Our Minister
REV DAVID MULLINS
David was born in Cardiff and studied architecture before entering the ministry. He is married to Louise, who is a health visitor, and they have two daughters, Rachel and Jenni. David has served as a minister in Harpenden, Central London, Hull, York and Muswell Hill. (He and Louise met when he became minister of her church in Hull.)
David & Louise Mullins
The family has moved to Bishop’s Stortford after 12 years in Muswell Hill and just as the church there completes a £1.2m refurbishment of its community premises.
Prior to this, in York, David was minister at the Central Methodist Church. Here he was responsible for another major building scheme - the refurbishment of the 1840s Grade 2* listed church. David was also Chair of the York Council of Churches for a time. A highlight of his ministry in York was the ‘One Voice’ ecumenical mission which he co-chaired with Anglican and Roman Catholic colleagues, Canon John Young and Father Cyril Brooks. Based in the York Barbican Theatre, 300 churches invited the people of York and the surrounding villages to ‘take a fresh look at the Christian faith’ in the autumn of 1992. Whilst in York, David also developed a keen interest in the church in China and has been Secretary of the Friends of the Church in China.
David offered for the Methodist ministry in 1976 and was influenced in this decision by time spent at the ecumenical Taizé community in France, founded by the late Brother Roger. David enjoys music and plays classical guitar.
Contact David 01279 654475 e mail davidhmullins@btinternet.com>
An invitation to come back to Church!
One Sunday last year, over 82,000 extra people attended church here in the UK. What was it that led them to join us that day? It wasn’t Christmas or Easter, when we expect to see larger congregations; it was just an ordinary Sunday. Or perhaps it wasn’t quite so ordinary because on this particular day, Christians went out of their way to invite family, friends and neighbours back to Church and to make sure that a warm welcome awaited them. As a result, around 10,000 people who were not attending Church a year ago are now regularly at worship.
The Sunday in question was ‘Back to Church Sunday.’ From small beginnings in Manchester in 2004, ‘Back to Church Sunday’ has blossomed. Last year, the Methodist Church encouraged Methodists to get involved and 262 churches did so with an average of 14 newcomers swelling those congregations of whom around 500 are now actively involved in the life of those churches.
This year the Leadership Team has decided that we will get involved in ‘Back to Church Sunday.’ The date is Sunday 26 September. On that day we have the opportunity to extend an invitation to those who may be interested, or once attended church but have got out of the habit, or who come onto our premises during the week for various other reasons, to come ‘back to Church’ and worship with us. Research done by Tearfund shows that there are 3 million people who would respond positively to an invitation!
Of course, we must be ready to welcome those we invite. It will be an ordinary Sunday, but we will seek to ‘do the ordinary with a sparkle!’ ‘Back to Church Sunday’ is not something that the Leadership Team can do, nor the minister, nor the Church Council - it is something that can only be done by all of us together - and that’s what Church is, of course, a community living and working together as a team, as a body, the Body of Christ.
Do put the date in your diary and begin to think and pray about who you may invite ‘back to Church’ and how you may help in providing a welcoming atmosphere not only on the day, but each and every Sunday.
Meanwhile, have a great Summer!
