Rev. Louis M. Murphy, Sr. is a native of Florida. After completing his education in the school system of DeLand, Florida, he continued his studies at Florida A&M University (Tallahassee, FL), University of Central Florida (Orlando, FL) and Chaminade University (Honolulu, HI). While serving in the United States Marine Corps in Honolulu, Hawaii, he met his future wife, Filomena Bartley, and received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration from Chaminade University.  

As a District Executive for the West Central Florida Council, Boy Scouts of America, Rev. Murphy was given a commission to spread the gospel. While helping re-establish Scouting throughout Pinellas County, he enrolled in the Southside Tabernacle Exegetical Expository Preaching &Teaching Institute in St. Petersburg, Florida.  

In April 1999, Rev. Murphy was called to be pastor of Mt. Zion Progressive Missionary Baptist Church. Under his guidance, and with the support of his leadership team, Mt. Zion Progressive has grown from 400 members to over 4,000 members, becoming the largest African-American congregation in the City of St. Petersburg, FL. The congregation has been challenged to go outside the church walls to 'bring about effective change within a 2-mile radius of Mt. Zion Progressive.' This Vision for Community Renewal has put Mt. Zion Progressive on the leading edge of economic, political and spiritual renewal in the city’s poorest neighborhoods. 

Rev. Murphy’s community and civic involvement includes: Founding Board Member, Urban Development Solutions; Co-Chairperson, Power On! Campaign; Executive Board Member, Boy Scouts of America Central Florida Council; Board Member, Pinellas County Urban League; Board Member, YMCA of Greater; and Vice President, Kiwanis Club of St. Petersburg. He's also a featured columnist with the St. Petersburg Times, a weekly guest on WRXB-1590 AM Gospel Show with Sister Diane Hughes, and is a noted speaker.