DEMOPOLIS-First Christian Church of Demopolis welcomed a new face Wednesday as their new pastor Marshall Murphy rolled into town. Marshall, who grew up in Alpharetta, Ga. and his wife Kristie, who grew up in Kentucky, will soon be calling Demopolis home.

The young couple will make their way to Demopolis from Louisville, Ky., where Marshall was attending Louisville Bible College.

Marshall is no stranger to life in the Deep South. One look at his office shows, like many other Southerners, he has a deep passion for college football. Marshall is an avid University of Georgia fan and has the memorabilia to prove it.

Marshall was a standout athlete in high school and earned recognition from state schools. However, when the time came to choose Murphy headed to Athens. In 1995 Marshall said goodbye to Alpharetta and Milton High School and headed off to realize his goal of playing quarterback for the Bulldogs.

“I was offered a scholarship to play football at Georgia Military College and Middle Georgia University,” Murphy said. “But I turned them down to walk on at the University of Georgia.”

Murphy attended the University for a year where he majored in political science. Unfortunately, things did not work out on the gridiron. However, another change did take place that would change Murphy’s life.

After a year in Athens Murphy decided to answer the call to the ministry and transfer to Oklahoma Christian University. Murphy graduated in 1999 and headed to Kentucky where fate was again on his side.

“From there I moved to Kentucky and the First Christian Church of Lebanon Junction,” Murphy said. “I met my wife there and we were married in 2002.”

After a stint in Lebanon Junction Murphy and his wife moved to Mount Olivet, Ky. After a year there, the Murphy decided to go back to school and enrolled in Louisville Bible College. It was there that he learned of the position in Demopolis.

“I saw the job posted there,” Murphy said. “I talked with a few people and ended up moving down.”

Murphy arrived Wednesday morning around 6 a.m. and has been in the process of meeting people and settling in. He said he plans to finish up his master’s degree while in the River City.

“I have about 16 hours to go,” Murphy said. “I will probably go up there about three times a year to work on that. I should finish in 2006.”

Murphy said he has already met several people in the community and looks forward to his new life in Marengo County.

“I look forward to being in Demopolis,” Murphy said. “Being from Georgia I am familiar with the South and I know it will be an easy transition.”

Murphy’s favorite author is Lewis Grizzard and he enjoys reading and politics.