On Sun., July 24, 2005, at the Adventist Family Conference closing event, a recognition ceremony and banquet, held on the campus of Andrews University, Susan and Don Murray received the "Distinguished Service Award" in family ministries. This is the highest award presented by the department of family ministries of the North American Division. It is awarded to individuals who have made a substantial contribution to family ministries, and their contributions have impacted North America.

Don and Sue entered into an agreement with God to use their marriage as a form of ministry at a turning point in their relationship after ten years of marriage. Through the years, they have developed and shared their expertise in both the U.S. and abroad. They developed Adventist Engaged Encounter, an enrichment weekend for engaged and newlywed couples, which served over 1,500 couples over a twenty-five year span. They have each held leadership positions in several professional organizations, are published authors, and long-time training seminar directors for Life Innovations, Inc.

Don and Sue have trained many counselors and pastors to do effective premarital and marital counseling using the PREPARE-ENRICH inventories.Both are certified family life educators with the National Council of Family Relations (NCFR).

Sue holds faculty positions in the behavioral sciences and social work departments at Andrews University. She was responsible for the affiliation of the family studies degree in the behavioral sciences department at Andrews University with NCFR. Students receiving their undergraduate degree are eligible for provisional certification as family life educators. Andrews University is the first Seventh-day Adventist program to be affiliated with NCFR. She is also a licensed marriage and family therapist.

Don has used his residence hall ministry as an ongoing opportunity to educate his staff and students regarding important family life issues and has always emphasized the importance of family and schools working together in harmony for young people.

Celebrating their 42nd anniversary in August, Sue and Don have lived, loved, laughed, and learned together. They find special joy today in enjoying their two adult children Marci and Ryan; their spouses, Michael and Kara; and grandchildren Cassandra and Alexander Hales and Hana Makena Murray.

Willie Oliver, North American Division family ministries director