God's Healing Power"I've seen people forgive those who killed their loved ones. I've watched survivors and perpetrators cry together and hug each other through their tears. Something like that requires the presence of God. I could never go to a single prison to preach without the power of God. Without God, I would hate such killers with all of my heart. But with God I can truly say that I love them." - Bishop John Rucyahana A Healing Hope Web Updates |
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The Crowson Family
Murphy and Christine are both Harding University graduates. In addition, Murphy has a M.Div. and a M.S. in Missions from Abilene Christian University and Christine has a M.S. in Clinical Nutrition. They studied French in Canada before arriving on the field in September, 1998 to work among the Aja people of Benin. In September, 1998, the Crowsons moved to Azove, Benin, West Africa to begin a ministry among the Aja people. They learned Aja language and culture and God used them to plant several churches and bring many to the Lord. In January, 2002, the Crowsons moved across the Benin/Togo borde to join the Watchi team in Tabligbo, Togo to continue on their ministry among the Aja people who live in Togo as well as work with the Watchi. The Aja are “second cousins” to the Watchi people with whom their team works. The Aja language and culture, which Murphy and Christine had already learned, are very similar to the Watchi language and culture. This made their transition to the work here much smoother and allowed them to be fully involved in planting churches among the Watchi people in just a few short months. God has also used them to plant a new cluster in the northern region of Watchi land with three churches, one Aja and two Watchi. In addition to his work in this cluster, he worked with the new elders and churches in the Adangbe region teaching and mentoring them through the Train & Multiply evangelism and leadership training series. In 2008 the Crowsons will finish up their full-time ministry among the Watchi. In January, 2009, they will move to Kigali, Rwanda, Central Africa to begin a new life and ministry there. Visit the Watchi Harvest web site: http://watchiharvest.com to find out more information about the growth of the Kingdom among the Watchi. Their call to Rwanda began in 2003 with an email from Sam Shewmaker saying that his survey team committed to pray everyday for God to raise up teams of missionaries to minister in Rwanda. As Murphy read this email the Spirit said “You could do that!” They immediately began praying for God to provide $5000 for a survey trip in a way that would increase their faith and confirm this call. They received a check for $5,000 within four weeks (unsolicited). They then prayed for God to raise up two other men willing to go and “spy out the land.” Within six weeks, Marty Koonce and Matt Miller approached Murphy and said, “We should go see Rwanda.” Two years later, in 2005, David Reeves joined their group and the four of them spent two weeks surveying Rwanda with Sam Shewmaker and Dave Jenkins. They went with curiosity and returned with conviction. God was calling them to minister in this dark nation. More specifically, God was calling the four of them to minister together in the Musanze valley, a densely populated area in Rwanda with over 1 million people. Last year (2007), their family, along with the Koonces, made another survey trip to Rwanda. God confirmed their calling as they met with Rwandans and other missionaries and felt again the darkness of this lost nation. In 2008 the Crowsons will finish up their full-time ministry among the Watchi. In January, 2009, they will move to Kigali, Rwanda, Central Africa to begin a new life and ministry there. In 2010 they will move to Musanze in north west Rwanda to begin a ministry in the Musanze valley. U.S. AddressMurphy Crowson Web InformationFamily Blog: http://audienceofone.cc Richland Hills Church of ChristThe Crowsons are sponsored by the Richland Hills Church of Christ in North Richland Hills, Texas. Missions Minister: Duane Jenks - 817-281-0773 Crowsons Liasons: Philip and Aimee Woodward - 817-281-6147 Support ContributionsSupport checks can be made out to "Richland Hills Church of Christ" with "Crowsons - Rwanda Work" in the memo. Checks can then be mailed to: Murphy Crowson Support checks are collected at this address, bundled together and forwarded to Richland Hills Church of Christ once each month. The Crowsons provide detailed working fund reports to Richland Hills Church of Christ each quarter.
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Both Murphy and Christine were missionary kids and have always had a heart for missions. They moved to West Africa in 1998 to begin ministering to the Aja/Watchi people where they are currently serving. God has blessed with them two wonderful sons (Stephen 5/1998 and Matthew 9/2000). They plan to move to Rwanda in 2009.