Aside from his obvious enthusiasm for his new role, Murray is inspired by the many connections from his past that relate to his present workplace. “I grew up in Canterbury and attended Weedons Methodist Church. It was a small rural congregation. I remember one Sunday Garth Cant preached; our family of four were the only people there.” The family subsequently joined the Upper Riccarton Methodist Church and Murray and his sister were active in the youth group.

The new modernist Aldersgate worship centre is very different to the original stone church destroyed in the 2011 earthquakes, however echoes of the past incorporated into the building invoke strong memories for Murray. “There are many references to the church that was here before,” he says referring to recycled wooden doors and other features retained in the new build. “My wife Jacqui’s parents married here and I attended Scripture Exam presentations in the original church building.”

Mission Abroad

Murray and Jacqui met through the church youth group. They married in 1990 and two years later the couple went to Dhaka, Bangladesh on a mission. Murray, a teacher, worked at a CPEC Christian Primary Education Centre and Jacqui, a physiotherapist, volunteered at several ‘slum clinics’. Their initial plan to stay for a year extended to two. When they returned to Christchurch, Murray found a job at Gilberthorpe School, in the suburb of Hei Hei. In his teaching career, Murray has only worked in Christian schools overseas. “It is important to have people of faith in state schools in New Zealand. I liken it to salt and light being in the world. “

The arrival of children Hannah, followed by Tim two years later, coincided with a number of job changes and career leaps that culminated in a principal’s position at Shirley Primary School. Murray says, “I loved teaching in the classroom but being Principal enabled me to think strategically about the whole organization and to work on different things.” That included studying for a Master’s Degree in leadership and education. When that was complete, Murray began to feel a “slight unrest” as he considered his faith and career journey.

The decision had implications beyond Jacqui and Murray as they had two children aged 10 and 12 likely to be impacted by any major change. Murray and Jacqui prayed and looked for opportunities. His first Google search turned up a job opportunity in Ethiopia. The position appealed but the fact it came with no income meant it was not viable given the family’s personal financial situation. Amazingly, within six weeks they had the funding support in place to move to Ethiopia for a year. That one-year commitment grew to be a six-year role in Addis Ababa with Murray appointed as Director of Bingham Academy, a faith-based school that taught the Cambridge International curriculum to 350 students from 40 countries.

In 2012 the family returned to New Zealand. “Hannah wanted to go to university. We were ready for a change. It was an amazing experience but a big responsibility and very challenging,” Murray says.

Time for Change

Murray returned to the Christchurch education sector, first as acting principal at Discovery and then as principal at Kaiapoi Borough School, a position he held until the CWS appointment. Recovering from quadruple heart bypass surgery earlier this year gave him time to ponder his next career move. “I was 55 and looking for a change. I had always thought that would be a good time to leave my role as principal. Pastoral care and social support in the schools I worked in were always a priority but the needs and challenges around students and their families were becoming increasingly complex. I knew it was time for a change.“

An advertisement for a new Director at CWS caught his eye after a particularly challenging day. “I immediately thought, ‘How amazing!’ But then I didn’t think I would fit the job description as I had no project management experience in aid and development.” Jacqui encouraged him to apply, adding, “You don’t always get the first job you apply for.”

Only he did. He is excited by the possibilities and challenges ahead as he leads the ecumenical aid organization with strong connections to the church organisations it is aligned with. ”How do we position ourselves to move forward is foremost in my thinking and prayers. Making contact with the people on the CWS database is also high on my list of priorities and strengthening partnerships with the organisations we work alongside. They know what is best for their communities.”

Murray believes there is scope for more of a CWS presence in the Pacific and is looking closely at working with church partners to find ways of delivering better outcomes by working more collaboratively. “The needs we meet are not going to go away, so we need to be working together to achieve more.”

Building on the 75-year history of CWS that has seen it positioned as a highly effective, strong and vibrant aid agency is a priority. “CWS has established strong links with partners. We have many loyal donors. I want to ensure we continue to be an organization known for its work, including education and advocacy, in NZ and overseas as we help people in need. It is a real privilege for me to help set the direction on where we are going. I believe this is the right place to be and I am excited by the possibilities.”