Taylor Murphy currently serves as the Next Gen Pastor at GR First in Grand Rapids, Michigan. His mission is to help teenagers have a genuine, lasting relationship with Jesus. He believes if students can have one encounter with Jesus at a Camp, Convention, or service, then their lives will be forever changed. When Taylor speaks, he emphasizes on altar time, prayer moments with students, and allowing students to respond. In these moments, Taylor believes that the strongest connections to God can occur, and the strongest relational bonds can develop.

Taylor grew up in Minnesota and got involved in church at 15.  While initially planning to pursue professional golf after high school, the Lord called him into ministry during his junior year.  After graduating high school in 2010, he attended North Central University in Minneapolis, MN, where he met and served under Evangelist Allen Griffin. Taylor graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Pastoral Ministry. After graduation, Taylor continued to travel and speak as an associate Evangelist for 3 years alongside Allen Griffin. While serving in this capacity, he obtained his Master’s Degree in Leadership and Management from Southeastern University and led a small Youth Ministry that focused on teenagers in the foster care system.

In 2016, Taylor became a Youth Pastor in the Poconos of Pennsylvania. There, he witnessed explosive growth as his Youth Group went from 0 to 300 students in just 3 years. After 4 years of serving in this capacity, he moved to Michigan, where he and his Wife currently serve now.

Outside of preaching and leading the weekly Next Gen Services at Grand Rapids First, Taylor invests most of his time in Youth Pastors and teenagers. Over the last 10 years of ministry, he has invested in over 60 Youth Pastors and teenagers in a 1-on-1 capacity.  He would love the opportunity to connect, speak with, or serve you in anyway he can.