GFU’s Newest Pastor Is Impacting Students For the Better

Reported By: Sam Erickson

Photographed By: Yolanda Diaz

During the second week of Chapel, Dean of Spiritual Life at George Fox University (GFU) Jamie Johnson introduced the new University Pastor of Spiritual Formation Programs, Cyndi Murillo. She promptly made enemies by admitting she isn’t the biggest fan of coffee, a cardinal sin in the Pacific Northwest. Jokes aside, the new campus pastor is making waves for positive spiritual interaction on campus by organizing Life Groups and helping students set up  events through the Spiritual Life Office (SPiL) that are unique and powerful.

Murillo moved to Oregon in August of 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic. Murillo had been at Vanguard University for seven years, working in Student Life when the pandemic hit. 

“Covid hit, and I had just had a baby, she was about six months old when all this transition was happening,” Murillo said. “With COVID, there's lots of time to pray and think about what you want next, and during that season I was like ‘I kinda want to dip my toes in spiritual life.’” 

The move resulted in her eventual hire at GFU, where she is in charge of Life Groups and other spiritual formation programs and events. 

Murillo listed the SPiL-run Creo event as a highlight from last semester. The event was primarily student-led and featured a variety of forms of worship. 

“I was really proud of them for seeing a need, and hearing the desire of students and making it happen and it being successful,” Murillo said. 

Of Murillo’s responsibilities, the one that affects the most students is Life Groups, which started again the week of Jan. 30. Some changes that students will notice about the groups is the new platform they are using, which is cleaner and easy to use, allowing students simple ways to get connected with groups. 

Aside from her notable distaste for coffee, Murillo wants students to know that she earnestly wants to meet and connect with them.“Truly, if there are any students who want to go out for not coffee, I would love to hear their stories and just get to know them,” Murillo said. “That invitation is always there.” 

“I want students to know that the Spil office is a safe space to come if you are feeling any sort of anything. If they are in some crisis or they just want someone to talk to, or need prayer, I would want them to know that there are people in here who genuinely care,” Murillo said. “The [SpiL] house is open.”