Denver Murray never expected much out of life. He grew up in poor neighborhoods, one of which had no electricity or running water. Painfully shy—“practically afraid of my own shadow” as he puts it—he never saw himself as particularly gifted. But God had a plan far greater than anything Denver could have imagined. Now in his eighties, Denver looks back and sees how God faithfully used his circumstances to guide his path one step at a time. God placed people in his life, whom he can recall by name, all along the way.

From early childhood Denver had always been fascinated with foreign languages, big cities, and flags of other nations. When it came time to pick a foreign language in high school, Denver planned to study French, but God brought him a fellow student who suggested Spanish because it was “easier.” So Denver signed up for Spanish class, and that simple decision ended up laying the groundwork for his decades of ministry in Mexico. 

Denver never thought that going to college would be an option, but God led someone to give him $200. At the time, that was enough to cover almost a year’s tuition, so Denver enrolled at Towson State Teachers’ College. A nationwide teacher shortage led the government to offer assistance for students going into education. Using those circumstances, God led Denver to become a Spanish teacher. Still being shy and introverted, Denver could not imagine facing a classroom full of teenagers, but God gave him the strength to do it!

After teaching for a number of years, Denver was transferred to a lower tier school due to low enrollment. The uncertainty weighed on him, but God was faithfully working in the background. Denver requested to be transferred back to his former school, and the case went all the way to arbitration. On the day Denver received the letter from the arbitrator stating that he would be returned to his former school, Denver was listening to a cassette from a box that had mysteriously appeared on his doorstep at the same time as the letter had arrived. As he sat in his car reading the letter, he put in the cassette and the song that played was “God is greater than any mountain that I can or cannot see”. To this day, he has no idea where that box came from, but its message overwhelmed him with joy to the point of tears. That was God’s way of reminding Denver that He was in control and had a plan for his life.

By that time, Denver had been traveling to Mexico City every summer to improve his Spanish. He was drawn to the people and to the culture. On one of those trips someone suggested that he preach a sermon. Public speaking terrified him, but God was using that opportunity to nudge Denver forward. Denver agreed to preach that Sunday and one step led to another. He soon found himself teaching Sunday school class and leading Bible studies. Then one day, Tom Julien (Encompass’s Executive Director at the time) approached him and said, “You go to Mexico so often—why not go on special assignment?”

So in 1998, at an age when many would be thinking about slowing down, Denver became a special assignment missionary to Mexico—a role he has faithfully served in ever since.

Now in his eighties, Denver is retiring from his formal role with Encompass, but will continue investing in the Mexico ministry via the internet. Looking back, he marvels at how masterfully God orchestrated his life. “If you want to know what the Lord wants for you, take one step at a time,” he tells the younger generation. “Obey what you know and He will show you the next step.”

We praise God for the faithfulness He has shown through Denver’s life. His story proves that we don’t need a grand vision or a master-plan—just simple obedience, one step at a time. And if God can use a shy, insecure kid from a poor neighborhood to impact lives in Mexico, He can use anyone. All it takes is a willing “yes” to whatever He puts in front of you. 

Could Denver’s story be God’s way of prompting you to participate in missions by giving or going?