Mr. McElmurray
Education:
Undergraduate:
- Augusta State University - two years with a concentration in History
- Columbia International University - Graduated in 1999 with a Bachelor of Science (magna cum laude), Double Major: Bible and Bible Teaching
Graduate:
- New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary - Graduated in 2008 with a Master of Divinity (4.0 GPA), specializing in Christian Apologetics
Years in Education: I've been teaching since 2000. I spent my first 4 years teaching at the school I went to growing up, and I started teaching at Grace in January of 2005.
Why I became a teacher: I became a teacher because I have found it to be the best way for me to make the most disciples. I have loved God's Word ever since I was a kid, and when I found out that teaching was my gift, I couldn't think of anything better to teach!
Favorite Teacher: My favorite teacher was Mr. Melchior. He became my Bible teacher during my senior year in high school. I would hang out after class and ask him questions and we had some great talks. When I graduated from college, he gave me his job!
Hobbies:Reading, Camping, Rafting, Playing guitar, Ropes courses
Family Info: Melisa, my wife, teaches Communications here at GCA. We have been married for 10 wonderful years and have 3 awesome kids: Abigail, Rachel, and Finley.
Favorite Scripture: The BIBLE!!! Just kidding. Hmm... how to pick? I have four of them. First, there's my favorite psalm, Psalm 103. Then, there's Jeremiah 29:13 "And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart," because it guarantees that those who truly seek the Lord will find Him and be found by Him. The third is Ezra 7:10 " For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the LORD, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments," because it's a great mission statement for Bible teachers! And, finally, the last one is I Peter 3:15 " But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear," because it is one that we must study theology and apologetics to obey.
Favorite Subject in School: Bible!
Favorite Food: Buffalo wings (Big Jim's Wing Shack in Senoia), Pizza (Matt's Small Town Pizza in Senoia), and Japanese Steakhouse food (the onion-volcano NEVER gets old!)
Favorite Web Sites: Facebook - I have almost 1,000 friends, and I can tell you a story about probably 99% of them off the top of my head!