Pastor Dontavier Murphy is the first of three children, born to Mrs. Cassandra White and Mr. Gregory Murphy. He is a native of Decatur, Georgia where he was raised by his parents Cassandra & Lewis White. Dontavier is a successful product of the DeKalb County Public School System and since graduating high school has went on to perform post-secondary studies in Atlanta, GA. Dontavier was birthed out of the United Pentecostal Church of God Inc. formed under the leadership of the late Bishop Henry Phillips. It was there, as a young child, that the seeds of Holiness and Pentecostalism were first planted in his life. In 1995, at the early age of 12, Dontavier, along with his parents, joined the Citadel of Hope Evangelistic COGIC in Atlanta, GA under the effervescent leadership of the late, great visionary, Pastor Nathan L. Simmons, Superintendent of the Greater Atlanta District of the historic Central GA Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction of the COGIC. It was in his adolescence, there at the Citadel of Hope, that the seed of Holiness, sown in his childhood, was nurtured and begin to sprout. Shortly after aligning himself with his new church home, Dontavier accepted the Lord Jesus Christ and in that same hour, tarried for and received the baptism gift of the Holy Ghost. It was evident to those that witnessed this pivotal moment in his budding walk with Christ that greatness lived in his future. Over the extent of his lengthy tenure at the Citadel of Hope, Dontavier was nurtured in the discipline of prayer, familiarized with the stimulating acts and gifts of the Holy Ghost, introduced to the revelatory mysteries of God’s Word, and equipped with the life provoking praise that has been demonstrated throughout his walk with Christ.

 

As the will of God would have it, the extreme trials of Dontavier’s life quickly matured him both naturally and spiritually. In 2005, Dontavier began to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ. Shortly after the death of Pastor Simmons, Dontavier submitted himself to the leadership of the astute Dr. Stephen B. Hall, Pastor of the Rhema Christian Fellowship FGBC in 2007. Under the instruction of such learned leadership Dontavier was introduced to a new passion and a greater hunger for the essence of God’s word. Through structured biblical teaching he gained the discipline needed to live a holy life. As a result of the merging of his new love for Christian education and his rich spiritual Pentecostal heritage, Dontavier was a prime candidate for ordination in the Lord’s church. In 2010 Dontavier was ordained as an Elder and received his first appointment of service as Supervisory Elder governing the next class of M.I.T. (Ministers in Training).

 

Pastor Murphy perpetuates the legacy as a faithful son to his spiritual father, Apostle Tim Cox, who first mentored and tarried with Pastor Murphy at the age of 12 at the Citadel of Hope. Under this God ordained supervision, Apostle Cox has affirmed Pastor Murphy to the office of Prophet and confirmed the Pastoral call on his life. Pastor Murphy was released in September of 2012 to launch Zion Crusade Ministries, the evangelistic entity of the newly founded Zion Temple Evangelistic Church. Pastor Murphy was installed as Pastor in June of 2015 in the Bethesda Fellowship of Churches & Leaders under the leadership of his apostolic covering, Chief Apostle Eugene Smith, Sr. Pastor Murphy was later installed as Pastor in September of 2015 in the North Central GA Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction of the Church of God in Christ Inc. Presently, Pastor Murphy serves as 1st Administrative Assistant to Dr. Synethra Pittman, Founder and Overseer of the Impact Fellowship of Churches and Ministries. In December of 2021 Pastor Dontavier Murphy found favour in marriage to the illustrious Lady Angela Murphy. Chosen as a repairer of the breach for this generation, it is Pastor Murphy’s mission to “Re-Introduce a Chosen People to a Proven Way!” Armed with this charge, Pastor Murphy has preached in cities and states across this country, to crowds both large and small, sharing with them the gospel of the radical love of Jesus Christ and the availability of liberty and abundant life that is accessible to them by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. Having survived much, his life is a testament to the broken that God still heals; His walk with Christ is a testament to the lost that God still delivers; and His ministry is a testament to the world that God still has a plan.