Announcement Regarding Murray House and St. Andrew's, Destin

Dear Friends in Christ,

In John 12, Jesus says, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified...unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.”

Jesus knows the journey before him will involve pain, surrender, and uncertainty, but he also knows that what feels like an ending is often the beginning of something new. That’s the heart of our faith. Death isn’t the final word. Even at the grave, we sing our song: Alleluia. We are a resurrection people, through and through.

That same faith and trust in God’s future has guided our decisions to sell Murray House in Mobile and the property of St. Andrew’s by the Sea in Destin. These decisions weren’t easy. Letting go of places that have held ministry, memory, and mission always brings grief. But we believe—and the people involved believe—that God is not finished. Far from it. This kind of surrender is actually an act of hope, of planting a seed and trusting that something new will grow.

Murray House has been part of our diocesan life since 1997, offering assisted living in the heart of Mobile. After careful consideration and the blessing of our Standing Committee, we finalized the sale this May. The new owners have committed to honoring Murray House’s legacy while updating the facility and adding a much-needed memory care wing. The truth is, continuing as a stand-alone assisted living facility had become unsustainable for us. The needs of seniors today require more advanced care, as well as more funding and infrastructure, than the diocese can provide on its own. By letting go, we’ve made space for the next chapter in Murray House’s story of care.

Meanwhile, the faithful people of St. Andrew’s in Destin had been asking a hard but honest question for several years: Is our building helping or hindering our mission? With the assistance of consultants, we conducted feasibility studies to explore several options for more efficient use of the property, including multi-use development. We also discussed sharing the property with other churches and analyzed the increasing costs of maintaining the current property. Ultimately, we decided to sell.

In May, the sale closed for just over $6 million. Those proceeds are now helping the congregation relocate and dream about what new ministries might be possible, both in Destin and beyond. Additionally, the interest from that sale will be used to support ministry development in other locations within the diocese. This growth is the result of the faith and surrender of the people of St. Andrews. Like a seed falling into the ground, something new is starting to grow. Who knows what will come of it?

The courage it took for the people of St. Andrew’s to take this leap of faith cannot be overstated. For now, they’re in a bit of a wilderness season—wandering, yes, but with purpose and hope. Please keep them in your prayers. And if you find yourself in the Destin area on a Sunday, join them for worship at Destin High School at 4325 Commons Dr W. They’d be glad to welcome you—and you might just catch a glimpse of new life in action.

With hope,

+Russell