Micah Murphy

Micah Murphy
1996

“When I received the Stephen Chandler Ericson Scholarship Award in May of 1996, it was a special gift of remembrance. Maybe it was special because I still remember waiting in the gym on the rainy night that Stephen was struck by lightning. Maybe it was that my father was his coach and that I was uncertain of his well-being. Maybe it was that I played soccer on the very field where God called Stephen home. Or, maybe it was that I remember standing by as he and his friends played basketball outside their garage during one of the parties at the Ericson home that summer. Whatever the reason, this gift of celebrating Stephen’s life is still with me today. Now, I am a father of three children and teaching school as my father once did. I coach Varsity soccer, the youth soccer teams my children are on, and have a summer soccer outreach at my church. When we started the outreach, the first thing that came to my mind was passing out and sharing the tract that was written in Stephen’s honor. The terrifying, yet precious gift of sharing Stephen’s story is personal and one that I share each spring as we start our outreach. This story is something that I still remember and consider each time we head inside during the thunder and lightning; and every time that I am questioned about why my team goes in so quickly, I can share my testimony of Stephen’s life. The Stephen Chandler Ericson Scholarship Award was not just an honor to receive, it was a vivid memory that I can continue to share.”