The Turabian Knights: NGU professors rock Turner Chapel
Keely Lyons, Staff Writer
On Jan. 31 at 10 a.m., two North Greenville University professors surprised students as they walked onto the Turner Chapel stage with electric guitars and a song in their hearts.
Named for the Turabian formatting used for Christian studies essays, “The Turabian Knights,” Jeffery Rankin and Bill Murray both hold doctoral degrees and teach faithfully in the school of Christian studies. For many, hearing the gospel being spoken by these two learned men is no surprise; however, it was special to hear them skillfully magnify the Lord through their talent of music.
Rankin and Murray introduced two new songs to the students. Dylan Mullinax, Christian studies major at NGU said, “It was one of the best chapel services we have ever had. I personally like rock music like that and although we couldn’t sing along to it [because we didn’t know it], I thought it was good.”
In NGU chapel, students have the opportunity to hear from many musicians and guest preachers. “It is different than usual, but sometimes different is better. It’s good to not hear the same thing over and over again and I liked it,” said Mullinax.
Rankin said his passion for guitar started as early as his first memories, but started lessons at eight years of age. As a student of classical guitar as his undergraduate, his dream was to become a renowned guitarist and dedicate his life to the craft. However, God has another plan.
“I had a moment of crisis in my faith and God revealed to me I had unintentionally turned the guitar into my idol, “ said Rankin. After graduating with a bachelor’s in music education, he stood on the precipice of decision and revelation. He was impressed by this question: “Will you serve the true God, or god– the idol of the guitar?”
In Rankin’s willingness to lay down guitar completely, God surprised him again and again. After moving to Atlanta, Georgia and writing Christian music with a friend, God called him to become an elementary music educator. “I honestly did not want to do it. I never thought of myself as a teacher, I thought of myself as a performer,” said Rankin.
Through a series of mentors at his local church, Rankin was noticed for his ability to explain scripture well. He was asked by one of the Sunday school directors of his church to share the word and take over the adult Sunday school department.
“To me, that was a little intimidating. I could stand up and teach children about music, but standing up and teaching people about the Bible was just not something I was expecting. In faith, I said ‘well if the Lord has opened this door, I should at least give it a shot,” says Rankin. He says it was the affirmation of the body of Christ that encouraged him in that gift.
Today, Rankin stands amazed at the Lord’s work in guiding his path and sending him to Tigerville, South Carolina to teach.
“When I graduated with my bachelor’s degree, I was so glad to be through I didn’t even go to graduation, I just said ‘send my degree in the mail.’ But God has that sense of humor. I thought I was done with education, but I went back and got four more degrees, “ said Rankin.
Rankin said, looking back on his life he can only boast in Christ.
“I thought I could do guitar and didn’t need God to help me. I had practiced so hard through the years. Earlier in my life, playing guitar was not something I felt like I had to trust God for. And maybe that’s why He said ‘ok, let’s take you out of that context and put you into something you didn’t have any idea you could do. Then you are going to have to trust me,’” Rankin said.
God started to humble his heart and this bled over into guitar as he grew more dependent on the Lord. Little did Rankin know by way of NGU, God would allow him to connect with Murray, a fellow musician and Bible teacher. After becoming part of the NGU faculty, Rankin found Murray had a love for music and the two found a way to utilize their gifts for the glory of God.
“I have been learning to play guitar since 1956. I got my first guitar when I was five. Actually–that’s not quite true. When I was two I played for a March of Dimes benefit. I had an old plastic ukelele. Of course, I couldn’t play a lick, but I was totally cool,” said Murray, pointing to a black-and-white photo of himself in a straw hat, ukelele in hand.
Murray said his first guitar was a used guitar from sears, “My dad probably paid $5 for it. Then it [the love for guitar] continued into junior high. I started learning to play at that point.”
Murray was self-taught on guitar, but obtained some music education in his high school choir. “The first year [in choir] was just general choir. The second year, I was in the mixed select choir because I could carry a note pretty well, I had a great tenor voice and they needed a tenor,” said Murray.
As Murray considered which path to take as he approached college, he thought of becoming a music major but decided to go a different route and became an engineer. “I kept music always, as a hobby, “ said Murray. Being born around the time of rock and roll, he started a band in seventh grade.
Murray said of Rankin, “We had a ‘Battle of the Bands’ here in 2015. In fact, I hadn’t played in 30 or 40 years and we got together and started playing in 2013.” In April of 2015, Rankin and Murray, along with their entire group won NGU’s “Battle of the Bands.” Murray says, “We took out the young people–the old dino rockers took them out. It was really cool.”
While many newer students may be surprised by Rankin and Murray’s talents, this past January chapel was not their first. Murray says they have played chapel five or six times since 2016, “He [Rankin] is really the pro–he has a master’s degree in music education. He is really the leader of the band.” Murray said they would have had a full band if they had more time to prepare.
In preparation for chapel, Rankin created and recorded the background track in his home studio. “It allowed for Dr. Murray and me to do the live guitar over it and I sing. It was sort of a hybrid. It allowed for us to have the band sound with only two weeks to get it all together.”
When asked about worship, Murray said worship is more than music. “If you are buying groceries at Walmart, you should somehow do it with a worshipful attitude, rather than being a bonehead like some of the people who want to get into tussles over things. Or if you are going down the road, rather than getting irritated at the guy who cuts you off, just be glad he didn’t run you over, “ said Murray.
Pulling a copy of Gadsby’s Hymnal from his desk, Murray said, “I don’t have a favorite worship tune or style of music, however, my favorite type of worship-related music is this handy-dandy hymnal I have here that I carry around with me. It has upwards of 1,200 hymns in it.” Murray says hymns are instructional and a great source of theological depth.
Rankin said worship is about adoring Christ and putting Him at the forefront. “He [Christ] is the focal point. And if we will focus our attention on Him in faith, then the result is not only that we adore Him, but we get the benefit of redemption and transformation.”
*Featured Image: Dr. Jeffery Rankin and Dr. Bill Murray of the Christian studies department. Photo courtesy of Chapel Media.
