ABOUT US
Core Values/Beliefs
Pastor Doug Pummell,
Sue and I are excited to be starting a new chapter of our lives in Mount Vernon, Ohio. We cannot wait to get started sharing the news of God’s amazing grace and meeting our new family.
In May 2021 I completed course of study at the Methodist Theology School. In August 2021 I began taking classes working towards a Master of Divinity Degree. I am scheduled to graduate with the degree in May 2024.
Sacraments
Mulberry Church is part of the Global Methodist Church. We recognize two sacraments in which Christ himself participated: baptism and the Lord's Supper.
Baptism
Baptism marks the beginning of our lifelong journey as disciples of Jesus Christ.
Through baptism, we are joined with the Triune God, the whole of Christ’s church, and our local congregation. The water and the work of the Holy Spirit in baptism convey God’s saving grace, the forgiveness of our sins, and new life in Jesus Christ. Persons of any age may be baptized—infants, children, youth, and adults. Methodists baptize in a variety of ways—immersion, pouring, or sprinkling. A person receives the sacrament of baptism only once in his or her life.
The Lord’s Supper
The Lord’s Supper is another name for the Eucharist, the sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving the church offers to God for all God has done, is doing, and will do to save us and renew all things in Christ.
Through offering ourselves in praise and thanksgiving, and through receiving the bread and cup—which the Spirit makes for us the body and blood of Christ—celebrating the Lord’s Supper together nourishes and sustains us in our journey as disciples of Jesus Christ.
As we pray together and receive the body and blood of Christ together, we are united with Christ, with one another, and in ministry to all the world.
All who love Christ, earnestly repent of their sin and seek to live in peace with one another are invited to join us in offering our prayer of thanksgiving and receive the body and blood of Christ—regardless of age or church membership.
Faith
If you want a short definition of faith, it could be this: taking God at His word. It is true that our faith is in God. But we do not properly know the God we should believe in or know how to believe in Him unless He tells us in His word. This is why Paul says in Romans 10:17
"So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God". It is full confidence in God's word. FAITH accepts God's word (His promises and His warnings) as FACT and acts accordingly. Since there are many evidences that the word of God is true, this is not a blind leap of faith. It is rather an intelligent, holy reaction to the wondrous words of God.
The Bible
We believe that the Bible is God's Word. While men have written the Scripture, they have not done so as an expression of their own will, but God has moved them by His Spirit to express His own will (2 Peter 1:20,21; 2 Tim. 3:16).
“God has given us His Word to help us know Him. If we do not allow the Scriptures to guide us, we will not find answers to our most basic and important questions. Above all, we will not come to know our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. In Him, God reveals himself to us, His righteousness as well as His love. We need God's Word, the Scriptures.”