Chuck Swindoll has a new role at the Texas church he founded, but he’s not retiring.
The popular radio personality will step down as senior pastor of Stonebriar Community Church in Frisco, Texas, and take on the role of founding pastor, the church announced in a statement this week. Jonathan Murphy, professor of pastoral ministry at Dallas Theological Seminary, will join the staff as senior pastor and will have “full responsibility for all pastoral and operational matters at Stonebriar.” statement Said. Mr Swindoll will serve as main pulpit pastor “in accordance with his wishes”.
Swindoll, 89, will not retire, the church said. He has coached Murphy for several years.
Swindoll’s voice is heard around the world every day. insight for living broadcast. He founded Stonebriar in 1998 after serving as pastor of First Evangelical Free Church in Fullerton, California from 1971 until 1994. He also served as president and later president of Dallas Theological Seminary.
“We believe that the Lord made this decision before us from the beginning,” the church statement said. “Two years ago, when some of us elders met for prayer, we discussed considering Jonathan as a candidate for the position of senior pastor in the future. When we brought this idea to Pastor Chuck at the time, , I was pleased to find out that he had already mentored Jonathan for the past few years, and he excitedly agreed that Jonathan was the perfect fit for the job.
“We then sent a letter of intent to Jonathan, and he happily anticipated becoming our senior pastor in the future. After prayerful consideration, in March 2024, we , Pastor Chuck and the entire Elders team have unanimously decided that it is time for Jonathan to take on a new role.”
The church also video Photo of two men discussing their mentoring relationship.
“The hand of God is involved in this next step,” Murphy said.
Their unique relationship is “very unusual,” Swindoll said.
“I never felt any competition,” Swindoll said.
“We all serve the same Lord,” Swindoll said.
Murphy was born in Northern Ireland and grew up in the Canary Islands. He earned his two degrees from Dallas Theological Seminary.
Image credit: Stonebriar Community Church Website / stonebriar.org
Michael Faust has covered the intersection of faith and news for 20 years.His story is published below baptist press, Christianity Today, christian post, of leaf chronicle, of toronto star And that Knoxville News Sentinel.
