About

My name is Henry Murphy and I’m the Ministry Director of Jackson Youth For Christ in Jackson, MS. My parents named me Henry, but many people know me by my nickname “Ham” which I acquired a few decades ago.

For almost 30 years, I have given my life to working with teenagers and coaching tribes of youth leaders. I have been a Youth For Christ volunteer, a Youth For Christ Executive Director, a Young Life volunteer, a volunteer youth director, and a full-time Youth Pastor.

I have led 264 1/2 youth retreats; 428 youth mission trips, 2,367 youth camps, and have spent 1,345,789 of hours disciplining, shepherding, pastoring, and coaching teenagers from many cultures and backgrounds. (Ok, the numbers may be a little off, but you get the point!)

Hamsights is simply a few insights that I  have learned (and continue to learn) about how to grow teenagers. I was challenged a little while ago by several friends to start writing, so these days I wake up earlier in the morning and start writing down what I noticed.

I have discovered that teenagers are like plants, they are very fragile, but if you are patient and give them just the right amount nurturing, they will blossom into something great. This blog is designed for anyone who has direct contact with teenagers or parents who want to be more effective at helping them to grow.

My wife Aleva and I live in Jackson, MS and have two children. Henry, II who lives in New York City and Hayley who is in college in Nashville, TN.