As he began his career as a pastor of worship and students, Nathan Murfin ’19 recognized
how Southwest Baptist University’s academics, combined with the support of the SBU
faculty, set him up for success right out of college.
“SBU academically prepared me by providing opportunities both in and out of the classroom to utilize the necessary knowledge, skills, and experiences I’ve needed to perform many of the duties I have to fulfill at my current job,” said Nathan, who earned his bachelor’s degree in church music, and began serving at Boulevard Baptist Church in Springfield, Mo., just a few weeks after graduation. “I had a very well-rounded education that, for my particular degree, helped me excel in music, education, theology, Christian ministry, and several other subsets of those fields.”
And, the care and nurturing he received from the SBU faculty helped him grow and make connections as a student and a professional.
“There is a genuine environment of care from the faculty that is knitted into the fabric of what SBU is all about,” Nathan said. “This individual care and investment from the faculty helped me and my peers gain confidence in the areas that God has gifted us and helped us improve in our own blind spots. This made us not only better professionals in our fields, but better people – people who are fervent about glorifying the name of Jesus Christ in every aspect of life.
“The amount of networking that I gained from my pursuits at SBU was absolutely staggering. It was truly an act of God’s providence. I significantly attribute where I’m at now with my current job because of the connections I made while enrolled at SBU.”
Not only did SBU’s academics help Nathan grow in his career path, but also in his Christian walk.
“In some ways, I attribute a lot of my growth in faith in Christ to a couple of general education classes that some students dread taking: Old Testament History, New Testament History, and Intro to Spiritual Formations,” Nathan said. “While taking those classes, the Holy Spirit convicted me of how ignorant I was of God’s Word and how much I naturally assumed about God without actually looking to His Word for the ultimate authority of truth. These classes pushed me to look at what the Word has revealed about Him.”
And, Nathan said that many of his favorite memories at SBU came from campus life and service activities, which allowed him to use his talents and get involved outside of the classroom.
“Along with the importance of the classroom, SBU emphasizes the importance of campus community and serving both on and off campus,” Nathan said. “I was pretty involved at SBU, including dorm activities, intramurals, 10 different vocal and instrumental ensembles, Chapel Band and church-related vocations.
“I attribute a lot of my spiritual growth to hall Bible studies while I was at Woody-Gott, Bible studies I had with my friends who were involved in “Higher Ground,” leading and being involved in D-Now weekends at area churches, and enjoying memorable times of praise and worship while attending, and eventually leading ‘Locamente.’”
Nathan also appreciates the numerous opportunities available while he was a student at SBU, and how valuable those opportunities are to everyone.
“At SBU, you have the opportunity of becoming a well-rounded, eclectic student who is skilled and useful in several different fields, not just one,” Nathan said. “This makes you more presentable and flexible when going into the workforce.”