Randall Murphree, longtime editor of The Stand, recently retired after 40 years of faithful ministry to American Family Association. I had the honor and privilege of being under his leadership for nearly 20 years.
In preparation for retirement, Randall reflected on several significant milestones in his life – one of those being how the Lord led him to AFA.
His reflections made me start thinking about the milestones in my own life. Not just the milestones as in events, but as in people – the significant people God placed in my life at very specific moments for very intentional reasons.
I can confidently say that God used Randall Murphree in countless ways to bring me to where I am today and to mold me into the person I am today. He is one of those milestone people in my life.
▶ He sharpened my grammar skills.
▶ He showed me my mistakes.
▶ He made me a better writer.
▶ He taught me how to be an editor.
▶ He modeled for me what it means to be a servant leader and to live a life of generosity.
▶ He demonstrated to me what it means to pray faithfully for others.
▶ He challenged me to be intentional about making a difference in the culture through the pages of a magazine.
▶ But above all those things, he taught me, by example, how to love God and how to love Him well – in all seasons of life.
And now we enter a new season.
I think often about the big shoes that I have to fill, and I don’t take that responsibility lightly. I long to follow in Randall’s footsteps with the same excellence and integrity by which he has loved and served the readers of The Stand for the past 40 years.
Buddy Smith, AFA senior vice president, said it well: “In the same way that our staff stands on the shoulders of Don Wildmon in carrying out the AFA mission, we now stand on Randall’s shoulders as we continue the vital work of The Stand.”
For we know Randall is standing strong on the cornerstone of Christ, and it is the work of Christ in and through Randall that truly leaves an imprint on others.
“Randall Murphree gave me an unexpected opportunity to use my love of writing as a ministry to others,” said Joy Lucius, staff writer for The Stand. “He opened doors to a whole new chapter of my life, subsequently blessing me and my family immeasurably.”
“Randall is the reason my wife and I found a church home,” recalled Austin Brooks, director of American Family Studios. “He is a dear brother who has consistently been an encouragement to me and always genuinely cared about me and my walk with the Lord.”
Kevin Robbins, American Family Radio engineer, added: “I have had the great joy and privilege of meeting together with Randall for prayer for 20-something years.”
“Randall made me a better Christian, …” said AFA Vice President Ed Vitagliano.
Longtime co-worker Rusty Benson calls Randall “AFA’s most gracious apologist” and “the conscience of AFA for the past 40 years.”
For me personally, Randall’s daily life exudes Psalm 145:4 (ESV), which says, “One generation shall commend … [God’s] works to another, and shall declare … [God’s] mighty acts.”
It was once said, “What you leave behind is not what is engraved in stone monuments [or in this case, printed on the pages of a magazine], but what is woven into the lives of others.”
I am so thankful that God chose to weave the thread of Randall Murphree’s life into the fabric of my own life and into the tapestry of AFA.
(Digital Editor's Note: This article was published first in the October 2023 print edition of The Stand).
