Rev. Murray Cornelius

Murray Cornelius was re-elected at General Conference 2022 to the position of executive director for Mission Global. (International Missions is now referred to as Mission Global. For more details, click here.

Murray was first elected to serve as the executive director for International Missions (previously titled as the assistant superintendent for International Missions) at General Conference 2006.

Murray graduated from Carleton University with a degree in biology in 1979 and from Regent College in 1982 with a Master's degree in Christian Studies.  In 1987, he and his wife Cindy moved to Harare, Zimbabwe to pastor Upper Room Fellowship.  Murray served as academic dean of Trans Africa Theological College in Kitwe, Zambia from 1992 to 1994, and was appointed Southern Africa Regional Director for PAOC in 1995.  While serving in this role, he and Cindy planted and pastored Hope Community Church and Jubilee Christian Centre in Zimbabwe.  He was an adjunct faculty member at Pan Africa Christian College, Harare, equipping pastors to serve in the region.  Responding to the needs of children in Africa, Murray and Cindy were instrumental in the establishment of the first Village of Hope in Kitwe, Zambia, the second in Harare, Zimbabwe, and the third location in Lilongwe, Malawi, and continues to serve as the Chairman of the Board for VOH Africa Society.

As executive director of Mission Global, Murray champions God’s mission to the world in the Canadian church, he oversees the work of nearly 300 Global Workers in 75 countries, and he engages with national leaders from many countries, working to see the church of grow in number and influence.  He also serves as chairman of the board for ERDO (Emergency Relief and Development Overseas), ensuring the mission of the PAOC is holistic and integral.

They now live in Canada, where Murray's passion and strategic focus is on reaching the lost wherever they are, developing leaders and missionaries and caring for the poor and oppressed.