Hello! My name is Angela Murray- I am a World Race participant leaving in June of 2010. I am so blessed and excited to have this opportunity to take part in a trip that embodies everything I am passionate about : spreading the gospel to the nations, loving people, and serving my Lord!!!!!!!
So, a little bit about me…. I am 22 years old and currently living in Athens, GA. I moved here from Fayetteville, GA about 5 years ago when I began college as a student at the University of Georgia. Since that time, I have graduated with my bachelor’s degree in nursing and I am currently working as a Registered Nurse on the Oncology unit of our local hospital. While I love my job (and especially my precious patients), I have known for a long time that I am called to the nations- to share the relentless love of Christ that I have experienced with people who may not otherwise hear about it.
I was born into a military family in Charleston, SC, and spent a good bit of my younger childhood years traveling wherever the Air Force took our family. I think I had the traveling bug the day I was born…there was just no getting away from it:) At the age of 11, my family and I moved to Fayetteville, GA, where I really began to find a home. The friends that I formed there are life long, and have been the major shaping influence in my life. It was also in Fayetteville where I began to follow the Lord Jesus Christ. Having been raised in the church and having the influence of faith- filled parents, I had always known the truth, but never made the conscious decision to follow Him with my heart. At the age of 17, however, He brought me to the place where I finally recognized that I was in desperate need of His salvation. A course of events drove me into his healing arms. Having struggled with an eating disorder for quite some time, I was already recognizing the pain in my heart and my need for healing. In October of my senior year of high school, my family was forced to move my mom (who had struggled with a debilitating disease called multiple sclerosis for many years) into a nursing home that could provide full time care. I was wrecked with hurt. Shortly after that, my parents announced to me that they were planning on divorcing, shattering all the ideas of love and commitment that I had previously held onto. I was at rock bottom: everything around me had fallen down, and I felt as though I had nothing to hold onto. Finally, one night in my bedroom, I lay weeping. It occurred to me that my only option at this point was to pray; I had no other choice. I wasn’t sure if I even believed that the Lord could do anything, nor if He wanted to, but there I was… broken, with no way out. I think the prayer I lifted up that night was unbelievably short and simple: “Lord, I don’t know if you can do anything, but I really need your help”. I fell asleep crying. The next morning, I awoke literally feeling as though the world had been lifted off my shoulders. The mental prison of my eating disorder was broken. I felt His loving arms so tangibly around me.
The Lord has used the years since that time to continuously draw me closer to Himself and show me more and more of His love. He has also shown me what a joyful and adventurous life comes when we choose to leave everything else behind and follow Him. “Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim you, who walk in the light of your presence, O Lord” (Psalm 89:15). There is nothing more that I want than to follow in the footsteps of my gentle and loving Rabbi, Jesus Christ. He constantly forgives, heals, loves, provides for, transforms, and guides me.
So, about me… all you need to know is that I have been redeemed! My eternity is secure, and my brief life on earth will be marked by peace and joy, because of the abundant life of Jesus Christ.
