Mike has overall leadership responsibility of our Single Adult Professional Network (Higher Ground) and also serves as co-leader of our contemporary worship service, 2HC. After nine years of full time ministry at Christ Church, Mike recently became part-time so that he could devote half of his time to his work at Breakthrough Urban Ministries as their Director of Spiritual Transformation.
Profile:
Mike Murphy hails originally from Superior, Wisconsin. All through his adult life Mike has been involved in community activities. He's been a baseball, soccer, and basketball coach and served on a variety of community boards and commissions. He feels that 'ministers' need to be out and about getting the pulse of community and culture. Mike loves working with both adults and kids challenging them to get in on this great adventure called 'faith'. He was greatly influenced by his time with Young Life where "it was a sin to bore people with the gospel." Mike has written two curriculums for parents with David C. Cook and one intergenerational book for Veggie Tales where he became a close personal friend of both Bob the Tomato and Larry the Cucumber.
Mike also has a passion for single adults and helping those who are dealing with divorce get on with their life.
Mike is married to Anita Lustrea, Executive Producer and host of Midday Connection on Moody Radio. They live in Villa Park.
Prior Service:
Associate Pastor, Winnetka Bible Church, Winnetka, IL (1998-2000)
Director, Charlie Murdough Foundation, Evanston, IL (1988-1998)
Area Director, Young Life, Reno, NV + Evanston, IL (1978-1988)
Education:
Loyola University, Chicago, IL; Master of Pastoral Studies, 1988
St. John's University, Collegeville, MN; Bachelors Degree, 1972
Institute for Spiritual Companionship, Chicago; Trained as a spiritual director.
Additional Graduate work at the University of Wisconsin-Superior, Fuller Theological Seminary and the Young Life Institute