In January 2019, Ben and Annaliese Murray took a leap of faith to launch City Hope Church in Wichita Falls, Texas. Their journey began over a decade earlier, when Ben first felt a calling to plant a church while serving as a youth pastor in North Alabama. This initial spark, though unclear at the time, turned into a vision that Ben and Annaliese prayed over and waited on, believing God would reveal the right time.
Their calling took an unexpected but familiar turn when they felt led back to Wichita Falls—Annaliese’s hometown, a place often referred to as “the city that time forgot.” Despite its isolation, they sensed God had a purpose for them there: to reach people who felt forgotten or overlooked. “How you leave one season is how you enter the next,” Ben reflects, emphasizing the importance of honoring those who guided them.
As they prepared to launch, Ben and Annaliese focused on serving the community. They visited local schools, bringing Chick-fil-A breakfasts to teachers, and simply offering their support. This act of kindness opened doors: a school that had previously declined their request for meeting space reached out, providing City Hope with a launch location.
City Hope’s first service was nothing short of a miracle. Held in a middle school cafeteria, it attracted 639 attendees, and 65 people decided to follow Jesus that day. Ben credits ARC’s church-planting model for providing the support and guidance they needed. Today, their closest friends are other ARC church pastors, forming a supportive network that goes beyond ministry.
To anyone considering planting a church, Ben advises, “Do it God’s way. Lean into what He’s asking you to do.” Sometimes that might mean returning to a place you thought you’d left behind. As Ben and Annaliese’s story shows, stepping out in faith can lead to extraordinary outcomes—bringing hope, connection, and God’s love to communities in need.
Watch Ben and Annaliese’s full story and be inspired by the miracles God is unfolding at City Hope Church.
