MISSION STATEMENT

OUR PURPOSE

The purpose of Merson Church is to glorify Jesus Christ by being a light to our community, having a passion for sharing the gospel with the lost and faithfully teach God's word so that every believer is progressing toward the fullness of Christ.

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OUR VISION

Our vision  is to faithfully worship, obey, grow and reach out in the name of Jesus Christ.

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OUR CORE VALUES

Worship

Daily worshiping Christ through Prayer, Personal Bible Study and Thanksgiving

• John 4:24 - God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
• Psalm 96:90 - worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness: fear before him, all the earth.
• Psalm 95:6 - O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the LORD our maker.
• Matthew 4:10 - Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.
• Also see: Psalm29:2, Psalm 47:1-6, Psalm 63:1, Psalm 100, Acts 16:25, Phil 3:3, Heb 12:28

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Word

Growing in faith by the word of God

• 2 Timothy 3:16-17 - All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.
• Psalm 19:7-9 - The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.
• The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.
• The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.
• Romans 10:17 - So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God
• 2 Timothy 2:15 - Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
• Also see: Psalm 1:2, Psalm 119:11-16, Matt. 4:4, Rom. 15:4, Eph 6:17, Col 1:5, Col 3:16, 1 Peter 1:23

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Walk

Walking in Fellowhip and in Faithfulness in the light of the Word

• Colossians 2:6 - As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:
• Colossians 1:10 - That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;
• 1 John 1:7 - But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
• Romans 12:1-2 - I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
• Also see: Rom 6:4, 2 Cor 5:7, Eph 5:2, Eph 5:8, Phil 3:14, Gal 5:16, Prov 3:5-6

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Witness

Reaching the world with the Gospel of Jesus Christ

• Matthew 28:19-20 - Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
• 2 Corinthians 1:18 - But as God is true, our word toward you was not yea and nay.
• 2 Corinthians 5:18 - And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;
• Acts 1:8 - But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
• Also See: Isaiah 43:10, Act 22:15, 2 Cor. 5:20, Col 1:28, 1 Tim 2:3-4, John 15:16

DOCTRINAL STATEMENT

We believe the complete Bible to be inspired of God, the infallible Word of God. "All scripture is given by inspiration  of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness" (II Timothy 3:16).

• THE GODHEAD
  We believe in and teach the existence of an eternal God in three Persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit -  II Corinthians 13:14 & Deuteronomy 6:4
• THE BIBLE
  We believe in and teach the verbal inspiration of both the Old and New Testaments of the Bible - II Timothy 3:16,17 & II Peter 1:20,21
• THE CREATION OF MAN
  We believe in and teach the creation of man by the direct act of God - Genesis 1:26,27
• THE LOST CONDITION OF MAN
  We believe in and teach the total depravity and lost condition of all men by nature - Romans 3:22,23 & Romans 5:12
• THE INCARNATION OF CHRIST
  We believe in and teach the incarnation and virgin birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ - John 1:1,2,14
• THE VICARIOUS ATONEMENT OF THE CROSS
  We believe in and teach the vicarious atonement of Jesus Christ for the sins of mankind by the shedding of His blood on the cross - Romans 6:23; Ephesians 1:7 & I Peter 2:24
• THE RESURRECTION OF CHRIST
  We believe in and teach Christ's bodily resurrection from the tomb and His bodily ascension - Romans 8:34; Acts 1:9 & Hebrews 7:25
• CHRIST'S RETURN
  We believe in and teach the personal pre-millennial and imminent return of our Lord Jesus Christ - Revelation 3:10,11; I Thessalonians 4:13-18 & Titus 2:13
• JUSTIFICATION BY FAITH IN THE SHED BLOOD
  We believe in and teach that men are justified on the single ground of faith in the shed blood of Jesus Christ - Ephesians 2:8,9 & John 1:12
• THE TWO RESURRECTIONS
  We believe in and teach two resurrections: (a) of the just and, (b) of the unjust; and the everlasting blessedness of the just and the eternal punishment of the unjust - John 5:28,29
• THE ORDINANCES
  We believe that Christ gave two ordinances to the Church to be observed "till He Comes:"

A. THE LORD'S SUPPER - it was left us as an ordinance by the Lord Himself (Matthew 26:26 & Mark 14:22-24, and others) for a memorial of His death until He comes and should not be taken inadvisably, but with the examination of one's life.

B. BELIEVER'S BAPTISM - We accept as Scriptural, baptism by immersion (Matthew 28:19).  We practice baptism as a visible testimony.  It should be made clear that there is no saving power in baptism—it is meant for those who are already saved—giving a clear picture of the fact that the believer is dead, buried and raised spiritually with Jesus Christ by faith in Him.

HISTORY OF MERSON CHURCH

Merson Church began as the vision of some local people attending a small mission church in East Trowbridge. Later some of these same people followed Mr. Lucien Spayd, meeting at Wilkinson Schoolhouse, which was later changed to Merson School.

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On April 15, 1883, a charter group officially formed a church, calling Rev. Lucien Spayd as their first pastor in 1884, they built a brick church, as well as a horse barn, calling themselves the Trowbridge or Merson Church of Christ. Several years later a parsonage was built through the financial help of the Ladies Aid Society. Over the years various parcels were purchased from the Hugh's Farm (which is North and adjacent to the church).

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The church filled a need in the community and large crowds gathered. They began ordaining some young men of deep spiritual vision as pastors and several were encouraged and sent as missionaries through the early years. Many men pastored the church and their families lived in the little parsonage while their children attended the local school.

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Where did the name Merson come from? It is said that at the four corners was a grocery store/post office.  The postal system was asking for a name for the corners and at the time Mr. Merson (a cigar salesman, of South Haven) was selling his wares at the corner store. It was possibly a joke as they said the name 'Merson Corner' to the official...but the name stuck.  If you visit South Haven there still bears the family name 'Merson' in the building's old marquee...thus the naming of our Merson Corners.

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During the 1940's the church was incorporated in the State of Michigan under the name Merson Church, ultimately becoming an independent, self-governing Bible Church. Feeling a need for expansion to meet the growing congregation's program, an addition was added in 1958 under Pastor G.A. Pike.

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On December 6, 1965, the entire building was destroyed by fire. The decision to rebuild was immediate. A new building was completed and furnished by November, 1966.  Quickly the mortgage was paid off and the church was debt free. Within a few years it was obvious that even more space was needed to fill the demands of a growing church as Wednesday night programs for the year were initiated and the church family continued to grow. In 1975 a large addition including a gym and class room complex was added, creating that which now makes up the present Merson Church edifice.

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The building is only wood, concrete, and metal until someone walks through the doors. A church is really people!  People who know the Lord and have a heart to serve him! In 1884, only 15 people were interested enough to have a witness for Christ in this community.

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Merson Church remains an independent Bible Church, self-governed, owned and supported by its members. Its purpose is to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Through Him, alone, we find the only means by which mankind may come into a personal and eternal relationship with Jesus Christ.

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Endeavoring to reach out to our community and to teach the Bible as the inherent Word of Truth we employ an active ministry. Thus, we continue to extend our vision of being a light to a lost world.

Pastor Gail Pike faithfully served God at Merson for over 59yrs. He helped grow the church and had an impact on so many lives. He went home to be with the Lord on October 26,2014. He desired to see them follow Christ. He said this to each one, “Keep on keeping on, Stay True to the Lord and Keep reaching out to the Lost!”