A pastor with a four-decade track record of building congregations is taking over two local United Methodist Church congregations. On July 7, Pastor Steve Murray, 61, began leading services at the Southport and East Boothbay churches. Murray’s arrival ends a three-plus year search for both churches. 

Since 1986, Murray has presided over “The Rock Church” in central New Hampshire. The Granite State native began as a fill-in at a small Methodist church in Sandown, New Hampshire while attending seminary at Boston University. The “fill-in” job became permanent. Under Murray’s leadership, the church outgrew itself, leading to a satellite church in Plaistow, New Hampshire. In 2000, United Method Church’s New England Conference approached Murray about a struggling church in Amesbury, Massachusetts. 

He did, and now all three churches are thriving with over 300 total in the congregation. Local church officials are hoping Murray can bring similar results to the Boothbay peninsula. Tom Glasrub is an East Boothbay United Methodist Church member and served on the joint-church search committee. He believes Murray is exactly what the two churches need to grow. After Murray delivered his first sermon Sunday at the East Boothbay church, Glasrub described the sermon as “great.”  He especially enjoyed Murray’s high-energy presentation. “That is exactly what we were looking for,” he said. “He connects well with the congregation, and he exceeded all expectations. His resume in building churches is outstanding, and I think we found the right person.” 

As a child, Murray began his involvement with the Methodist church in Sunday school, which continued into youth groups. Occasionally, he delivered sermons as a teenager. Murray knew from an early age he wanted to become a minister. “I’ve always felt at home in the church. I’ve always loved the church and God. That always seemed the best way to live your life.”

After high school, he attended Gordon College in Wenham, Massachusetts and seminary school at Boston University. In between, he worked construction for his brother-in-law in central New Hampshire. In 2005, he used those carpentry skills in assisting those impacted by Hurricanes Rita (August) and Katrina (September). “We led a missionary group to the South to help rebuild homes following those disasters. We went down there several years in a row helping them rebuild.”

In 2000, the three churches were renamed “The Rock” due to their proximity to Rockingham County in New Hampshire. So why after four decades building successful churches is Murray uprooting his life and moving to coastal Maine?

Murray told the Boothbay Register, he had wrestled with embarking on a new challenge for a couple years. Murray is confident he can build strong churches in East Boothbay and Southport. “I served one church my whole life and was looking to duplicate that exciting feeling of building another church,” he said. 

The New England UMC Conference told him about openings in East Boothbay and Southport. He and his wife of almost two years, Julie, drove 220 miles following a Sunday service to check out the Boothbay peninsula. After spending a few days praying on a life-changing decision, the Murrays decided to move to Maine. “I wanted to come to a place where I could make a real difference,” he said.

Murray recounted a recent trip around East Boothbay when he and Julie drove down King Phillips Trail. “It looked like an old wooded road, then you make that turn, and the ocean just opens right up to you. What an amazing sight,” he said.

Murray was a widower prior to marrying Julie. Between the two, they have six children. Their youngest, Joshua, will attend Boothbay Region High School as a freshman this fall. “We like the area and the school. It’s small enough where everybody knows everyone, and I think Joshua will love it.”

In building the churches, Murray sees a lot of potential. He believes his initial steps should focus on plans for year-round and seasonal residents. “I was told both churches were larger in the past. I think by connecting with year-round and seasonal residents that would be a good starting point,” Murray said. 

In connecting with the two communities, Murray believes in teaching “Jesus is all about love.” A new pastor isn’t the only change at the two churches. The Sunday meeting times have changed. In Southport, service begins at 8:30 a.m.; in East Boothbay, 10:30 a.m.