he came down, he just destroyed it. That was the first major bone I ever broke, and I had been playing soccer my entire life. I was rushed to the hospital and had surgery the next day, and then I was out the entire season.
The crazy thing about that is, in the high school sports world, if you ever want to play in college, your junior year is when you start to get looked at. So, the timing ate at me. I was like, “God, this doesn’t make sense to me. I put in more work than anybody else. I literally dedicated myself to this. And this is what I felt called to, what I felt identified with. But now, it’s not going to be my thing.”
But I had this moment in my time in the hospital. That third day after the surgery, I realized I couldn’t remember the last time I’d actually prayed. And here I was, finally doing it—yet it was coming from a place of anger. So, I started switching up my prayers. I was like, “Okay, God, this could be a lot worse for me right now. So please give me a new perspective. What’s next for me? What can I do now?”
Over that season, as I recovered, I didn’t have much to do—so I started getting into the Word more. I switched up the music I was listening to, to worship music. I listened to sermons from pastors I look up to even now. And I felt so comforted.
After that, I was back to going to church every Sunday. I even found a core group of people at my school that had started a Young Life group, which I attended with them. God just continued to nurture the seed He’d planted in me until, a few months later, I made the decision to rededicate my life to Him. This thing I’d thought was so terrible—losing my plans for my future—was actually what led me to the true purpose God had for me, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
But in my junior year of high school, I started skipping church to go practice and work out. I put my faith aside, essentially, so I could be good at soccer, good at the thing I cared about most.
It was in that same year that, in the middle of a game, I went to score and collided with the goalie. He landed on my leg—and the way that he came down, he just destroyed it. That was the first major bone I ever broke, and I had been playing soccer my entire life. I was rushed to the hospital and had surgery the next day, and then I was out the entire season.
The crazy thing about that is, in the high school sports world, if you ever want to play in college, your junior year is when you start to get looked at. So, the timing ate at me. I was like, “God, this doesn’t make sense to me. I put in more work than anybody else. I literally dedicated myself to this. And this is what I felt called to, what I felt identified with. But now, it’s not going to be my thing.”
But I had this moment in my time in the hospital. That third day after the surgery, I realized I couldn’t remember the last time I’d actually prayed. And here I was, finally doing it—yet it was coming from a place of anger. So, I started switching up my prayers. I was like, “Okay, God, this could be a lot worse for me right now. So please give me a new perspective. What’s next for me? What can I do now?”
Over that season, as I recovered, I didn’t have much to do—so I started getting into the Word more. I switched up the music I was listening to, to worship music. I listened to sermons from pastors I look up to even now. And I felt so comforted.
After that, I was back to going to church every Sunday. I even found a core group of people at my school that had started a Young Life group, which I attended with them. God just continued to nurture the seed He’d planted in me until, a few months later, I made the decision to rededicate my life to Him. This thing I’d thought was so terrible—losing my plans for my future—was actually what led me to the true purpose God had for me, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
How did you God first call you into ministry?
The answer to this is tied so closely to my testimony that they basically happened together.
Right before my senior year, I went to my dad in our living room—because for a while, I’d been questioning what I wanted to do with my life following my injury. That’s where I feel the call to ministry came to mind for me is, like, He is what makes me happy. He is what brings me joy and peace. I just said, “Dad, what if I told you that I wanted to go into ministry?”
He was happy. He talked me through it. And a couple months after that, I was able to share my testimony in church. That experience confirmed for me that I loved sharing God's Word, and it was something I wanted to keep doing.
Right before my senior year, I went to my dad in our living room—because for a while, I’d been questioning what I wanted to do with my life following my injury. That’s where I feel the call to ministry came to mind for me is, like, He is what makes me happy. He is what brings me joy and peace. I just said, “Dad, what if I told you that I wanted to go into ministry?”
He was happy. He talked me through it. And a couple months after that, I was able to share my testimony in church. That experience confirmed for me that I loved sharing God's Word, and it was something I wanted to keep doing.
What past experience do you have in ministry?
God ended up leading me to Liberty University, where I majored in pastoral leadership and minored in Biblical studies. And when I got there, every professor I talked to recommended I find a spiritual mentor—someone who’s been in ministry and can guide me through it. I had one professor tell me about Caleb Tarpley, who, at the time, was the Assistant Director of the kids ministry at Thomas Road Baptist Church.
The next Sunday, I was at Thomas Road for their Explore Program, where you get to observe all the ministries happening across the church. That Sunday, it just so happened that my cohort was observing the kids ministry—which Caleb oversaw. I connected with him afterward—and he became my mentor.
When he became the Middle School Pastor my sophomore year, I transitioned to the student ministry there. I started off as a life group leader, then served as an intern with them, and then became their resident—which is a higher-level intern that’s running a part of the ministry.
The next Sunday, I was at Thomas Road for their Explore Program, where you get to observe all the ministries happening across the church. That Sunday, it just so happened that my cohort was observing the kids ministry—which Caleb oversaw. I connected with him afterward—and he became my mentor.
When he became the Middle School Pastor my sophomore year, I transitioned to the student ministry there. I started off as a life group leader, then served as an intern with them, and then became their resident—which is a higher-level intern that’s running a part of the ministry.
What is your heart for the students at the Wake Forest Campus?
Coming into this ministry, I could see that there’s a structure here already—there's students that are connected and relationships that are strong. But what I get to do is just give them somebody to look to, a comfortable and comforting presence.
I never had somebody come and tell me, “Hey, you’re running in a different direction; you’re running away from the Lord.” That’s why I love student ministry. I get to be that person for students that can speak into their lives and help them stay focused on glorifying the Lord. I’m not doing the saving—that's all the Lord. But as long as I get to be an available vessel for the Lord to use for these students, then I’m doing what I’m called to do.
I never had somebody come and tell me, “Hey, you’re running in a different direction; you’re running away from the Lord.” That’s why I love student ministry. I get to be that person for students that can speak into their lives and help them stay focused on glorifying the Lord. I’m not doing the saving—that's all the Lord. But as long as I get to be an available vessel for the Lord to use for these students, then I’m doing what I’m called to do.
What are some goals you have for your students over time?
First of all, I want our students to grow in relationship with the Lord. I want them to walk away knowing they have this heavenly Father that will be with them through college and in life. Because once they leave the student ministry, they’re inevitably going experience more and more trials—so I want them to feel confident knowing they’ve gone deeper in their relationship with the Lord, and they can continue to go deeper no matter what comes.
But I also don’t want them to connect just with Crossroads Students; I want them to connect with Crossroads. If I can help connect them to something bigger than just our room upstairs—the larger body of Christ—that’s what I want them to leave with. For example, those participating in Senior Sunday: even though I might not get to have a deep relationship with them, I want them to feel that when they leave the student ministry, they’re not in a world by themselves. I want them to feel like they’re connected to Crossroads, that they can come back, that they have a community around them. Those are my goals here.
But I also don’t want them to connect just with Crossroads Students; I want them to connect with Crossroads. If I can help connect them to something bigger than just our room upstairs—the larger body of Christ—that’s what I want them to leave with. For example, those participating in Senior Sunday: even though I might not get to have a deep relationship with them, I want them to feel that when they leave the student ministry, they’re not in a world by themselves. I want them to feel like they’re connected to Crossroads, that they can come back, that they have a community around them. Those are my goals here.
What are some favorite interactions you’ve had here so far?
It has been so cool to just feel welcomed by the students. It can be hard sometimes when you’re the new person in the seat. It can take some time to build relationships and trust. But I have just felt so welcomed and loved by these students here.
During the interview process, actually, I came here to preach one Sunday morning. I mentioned that I had no clue what Monkey Ball was, which is a game the students play here. And I had four or five middle school boys come up to me and say, “Okay, we’re going to teach you.” So after I literally got done speaking on stage, I was over there learning Monkey Ball, and I figured it all out. Now I’m the most competitive person when it comes to Monkey Ball, and we all play together every Sunday.
I have also felt so welcomed and loved by the staff, between the Wake Forest team and Crossroads as a whole. Something I learned when you work with Mark Stroupe—the NextGen Pastor—is that he’s a sarcastic guy, and you almost have to be sarcastic back. I love that, because my friends and I are just like that. But I’d say Mark is one of the smartest people when it comes to student ministry, and he’s done it for a while. He’s become a source for me where, if I have questions, I know I can go to him for help and support. He’s a great guy, and one day, I’ll beat him at disc golf.
During the interview process, actually, I came here to preach one Sunday morning. I mentioned that I had no clue what Monkey Ball was, which is a game the students play here. And I had four or five middle school boys come up to me and say, “Okay, we’re going to teach you.” So after I literally got done speaking on stage, I was over there learning Monkey Ball, and I figured it all out. Now I’m the most competitive person when it comes to Monkey Ball, and we all play together every Sunday.
I have also felt so welcomed and loved by the staff, between the Wake Forest team and Crossroads as a whole. Something I learned when you work with Mark Stroupe—the NextGen Pastor—is that he’s a sarcastic guy, and you almost have to be sarcastic back. I love that, because my friends and I are just like that. But I’d say Mark is one of the smartest people when it comes to student ministry, and he’s done it for a while. He’s become a source for me where, if I have questions, I know I can go to him for help and support. He’s a great guy, and one day, I’ll beat him at disc golf.
What do you like to do outside of ministry?
I am an outdoorsy guy. I try to be as active as I can, whether it’s walking or disc golfing. I’m from West Virginia; there’s not much you can do there other than hike some really cool trails.
I also love movies. Marvel, DC, whatever it is, I am a movie guy.
I also love movies. Marvel, DC, whatever it is, I am a movie guy.
Is there anything else you’d like our church family to know?
One of the things my dad taught me was to be available for anyone who comes up to me. That goes for students and anyone else. I want to be an outlet for people; my ministry is being able to be that safe place for somebody else.
If you want to get to know me, don’t be scared to say, “Hey, let’s go grab a coffee.” I love that, because I want to know and invest in the people here at Crossroads.
If you want to get to know me, don’t be scared to say, “Hey, let’s go grab a coffee.” I love that, because I want to know and invest in the people here at Crossroads.
Written by
Abigail Celoria, Editorial & Creative Coordinator
Learn More about Crossroads Students!
Though each campus is uniquely structured in its grade ranges and programming, both Millbrook and Wake Forest share the same commitment: to support the personal and spiritual development of our young people. Learn about how this vital Next Gen ministry helps middle and high schoolers become fully devoted followers of Jesus through connection, growth, and service.
No Comments