Russ Gumm
Senior Pastor
Russ Gumm accepted God’s call to serve, guide and lead as Senior Pastor in August 2010. A graduate of MVNU, Pastor Gumm considers his transition to First Naz a “homecoming” and is passionate about loving, living and sharing God with the Mount Vernon community.
Prior to his role at First Naz, Pastor Gumm and his partner in ministry, Kelly, served at Xenia Naz. Pastor Gumm and Kelly have two children, Zack (12) and Julianne (7) who bring tremendous joy and energy into their lives.
Born and raised in Lima, Ohio, Pastor Gumm has learned to tolerate Ohio winters if supplemented regularly by plenty of family time on the beach and in the sunshine. Pastor and Kelly enjoy family activities and stay busy chasing their kids around trying to keep up with their schedules. Pastor has also become a runner since moving to Mount Vernon and appreciates the camaraderie that comes from being a part of an encouraging team.
The third child of eight, Pastor Gumm is blessed with a godly mother who made sure she had all eight children in Sunday School every week. He gave his life to God at a city-wide crusade in 1974 and totally surrendered his life to God in 1978. Pastor Gumm is intentional about living God …. every day and in every way. His strong family focus is evident as is his desire to be a godly husband and father and to create a church built for family life. His life verse is Matthew 6:33 “Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don’t worry about missing out. You’ll find all your everyday human concerns will be met.”
Jim Puckett
Worship Pastor
Jim Puckett and his wife, Annette, returned to Mt. Vernon at the invitation of Pastor Gumm in the fall of 2010. God had already placed First Naz on Jim’s and Annette’s hearts just a few days prior and the call from Pastor Gumm was confirmation of God’s leading them to Mount Vernon.
Jim accepted Christ at the age of 6 and, though raised in the church, admits he had his own faith challenges. A graduate of MVNU, Jim intended to pursue a career as a studio musician. There is a specific moment in time, however, when God spoke to him saying the talents He had gifted him with were not intended to be “wasted” on mere entertainment – but could only be used to their fullest in His service. Though he has been involved in ministry since he was a teenager, Jim has been in full-time ministry since 1992.
Jim loves visiting his kids and claims that having “grown-up” kids is the most amazing family dynamic! He also can be found writing new music and working on that one “really great song” or watching movies with Annette. Jim and Annette love to travel and dream of trips to Alaska, Italy, and Israel … and think watermelon is the best food on the planet!
Jim’s longing is to see people connected to Christ’s true love and grace – not religion; and to see worship reflect God’s greatness and worth. He desires to be more like Christ and to show that as a husband, father and grandfather. Jim’s life verse is Colossians 3:23 “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart as working for the Lord, not for human masters.” When motivated by serving God, not man, the diverse gifts, talents and skills we possess work together to yield magnanimous, eternal results.
Luke McLean
Youth Pastor
Luke McLean came to Mount Vernon after serving for two years as youth pastor at Kansas City First Church of the Nazarene. Luke accepted the position in Kansas City while attending Nazarene Theological Seminary. He and his wife, Sarah, are graduates of Mount Vernon Nazarene University.
Luke grew up in the Church of the Nazarene and was saved at an early age. But, it wasn’t until the age of 23 that Luke fully committed his life to following Jesus. God called Luke into the ministry during a sermon at the 2005 General Assembly. Luke has been involved in youth ministry for nearly five years. But, he has been working with youth through various ways including teaching and coaching for over ten years and is passionate about seeing people, churches, and communities transformed by the love of Jesus.
Luke can be found in his “free time” spending time with Sarah and Maggie, hiking/camping, playing disc golf, or watching documentaries. Luke considers himself blessed to have a loving and supportive wife as well as the sweetest and cutest little girl in the world! Items on Luke’s “bucket list” include a rafting trip through the Grand Canyon, seeing the Holy Land, hiking the Appalachian Trail, and watching Indiana win another national championship in basketball.
One of Luke’s favorite scriptures is Luke 15:24, “For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.” This verse reminds us of the story about the Loving Father, and how He never gave up on his son. God will never give up on us. No matter what we have done, He continues to love us. God’s love and mercy changed Luke’s life, and He invites those of us who have experienced His love and mercy to extend it to others.
Dr. Joe Saunders
Prime Time Pastor
Dr. Joe Saunders serves as Prime Time Pastor at First Naz. Dr. Joe served as Senior Adult Pastor in Xenia with Pastor Gumm and followed him to Mt. Vernon to serve in the same capacity. Dr. Joe graduated from Olivet Nazarene with preparation as a secondary social science teacher and subsequently earned two master’s degrees. Prior to completion of his undergraduate degree, Dr. Joe was a sergeant in the U.S. Marine Corps. Becoming disenchanted with the unprofessional nature of public education teachers’ unions, he entered the field of associate ministry in the Church of the Nazarene. A practitioner of clinical counseling since 1982, he earned a Ph.D. in counselor education at Ohio University in 1986 and began a new career as a professor of clinical counseling as well as maintaining a private practice.
Along with the demands of his career as a teacher and professor, he served local churches wherever his career took him as a minister of music, youth, and Christian education. His interest in music is life-long. He traveled for three years as a professional gospel quartet singer upon graduation from college. The eldest of 11 children and coming from a musical family, Dr. Joe has learned to play several instruments including the mandolin, Indian flute, keyboard, bass guitar and dulcimer. Through the Church of the Nazarene International, Dr. Joe has been commissioned as song evangelist, minister of music, minister of Christian education, and ordained deacon. When not working, he might be fishing or engaged in shooting sports.
Dr. Joe was called to full time ministry during a missionary service with Dr. Elmer Schmelzenbach as speaker in 1968. Since retirement from his professional career at the end of 2002, he has served local churches. He is passionate both professionally and personally about people. His life verse is Phil. 4:13 “I can do everything through Christ who strengthens me.”
Lisa Phillips
Children’s Ministries, Early Childhood Coordinator
Lisa Phillips serves as the Early Childhood Coordinator at FirstNaz. Lisa has a B.A. in liberal studies from Vanguard University in Costa Mesa, California and has taught kindergarten, first grade and pre-k classes.
Lisa grew up hearing and knowing about Jesus and was blessed to be part of a family where both sets of grandparents have a strong faith in the Lord. Incidentally, her mom’s parents were missionaries to El Salvador. Lisa had a desire to serve God and follow Him from a very early age and sought out ministry opportunities even from the time she was in high school. She believes that where she is today is just a natural outpouring from where God has already brought her.
Lisa and her husband Ben have three girls, Tayler, Emma and Kate. She loves to play games, read and spend time with her family. On Lisa’s “bucket list” is a trip to Italy.
Lisa is passionate about children and desires for them to know they are loved and special to God. It is her desire that children experience the love and fullness of Jesus so that when they grow older they will have built a strong foundation of faith that will carry them through life. Though she admits there are many verses that have guided and directed her in the various aspects of her life, Lisa’s life verse is Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans that I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
Karen Fanning
Children’s Ministries
Karen Fanning serves as Children’s Director. Karen accepted God’s call to children’s ministry several years ago and came to serve as the Children’s Director at Mount Vernon First Church in July 2011 in answer to God’s call in her life. She is passionate about building relationships with children and in helping children trust in Jesus and building a relationship with Him at church, school, home and in every aspect of their lives.
Karen and her husband Bill have four children; Bryan, Sarah, Mark and Jake. They enjoy playing games, camping, riding dirt bikes, and being together as a family. She is very blessed to have a family who is so supportive and loving.
Her deepest desire is to follow God in every aspect of her life. There are many scriptures that have meant much to her as she has sought God’s call in her life. One of her favorite verses is Proverbs 3:5-6, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and he will make your paths straight.”
Kim Bradley
Outreach Director
Kim grew in the church as a Pastors Kid. After questioning her faith Kim came to accept Jesus as her Lord and found that her faith became more real as she put her faith in action through serving others. She began by volunteering for the van ministry in her local church and came to realize we are all called to action based on 1 John 3:18 “Let us not love with words or tongue but with action and in truth.” This has become one of Kim’s life passages.
As a result of Kim’s passion for serving she became a part time staff member at First Naz serving as Children’s Outreach Director. The job has expanded over the years and Kim now oversees all the outreach ministries of the church. Kim also works in the Mount Vernon City Schools in the Elementary libraries. Her passion is people! She loves talking and listening to people at Fathers Table and being a part of their lives.
Kim is married to Bill and they have two children, Matt and Kailey. Matt is married to Jeni and they have two daughters, Logan and Payton and they are the joy of her life! Kim enjoys reading, walking outside and playing with her grandkids. Kim says that gardening is “growing” on her…pun intended.
Kim would love to one day travel overseas, go back to school, learn another language and write a book.