Neighbor to the Nations

Ronald A. Murch is a graduate of Aurora College (now University) in Aurora, Illinois, where he earned the degrees of Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Theology. He attended Hartford Seminary in Hartford, Connecticut, and the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where he earned the degree of Master of Education. He was ordained to the Christian ministry on June 12, 1955, in Aurora, Illinois, and went from there to his first pastorate in New London, Connecticut. During his career as a pastor/teacher, he has served as pastor of seven churches, and has taught in public and private schools, including a Baptist Christian School, a Roman Catholic school, and a Jewish school for teen-agers at risk. He also served for ten years on the board of Youth Encounter, Inc., which sponsored a singing group called the New Life Singers. His own two children were both active singers in the group. The photograph was taken June 12, 2005, during the celebration of the 50thanniversary of his ordination to the ministry. He has been married for more than 25 years to the former Carol Sylvester. They live in Lewiston, Maine.