What to Expect:
When you come to Crawford Methodist you can expect to be welcomed into a friendly, positive atmosphere by people who are genuinely glad to see you. Our gatherings usually last about an hour, filled with great music, children’s time, and a bible-centered message.
The Church
We believe that the capitalized C in Church represents the global and universal Church in contrast with the local congregation. The Church is the body of Christ. It is an extension of Christ’s life and ministry in the world today, and its purpose and mission is to make disciples of Jesus Christ. We believe that the Church is “the communion of saints,” a community made up of all past, present, and future followers of Jesus Christ, and that the Church is called to worship God and to support those who participate in its life as they grow in faith.
Mission
Our mission is to become a community of believers and followers of God; The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We gather to worship and become stewards and disciples, who express our faith with others, nurture one another, and are in ministry with Christ.
Making Disciples of Christ
Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Teach the new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of age. -- Matthew 28: 19-20
Creed
The word “creed” comes from the Latin word “credo” which means “I believe”. The creeds are the statements that contain a summary of our basic beliefs.
In the Book of Common Prayer, reciting the creeds serves as a public declaration of the Christian faith, connecting individuals with the broader community of believers throughout history and across the world. The creeds articulate the core beliefs about God and the salvation offered through Jesus Christ, shaping understanding and reinforcing Christian identity.
Scripture
The role of scripture in Methodist theology:
At the heart of Methodist theology lies a deep commitment and holy reverence for the scriptures of the Old and New Testaments. We believe that the Bible is the inspired word of God, serving as a foundation for faith and moral guidance. John Wesley, the founder of the Methodist movement, emphasized that scripture should be interpreted through Tradition, Reason, and Experience. These four things form the framework known as the Wesleyan quadrilateral. Scripture forms the supreme building block for Tradition, Reason, and Experience as we are led by the Holy Spirit. This approach ensures that sermons, biblical teaching, and study reflect the ordering of our church life as dual citizens of the Kingdom of God and as patriotic citizens of the United States of America and the world.
Holy Communion
Holy Communion, or the Lord’s Supper, is a holy meal of bread and juice that symbolizes the Body and Blood of Christ. It recalls the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus and celebrates the unity of all the members of God’s family. By sharing this meal, we give thanks for Christ’s sacrifice and are nourished and empowered to go into the world in both mission and ministry. We practice open communion: welcoming all who love Christ, repent of their sin, and seek to live in peace with one another.
Baptisms
Through the sacrament of baptism, we are joined with the Church and with Christians everywhere. It is a symbol of new life and a sign of God’s love and forgiveness. We believe that persons of any age can be baptized.
The sacrament of infant baptism does not mean to suggest that the child is saved by baptism but instead, that God is already at work in him/her; that God’s grace is already being poured into that young life; that the child is already precious in the eyes of the Almighty.
Therefore, our response to these baptisms, our covenant that we will lead lives that help the children of our community to make their own decision to accept Jesus as their Savior, is of the utmost importance. For in doing so, we literally become the hands and feet of Christ, showing the sacramental grace of God that claims us even from our first breath.
We baptize by sprinkling, immersing, or pouring.
Meet Our Staff
Kent Berry, Pastor: Kent found the beginning of his calling in High School through his home church, and it was there that he experienced a call to ordained Ministry. That calling persisted through Active Duty with the United States Marine Corps, and after discharge he returned home to Fort Worth, Texas. It was there that Kent resumed active membership with his local church and attended the Tarrant County Jr. College, receiving an Associate of Arts degree. He said, “I am a big fan of community colleges because they serve our communities and students with opportunities offering affordable education with qualified teaching faculty." Kent graduated with a BS degree from Texas Wesleyan University and from there earned a Master of Divinity degree from Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University. Kent completed clinical Pastoral Education from the Veterans Hospital in Dallas, Texas. Post Seminary work includes a diploma in Theological Studies from The Episcopal Seminary of the Southwest in Austin, Texas.
Kent retired from the Army Chaplaincy by rounding out 38 years of combined military service between the U.S.M.C., Army National Guard and Army Reserve. Kent served in Iraq as a Chaplain on two separate deployments and one deployment to Afghanistan. Kent graduated from the Army Command and General Staff College in 2008. In 2011 he retired from Fort Cavazos as a Lieutenant Colonel serving as the Brigade Chaplain for the First Army, Division West, 166th Aviation Brigade.
In 1986 Kent and Vicki Cribbs were married while serving his first church as a pastor. Vicki was an OK growing up (Organist Kid), and as a music public educator herself, Vicki fully embraced the work and ministry of the local church. Out of that union the Berry’s have three children, all of which live in Crawford with their families (9 grandchildren).
Kent is an ordained Elder in the Central Texas Conference of the United Methodist Church and serves today as an Elder with the Independent Methodist Church of Crawford. Kent will tell you that there are still many good years of effective and full-time years left in him to serve the Crawford Methodist Church.
Jennifer Walpole, Secretary: I have lived in Crawford for eight years. I was raised as a Methodist and have been happily working as the secretary since 2019. I love our church family. “Do to others as you would have them do to you.” (Luke 6:31)
Nate Byers, Youth Director: My family has lived in Crawford for 10 years. My wife, Kelli Byers, teaches at Crawford Elementary. We’ve been married for 23 years, we have two children, Jacob 14 and Joshua 10. I grew up in Merkel, Texas where I attended Merkel Methodist Church. I participated in youth missions and activities while there. I have enjoyed working with the youth at Crawford Methodist Church over the years. My family enjoys the fellowship, teachings, and friendships we’ve received at Crawford Methodist. We are thankful for our church family.
Board of Directors: Janette Baldwin, Kaye Clark, Jim Ditto, John Minnix, and Berry Raley
Click to view: Committee Descriptions