Sunday morning, December 10, Sherry and I had the privilege of worshiping with Rev. Clifton Ashlock and the congregation of Parkview Wesleyan Church in Chesterfield. Dr. Dick Hines (who previously served on our District Board of Administration) and Sherry, his wife, brought the special music. It was good to connect with several Wesleyan ministers like Rev. Tony Casey, Rev. Bill Barlow, and Rev. Dennis Hilton, who now call Parkview their home church. Pastor Clifton also welcomed two new members into the fellowship of the church. Following the morning service, I was able to briefly connect with the members of the Local Board of Administration. Parkview continues to have meaningful ministry to the community including a free meal for their neighbors on Tuesday evenings and a midweek youth group that has an average of 15 teenagers attending. Sunday evening, I was able to drop in at Trinity Wesleyan Church in Indianapolis as they wrapped up the third night of their Christmas connection experience. Pastor Mike Colaw and his team welcomed more than 1000 neighbors for “The North Pole Experience.” Carin Hines led an enthusiastic group of volunteers, including DBA member Reva Schultz, who helped point families to the real meaning of Christmas. On my way back home from Indy, I dropped in on the evening service at Autumn Hills Church. I appreciated the message that Rev. Jerome Bell shared on the wise men. Please keep Pastor Jerome and this new congregation in your prayers as they reach out to Pendleton. Last week’s district ministry calendar included the Christmas gathering with Fort Wayne area pastors and spouses on Monday evening at Lifeway Church. Special thanks to Rev. Andy Jellison, senior pastor, and his team of volunteers who did a wonderful job of hosting this evening of fellowship, food, and fun. We have three more opportunities coming up this week: Tuesday evening at Lakeview Wesleyan Church in Marion, Thursday evening at Harvest Church in Greenfield, and then on Friday evening at Plymouth Wesleyan Church. Wednesday, I was in Avon with Rev. Seth Bye (317 Church) and then in Indianapolis to connect with Rev. Barry Dixon (Calvary Family Church) for our annual coaching conversations. Every one of these conversations reminds me of significant, life-impacting ministries that our churches offer in a wide variety of contexts. I am grateful for our pastors and their teams! Thursday morning, I checked in with Rev. Carla Working and our district’s Women in Ministry cohort that was meeting at The River Church in Marion. In addition to her leadership responsibilities at Wesleyan headquarters in the Education and Clergy Development Department, Rev. Working leads our District Board of Ministerial Development and this monthly cohort. We have a growing number of gifted women serving in ordained ministry in a variety of roles across our district family. God’s promise in Joel 2:28-29 is being fulfilled! Thursday, our District Board of Administration gathered at College Wesleyan Church for our quarterly meeting. We received ministry and financial reports. Thank you to our churches who are faithfully supporting the United Stewardship Fund. We stand at 91% for the first half of the conference year. The board engaged in meaningful discussions and in an extended time of prayer for our churches and pastors. Following our regular session, we enjoyed a delicious Christmas meal prepared by Velvet Haisley. We are blessed to have these lay and clergy, women and men, who serve together to provide oversight to our Crossroads District ministry of equipping leaders, revitalizing congregations, and planting new churches. The reason why we do what we do is to glorify God by making disciples who make disciples. Dr. Chris Williams and the congregation at Lakeview Wesleyan Church are doing just that. On Sunday, December 10, they celebrated six more baptisms with new believers publicly professing their faith in Christ and one more student reaffirming his baptism. Praise God for lives being #MadeNew! Please lead your congregation in prayer this Sunday, December 17, for our Follow ‘23 Youth Conference happening in Cincinnati in just three more weeks. Pray that our next generation leaders will powerfully encounter God at this dynamic event! Registration is open for the 2024 Heartland Gathering, April 2-5, 2024, in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee! The DBA has approved one $300 scholarship for each district church, designated to cover a significant portion of the registration cost for one pastoral family per church. Details regarding the scholarship were sent to lead and solo pastors. If you are a lead or solo pastor and did not receive that email, please reach out to us at office@crossroadsdistrict.org. For more information and registration, visit gathering.heartlandregion.org. Keep on making a difference in the cause that counts for eternity! Your servant in Christ, Mark Gorveatte Crossroads District Superintendent Sunday morning, December 3, Sherry and I had the privilege of worshiping with Rev. Mike Henry and the team at Level 13 Church. Level 13 has experienced lots of change in the past few years and is experiencing God’s blessing as the church moves into a rebuilding phase. Pastor Mike is another one of our faithful bivocational pastors. In addition to leading the church, he works several days per week driving an ambulance. It was fun to meet two new families that have come to Level 13 through Pastor Mike’s participation in a nearby pickleball league. Following the service, I met with the LBA for an update on their plans to relaunch this spring. Sherry and I hosted Pastor Mike and Hannah for lunch and met more of the community members with whom they are building relationships. I was back on the road from sabbatical on December 1. I stopped in at New Castle Memorial Wesleyan Church to check on our new pastor, Rev. Mark Wooten. He and Pam are getting settled into their new community and church family. Over lunch, I met with Rev. Ron and Fay Ferguson who are serving our Grant City Wesleyan Church congregation. My next stop was in Ingalls to see the progress that Waterline Church is making on the facility into which they’ll be moving in a few months. In addition to the build-out of their new space, they are making a spiritual impact through prayer walking the nearby neighborhoods. Friday evening, Sherry and I were in Fort Wayne to connect for supper with Rev. Sam and Jen Maddox (pastoring Albion Wesleyan Church). It was encouraging to hear how God is at work in their family and ministry. Saturday, Rev. Grace Lopez (FLAMA Coordinator) and I met with the leadership team at Monte de Sion Iglesia Wesleyana in Indianapolis. I’ll be back at Monte de Sion on December 17 as the church celebrates the faithful ministry and retirement of Sister Tomasa Granados. She and her husband (now deceased) were instrumental in the launching of the Wesleyan Hispanic ministries in the Indianapolis area. Rev. Lopez has been providing valued leadership in this time of transition. We love sharing the stories of how God is moving across our district. Rev. Mike Hewitt and the team at Muncie Rising Hope had a wonderful baptism celebration last month and shared these photos of the five new believers who publicly testified to their faith in Christ. Pastor Dan Fisher and the team at Delphi Wesleyan Church celebrated 6 baptisms on Sunday, November 26. This photo captures the moment that Pastor Dan and Amy, his wife, baptized Amy’s sister for whom they’d been praying for more than 30 years! Pastor Matthew Trexler and the team at The River Church in Marion now schedule the first Sunday of each month for a baptism Sunday. Praise God for these new believers who testified publicly to the change that Jesus Christ is making in their lives! Sherry and I can’t wait to see so many of our pastors and their spouses at one of our four Christmas gatherings coming up beginning tonight in Fort Wayne and in three more locations next week. We’ll also be meeting with our Crossroads District Board of Administration in Marion on Thursday for our quarterly session and for our Christmas fellowship. Please join us in prayer for our Follow ‘23 Youth Conference happening in Cincinnati later this month. Pray that our next generation leaders will powerfully encounter God at this dynamic event! Registration is open for the 2024 Heartland Gathering, April 2-5, 2024, in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee! The DBA has approved one $300 scholarship for each district church, designated to cover a significant portion of the registration cost for one pastoral family per church. Details regarding the scholarship were sent to lead and solo pastors. If you are a lead or solo pastor and did not receive that email, please reach out to us at office@crossroadsdistrict.org. For more information and registration, visit gathering.heartlandregion.org. Keep on making a difference in the cause that counts for eternity! Your servant in Christ, Mark Gorveatte Crossroads District Superintendent “Mann Tracht, Un Gott Lacht” is an old Yiddish adage meaning, “Man Plans, and God Laughs.” I’ve been reminded of that as I’m wrapping up the last few days of the sabbatical graciously granted by our Crossroads District Board of Administration. Things did not go exactly as had planned. The two-week study tour in Israel with Dr. Jim Garlow was canceled at the last moment for obvious reasons. We continue to pray for the peace of Jerusalem and stand with Israel in this time of tragedy and conflict. With that unexpected cancellation, we scrambled and found last-minute tickets on a transatlantic cruise from London to New York City. One delightful surprise was to discover that Rev. David and Suzanne Cox, Laketon Wesleyan Church, were on the same cruise. Ask Pastor Dave about our bumper car experience. Our cruise was intended to include a stop in Bermuda, but once again plans were changed. Hurricane Tammy decided to visit Bermuda at the very same time we were scheduled to dock there. Our captain wisely rerouted the ship, and we made an unexpected stop in Halifax Canada before landing in New York. We arrived home just in time for me to begin the second chapter of the sabbatical plan. I flew to Zambia to participate in a two-week training course called Leadership Matters. I had a wonderful first weekend with Bishop Juden Siachetema and his team. Unfortunately, my body reacted poorly to the malaria medicine or to some of the local delicacies. Wisdom dictated returning home one week earlier than planned. I’d only been home a few days when I received the unanticipated news that my stepmother, Mrs. Merle Gorveatte, had passed away at her home in New Brunswick Canada. My father and Merle were married in their 80s and enjoyed five years together until Dad passed away last fall. I was able to make arrangements to travel there to connect with our extended family and to bring remarks at her funeral service. Obviously, I would have been unable to do so if I had remained for the second week of class in Zambia. The good news is that I’m returning from my sabbatical both refreshed and inspired. I was able to see God work in unexpected ways and unforeseen circumstances. In all these twists and turns, God once again proved himself to be more than faithful and always good. I worshiped with Anglicans in a cathedral in England (Winchester Cathedral was dedicated in 1093), with a Catholic priest in the music room of a cruise ship, with a vibrant Wesleyan congregation overflowing a concrete block building in Africa, and with thriving Wesleyan churches here in Indiana. God is on the move! Sherry and I enjoyed relaxing walks in England, Portugal, and the Canary Islands. We enjoyed unplugged days and leisurely conversations during our two weeks at sea. I was able to catch up with relatives and friends for visits that were long overdue. My reading list ranged from Michael Hyatt’s life planning resources to Jim Cymbala’s recent book, Fan the Flame. The last days of my sabbatical coincided with our family Thanksgiving gathering. It was a blessing to have all four of our children and their families in our home for this celebration. We were able to celebrate the 80th birthday of Sherry’s father, Rev. Bob Wilkerson and to receive the exciting news of another grandchild arriving next summer. I thought my sabbatical plan was good but I’m glad that God’s plan was much better! Special thanks to Dr. Chris Williams, Assistant DS, for his point leadership at the district office during my sabbatical. Thank you also to Michael Wood, District Administrator, Rev. Kalina Carlson, Executive Ministry Partner, Dr. Craig Thurmon, District Secretary, and Rev. Matthew Trexler, District Treasurer, for the important roles they continued to play in my absence. Thank you to Rev. Carla Working, DBMD Chair, and our Circuit Riders, Rev. Mark Atkinson, Dr. Jim Lo, and Dr. David Smith for their guest articles in our weekly team update. I’m grateful that we’re blessed with such a great district team! Sherry and I can’t wait to see so many of our pastors and their spouses at one of our four Christmas gatherings coming up over the next two weeks of December! Please join us in prayer for Follow ‘23 coming up in four weeks. May this rising generation of our Wesleyan churches encounter our mighty God in a fresh and powerful way at this event! Keep on making a difference in the cause that counts for eternity! Your servant in Christ, Mark Gorveatte Crossroads District Superintendent This week’s team update is a guest post by Rev. Dr. David Smith, one of our dedicated Circuit Riders serving the Crossroads District. How wonderful to be part of a team sport. Yes, Team Crossroads! God the Father is the owner. Jesus is the player-coach and calls all the plays against the “flaming arrows of the devil.” The most interesting part of the game is when He calls an audible which we never saw coming. But His wisdom and knowledge of the game takes us in a direction we never would have imagined. And thankfully, the Holy Spirit plays both ways; offense and defense. And never forget this, we have been recruited by Him to be on this team. Each one of us are Number 1 draft choices who He is training to think and react JUST LIKE HIM. May I humbly submit to you that His Gospel (aka, game plan) requires all of us to play. No one can stand on the sidelines or merely sit from the bench. Or even worse, to passively observe from the stands. It is my true delight to team up with each of you in the Crossroads District; captain Mark Gorveatte, co-captain Chris Williams, all the other specialty players who contribute to the inbreaking Kingdom. Team Crossroads is baptizing our way forward this season. Each of you give of yourselves sacrificially on the practice field (aka., church office as you pray, prepare sermons, counsel, lead LBA meetings). But that is all in preparation for game day. As the stands fill with fans; both home and away; your words from the opening “call to worship” is to remind them that this game is played to an audience of “One.” Plus, there are no pew-sitters in this game. We must all continually prepare and prayerfully be ready when the Holy Spirit calls us into the game, to stand in active defiance of our only opponent; the evil one. Finally, we must protect fellow teammates with the gift of love and most profoundly to reflect the Imago Dei to the other team so they envision His mercy and holiness embodied in us. May this love and grace cause the other team to change their long held loyalty. May I introduce you to a few of us who might be called substitute players of Team Crossroads. It is my delight to serve alongside Dr. Jim Lo, Rev. Mark Atkinson and Rev. Neftali Lopez. As you may know, we are called Circuit Riders. Our DS, Dr. Mark Gorveatte has given us a wonderfully generic job description which we can tweak based upon our individual giftings. Simply, we come alongside pastors and churches on Team Crossroads, providing encouragement, wisdom, and to “close any gap” that might be felt between your church and the District. Our overarching purpose is to serve the local church. Pastors and lay leaders, if you will let us serve you, Rev. Atkinson, Dr. Lo, Rev. Lopez and I will count it a huge privilege. One closing thought. May I offer one more opportunity to Team Crossroads. Over the last 10 years I have been putting together material and corresponding training to teach laity in the local church how to Read-Interpret-Apply the Word in Bible study groups. It is also in these groups that we hold one another accountable in Wesley-style class meetings or Bands. Our goal should not be merely to teach people the contents of the Word, but to create a culture of radical transformation where the Word becomes authoritative and the Spirit Himself is the true shaper of our hearts and minds. If your church is interested in the material, please see www.TrueNorthBibleStudy.com. It’s all free. This website contains a full version of an online Kingswood University class with extensive videos. Finally, a recent addition to the website is the Spanish translation of the True^North workbook. In Jesus’ joy, Rev. Dave Smith Ps. Below you will find the “Box score” for all the games being played this past weekend in local churches. And may I say…this is not a game but real life. Eternal life actually. It's wonderful to celebrate lives being #MadeNew throughout the Crossroads District! Pastor Jacob Gibson and the team at LifeSpring Church in Richmond celebrated 24 baptisms throughout both campuses this weekend! Pastor Scott McDermid and the team at Six Points Church in Sheridan celebrated 2 more baptism this Sunday! God is on the move at Six Points Church with nearly 30 baptisms this year! Congratulations to Pastor Josh and Megan Lavender on the happy occasion of their wedding this past weekend! Josh serves on staff as worship pastor at Trinity Church in Indianapolis. Registration is now open for the 2024 Heartland Gathering, April 2-5, 2024, in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee! The DBA has approved one $300 scholarship for each district church, designated to cover a significant portion of the registration cost for one pastoral family per church. Details regarding the scholarship were sent to lead and solo pastors. If you are a lead or solo pastor and did not receive that email, please reach out to us at office@crossroadsdistrict.org. For more information and registration, visit gathering.heartlandregion.org. REMINDER: Early bird rate ends next Monday, November 27! Please place the Follow Conference on your church’s prayer calendar. We’re believing God for a powerful move among our next generation students and their leaders. You will want to attend and bring as many teenagers as possible for this life-changing experience! This week’s team update is a guest post by Rev. Dr. Jim "Umfundisi" Lo, one of our dedicated Circuit Riders serving the Crossroads District and Director of Prayer for FOLLOW 2023. Please Join Us In Praying for FOLLOW 2023 Abigail Robertson of CBN News wrote an article on October 24, 2023, titled 'He's Pouring Out His Spirit: Revival and Mass Baptisms Not Slowing Down in Gen Z’. According to Robertson, the Holy Spirit is sparking revival in the hearts of young people throughout America and this movement by God doesn't appear to be slowing down. Jennie Allen, a Christian author and speaker, who was interviewed for the article shared, "There is something very special happening right now… I think they (young people) are hungry for God and they want God in a very real way… this is not manufactured." Years ago, a pastor shared these words with me: "You can have revival without singing. You can have revival without preaching. But you can never have revival without prayer." A thought I had one Saturday morning, recently, as I was praying for FOLLOW went like this: "God's presence cannot be manufactured. Though God is everywhere all at once, His mighty Presence is manifested through prayer." Robert Coleman, noted Christian author who wrote 'The Master Plan of Evangelism' contends the following: "Anytime you see a revival, you can be sure it started in a prayer meeting." Every week, since mid-September, a "team" of "prayer warriors" meet on Tuesday nights to pray for FOLLOW 2023. Wesley Duewel, in his book, 'Mighty Prevailing Prayer', wrote, “As you pray together, the prayer of each helps deepen the hunger for God’s answer and helps fan into flame the spirit of prayer... Faith for God’s answer is strengthened.” (132) Technology has made it possible for the FOLLOW prayer team to meet weekly. Though miles separate us, we can still "be together". I am so thankful for modern conveniences of communication. As this article is being written, there are approximately 165 pastors who have committed to praying for FOLLOW 2023. Would you consider joining this army of prayer warriors? If so, you can email me at jim.lo@indwes.edu. This quote by D.L. Moody speaks to my heart: "I am not overstating this; the anointing is mandatory if you are called to serve The Lord. Without it there will be no growth, no blessing, no victory in your ministry. Faith is a channel through which the anointing flows." The thought that keeps running through my heart is this: The success of FOLLOW 2023 is dependent upon the Holy Spirit working. We need God’s anointing over FOLLOW! Many of us who are involved with FOLLOW believe that God is wanting to do something extra, extra ordinary in the lives of those who will be in attendance. Join us in praying this prayer: God we pray What do You want? We pray in agreement with Your Kingdom come And Your will be done. You know what we need before we think it. Your ways are higher. We make room for You to move and do what You want, Lord, at FOLLOW 2023! Amen We're thrilled to celebrate God's grace in action throughout our district. Just last week, the team at College Wesleyan Church celebrated 3 baptisms and a confirmation of baptism! Yesterday, Pastor Andy Riemersma and the team at ONE Church in Westfield celebrated 2 more baptisms! Pastor Sam Maddox and the team at Albion Wesleyan Church are celebrating too, having recently welcomed 7 new members to their church family. Notably, 3 of these members were first introduced to the church through a block party they held in July, a successful outreach effort developed and funded through our Next Level initiative. Our next workshop will be held February 10, 2024, at Lakeview Wesleyan in Marion. Click Here to reserve your team's spot! Registration is now open for the 2024 Heartland Gathering, April 2-5, 2024, in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee! The DBA has approved one $300 scholarship for each district church, designated to cover a significant portion of the registration cost for one pastoral family per church. Details regarding the scholarship were sent to lead and solo pastors last week. If you are a lead or solo pastor and did not receive that email, please reach out to us at office@crossroadsdistrict.org. For more information and registration, visit: gathering.heartlandregion.org Please place the Follow Conference on your church’s prayer calendar. We’re believing God for a powerful move among our next generation students and their leaders. You will want to attend and bring as many teenagers as possible for this life-changing experience! This week’s team update is a guest post by Rev. Mark Atkinson, one of our dedicated Circuit Riders serving the Crossroads District. The most important thing you and I can do is make disciples, lead people to Jesus! Nothing changes a person like Jesus! Nothing changes a family like Jesus! Nothing will change our communities like Jesus! Nothing can change our world like Jesus! I believe it is important to HAVE FUN leading people to Jesus! I have thoroughly enjoyed the ministry of Circuit Rider for the Crossroads District. I have met the best pastors in the world. I have met the best Christians in the world. I have met many people (in October at Mt. Etna, Southside, & Elwood) who take the great commission personally and enjoy obeying! I had the blessing of being a part of a Strategic Planning Retreat led by Dr. Gorveatte. Prayer walks, concerts of prayer, and focused prayer meetings have been a powerful blessing. While there is horrible chaos in our world, what a wonderful blessing to realize that a true revival is happening in the Crossroads District! Matthew 19:17-20 - When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” I know, just as in the Scripture above, we have doubts. However, as we pray for new awareness for sharing our wonderful Savior with those we come into contact with, may we each have a humble and submissive attitude toward HIS call on our lives! Yesterday I had the wonderful opportunity to share at the Avon 317 Church. Pastor Seth Bye is leading well as this church plant reaches their communities. As we pulled in, there was a young, smiling teenager welcoming us as well as a speaker out by the parking lot broadcasting encouraging music. Even the green waving guy set the tone for “Welcome.” I believe that sharing the great message of transformation that is available in Jesus is the most important message we can share! AND seeing young adults seek Jesus and become fully committed followers is such a blessing! “And the joy they share as they travel there none other has ever known!” This week I would appreciate your prayers as I will be sharing Jesus at five churches in Cuba. I am thoroughly excited about leading folks to Jesus in such a different culture! May God be glorified! - Mark Atkinson, Crossroads District Circuit Rider It's such a joy to see God's hand at work in our district churches. Last week, Pastor Duane and the team at Brinker Heights Wesleyan celebrated another baptism! Trinity Church in Indianapolis also celebrated three more baptisms this Sunday! Praise God for lives being #MadeNew! Registration is now open for the 2024 Heartland Gathering, April 2-5, 2024, in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee! The DBA has approved one $300 scholarship for each district church, designated to cover a significant portion of the registration cost for one pastoral family per church. Details regarding the scholarship were sent to lead and solo pastors last week. If you are a lead or solo pastor and did not receive that email, please reach out to us at office@crossroadsdistrict.org. For more information and registration, visit: gathering.heartlandregion.org Please place the Follow Conference on your church’s prayer calendar. We’re believing God for a powerful move among our next generation students and their leaders. You will want to attend and bring as many teenagers as possible for this life-changing experience! This week’s team update is a guest post by Rev. Carla Working, DBMD Chair and Director of Clergy Care and Development. What an honor it is to serve The Wesleyan Church! As many of you know, I am blessed with the opportunity to serve you in multiple ways within TWC. I serve as the Director of Clergy Care and Development at headquarters, and I also have the amazing opportunity to continue to serve the Crossroads District as the Chair of the District Board of Ministerial Development. District Board of Ministerial Development The District Board of Ministerial Development (DBMD) met for the fall interviews on October 20th at Brookhaven Wesleyan Church in Marion. I am very thankful for the space the church made available to us. We had 31 wonderful interviews with women and men in our district. Some students were meeting with the DBMD for the first time, while others are nearing the end of their journey towards ordination. It is such a privilege to walk alongside men and women who sense a call to vocational ministry. If you would like to know more about the ordination process, I would love to hear from you! As a reminder, the next interview date is April 26, 2024. This fall was the kickoff of our new system within the Crossroads DBMD. Instead of utilizing Zones and Regions, as was done previously, the DBMD has combined into one large group of 32 people. This group of 32 is divided into teams of 4; each team will meet with the same candidates every year, allowing both the DBMD members and students to develop intentional and meaningful relationships. In addition to the annual interviews, students are partnered with a member of their DBMD team for additional communication and development. Our hope is that this will foster mentorship relationships for the purpose of increasing effective communication, providing growth opportunities, and creating a culture of connection within the Crossroads District. Our DBMD team holds a special place in my heart. The team is comprised of laity and clergy, male and female, English and Spanish speaking individuals who value the importance of developing leaders for the church. I want to take this moment to thank each one of them for their dedication and service to The Wesleyan Church by serving this committee. Thriving Clergy I love our Wesleyan pastors and the churches they serve. My goal is to elevate and celebrate our pastors in order to strengthen their families and the ministries they serve. Our Wesleyan headquarters diligently works to provide resources for our pastors that will equip them for ministry and invest in their well-being. Healthy pastors are more likely to have healthy churches. God created us to thrive! I encourage you to check out some of these links as you have the time:
October is nationally known as Pastor Appreciation Month. This year, The Wesleyan Church has been promoting the theme: “We See You!” For the pastors reading this update, I want you to know how valued you are! The Wesleyan Church sees you – we see your family. We are thankful for your service and faithfulness, and you are prayed for regularly. Please connect with me to let me know how I can continue to serve you and pray for you in the future. Joyfully serving with you and celebrating God’s work through you, Rev. Carla Working It's always inspiring to hear how God is at work in our district churches. This past Sunday, the team at Eastview Wesleyan Church celebrated the baptism of young Eli. His father, who serves on the praise team, can be seen sitting on the edge of the platform watching as his son is baptized. Praise God for another life #MadeNew! Registration is now open for the 2024 Heartland Gathering, April 2-5, 2024, in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee! The DBA has approved one $300 scholarship for each district church, designated to cover a significant portion of the registration cost for one pastoral family per church. Details regarding the scholarship, including the registration discount code, will be sent to lead and solo pastors later this week. For more information and registration, visit: gathering.heartlandregion.org Please place the Follow Conference on your church’s prayer calendar. We’re believing God for a powerful move among our next generation students and their leaders. You will want to attend and bring as many teenagers as possible for this life-changing experience! This week’s team update is a guest post by Rev. Dr. Chris Williams, Assistant District Superintendent. Climbing Higher: Taking Your Church to the Next Level The Church in the United States is perceived to be underperforming. One research study conducted by Lifeway predicted a seven-year period of decline that includes 55,000 church closures and a drop in church attendance from 17% to 14% of the total United States population (1). And that research was conducted before any of us knew anything about COVID-19. There is no doubt that COVID created unprecedented challenges for the Church. However, I am not sure that it is accurate for us to blame COVID for some of the losses the Church has experienced over the last couple of years. We must confront the glaring truth: COVID did not harm the church's ministry. Instead, it magnified existing vulnerabilities, revealing areas where our churches were already faltering. I do not think that there is any merit in looking back on previous years of church ministry to find who or what is to blame for the church’s current state. Rather, I think the current season we are in is a call to church leaders, pastors and laity, to take collective responsibility for what we do next. The mission is clear – guide our churches towards renewed spiritual health and missional effectiveness so that we can fulfill Jesus’ Great Commission to make disciples of all nations! This is the impetus behind the creation of the Next Level Church Experience. Reimagining Church Growth Rather than thinking about Next Level as a workshop designed to help your church become a “big church,” we invite you to reimagine church growth as the faithful pursuit of the next steps in your journey to become a church that is spiritually alive, outward focused, and committed to the transformation of lives for the sake of the Kingdom. The primary outcomes that Next Level continues to emphasize are:
To ensure churches are effectively armed with the tools and knowledge necessary to take the next steps in their journey, the Next Level Church Experience features modules such as Climbing Higher: Becoming a Next Level Church and Making Disciples Who Make Disciples. Beyond just imparting knowledge, the emphasis is on action – after each module, guided coaching conversations help leaders strategize concrete next steps. Recognizing the challenges that accompany implementation, we go the extra mile. We not only provide pastors and churches with coaches for six months post-event but also offer $1,000 implementation grants to resource their actionable plans for community outreach. Go to the Next Level It’s undeniable that our churches in the Crossroads District face challenges. My church faces challenges and so does yours. But with these challenges come unmatched opportunities. The Next Level Church Experience is not merely an event; it's a commitment – a commitment to the mission of Jesus, a commitment to pursue renewal in our churches, a commitment to see God’s Kingdom work move forward in our communities. The next session of the Next Level Church Experience is scheduled for Saturday, November 11, 9 am to 4 pm, at Lakeview Wesleyan Church in Marion, Indiana. This is more than an invitation—it's a clarion call to lead your church forward. Click here to register today. Let's take that collective step and commit to leading our churches to the Next Level! (1) J. D. Greear, Gaining by Losing: Why the Future Belongs to Churches That Send (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2015). Please place the Follow Conference on your church’s prayer calendar. We’re believing God for a powerful move among our next generation students and their leaders. You will want to attend and bring as many teenagers as possible for this life-changing experience! Please save the date and begin making plans to join us for the 2024 Heartland Gathering in Pigeon Forge, TN, on April 2-5, 2024. The DBA has approved one $300 scholarship for each church to help cover the majority of the registration cost. More information and registration is coming soon at gathering.heartlandregion.org. By the time you’re reading this update, I will be gratefully enjoying the first of six weeks of my sabbatical. This extended leave for renewal is graciously provided by our DBA in response to the provisions of The Wesleyan Church. Pastors in The Wesleyan Church are eligible for a minimum of 30 days of sabbatical leave after 7 years of service in a local church. The DBA generously provided a similar leave for me and I’m thankful for their investment in strengthening our ministry together. If all went as planned, we worshiped the Lord this weekend at Winchester Cathedral (completed and dedicated in 1093). Before I left, I had the privilege of participating in some special occasions. The first of those was on Monday evening as Wesley Seminary honored Rev. Wayne and Dr. JoAnne Lyon with the John and Vera Mae Perkins Co-Laborer with Christ Award. This was a moving tribute to the original power couple of The Wesleyan Church. Congratulations to both of these servants of the Lord and His Church! My last stop before heading out was the World Changers’ Award presented to Dr. Jim Lo in the Friday morning chapel at Indiana Wesleyan University. Dr. Lo also brought the morning message which concluded with an object lesson and closing challenge to servant leadership drawn from John 13. Dr. Lo continues to bless the campus and our churches through his anointed ministry. The World Changer Award was a well-deserved honor for our brother. We love receiving updates on how God is moving throughout our district churches. This past Sunday, Rev. Jeff Luedtke and the team at Fairmount Wesleyan Church celebrated five baptisms. Praise God for these lives being #MadeNew! While I’m away for 40 days and 40 nights, Dr. Chris Williams will be chairing the DBA. He can convene the board as needed in case of emergency. For routine questions or administrative help, please continue to reach out to Michael Wood at our office phone number or email. You’ll be treated to a series of articles in the weekly Crossroads District Team Update from our circuit riders and others while I’m away. Here are some upcoming events that you won’t want to miss! Pastors, you along with your team are invited to attend our upcoming Next Level workshop being held on November 11, 2023, at Lakeview Wesleyan Church. Next Level is an intentional training and planning day designed for pastors and a core team of 2-6 lay leaders. Each church will be trained in five key growth engines and will receive coaching for six months following the training day to develop customized action plans for your local church. Click Here to register your team. Please place the Follow Conference on your church’s prayer calendar. We’re believing God for a powerful move among our next generation students and their leaders. You will want to attend and bring as many teenagers as possible for this life-changing experience! Please save the date and begin making plans to join us for the 2024 Heartland Gathering in Pigeon Forge, TN, on April 2-5, 2024. The DBA has approved one $300 scholarship for each church to help cover the majority of the registration cost. More information and registration is coming soon at gathering.heartlandregion.org. Meanwhile, keep on making a difference in the cause that counts for eternity. Know that I’m thankful for the privilege of serving the Lord and this amazing team! Your servant in Christ, Mark Gorveatte Crossroads District Superintendent Sunday morning, October 8, Rev. Greg Holmes and the congregation at Sonlight Fellowship in South Bend welcomed me. Meeting Daisy, Pastor Greg’s 7-week-old granddaughter, was a highlight of the visit. Pastor Holmes has served this congregation for the past 20 years and the congregation had a special recognition for him last Sunday. While there have been ups and downs, the church family is united and has welcomed some new attenders in recent months. After the morning service, I enjoyed sharing lunch with Pastor Greg and Cheryl Holmes. Sunday afternoon, I was blessed to drop in and bring greetings at The Bridge Urban Church, now meeting in Mishawaka. Pastor Terry and Lennaire Vaughn are doing amazing work in leading this new congregation to reach out to their community. The Bridge is focused on making fully committed disciples. I’m grateful for the impact that they are having. Sunday evening, I was able to join Rev. Jerome Bell and the team at Autumn Hills Church, near Pendleton, for their worship service. The church meets on Sundays at 5:30 with music, preaching, Bible discussion at tables, and the sharing together in a fellowship meal. They continue to connect with new families through their monthly Art Camp outreach. I’m grateful for Pastor Jerome and Lanita’s heart to lead this new church in reaching this growing community. Last Monday, I was in Marion to meet with staff meeting and then closed out the day meeting with Dr. Jim Lo as he led a “prayer walking” training and first experience for Rev. Jerry Alexander’s team who are working to relaunch Living Hope Church in Anderson. Dr. Lo has been prayer-walking this downtown community for the past few months and it was encouraging to see early signs of spiritual progress. Some of you may know, but in addition to teaching at Indiana Wesleyan University and serving as the campus intercessor, Dr. Lo has been teaching spiritual warfare and prayer seminars for our Crossroads District churches. Indiana Wesleyan University is having a special chapel service on October 13 to recognize Dr. Lo’s significant impact on the university and through his wider ministry in global missions and local church ministry. This honor is well-deserved and I hope some of you will be able to attend this special World Changers Homecoming Chapel service on Friday, October 13, at 10:05a. Tuesday morning, I met for breakfast with Dr. Wayne Schmidt, our General Superintendent. It’s always a blessing to spend time with Dr. Schmidt. We’ve worked together in various capacities since I was first elected as his district superintendent in 2000. It was a privilege to have him as my assistant DS for seven of those 10 years in Michigan and now to have him as my GS. He carries a heavy burden and counts on our prayers! Tuesday afternoon, I was in Indianapolis to meet with Rev. Ervin and Karen Webster. They lead the ministry of St. Stephen’s Church in Warren Park. In addition to our conversation about a potential new daycare ministry, we also celebrated Pastor Ervin’s 70th Birthday! I finished up the day with a trip to Bryant. Pastor Paul and Angelyn welcomed me for supper and then I met with the LBA at Bryant Wesleyan Church for their extended call review. The LBA celebrated Pastor Paul’s 20 years of faithful ministry to their congregation and voted to unanimously affirm Pastor Paul’s extended call. Wednesday was an office day and then I traveled to Detroit that evening. On Thursday morning, I worked with Pastor Nathan Kingsbury and the team at Stoney Church using the CliftonStrengths resources that we are offering to our district churches. Thursday afternoon, I was in Fort Wayne to connect with Pastor Mike Henry for prayer and an update on the ministry at Level 13 Church. My last stop of the day was with Pastor David Dignal and the team at Edgerton Wesleyan Church. This is another healthy rural church that is faithfully making disciples. The LBA voted unanimously to affirm Rev. Dignal’s extended call. Friday morning, our team hosted the Crossroads District Retired Pastors and Spouses for a fall fellowship at College Wesleyan Church. We enjoyed hearing some great stories, singing together, enjoying delicious snacks, and praying together. We heard inspiring presentations from Rev. Mark Atkinson and Rev. Matthew Trexler. This is a great group and I’m looking forward to connecting with them again for our spring gathering, April 12. Our district office staff met again on Friday afternoon in preparation for my time away on sabbatical (October 15-November 30). Sherry and I had the privilege of hosting another Friday fellowship for lead pastors and their spouses on Friday evening. It is always encouraging to see how God is building these connections and a stronger district team. Saturday morning, I joined Pastor Jon Noggle and the leadership team at Elwood Central Wesleyan Church for a vision discerning workshop. We were blessed to have Rev. Mark Atkinson join us to share the revitalization story of Gas City Eastview. we completed our first vision draft with action steps after lunch. Pastor Mark will be assisting me with follow-up coaching as Central Wesleyan begins implementing their action plan for revitalization. My last stop on Saturday afternoon was in Carmel at Iglesia Amistad Wesleyana where Dr. Norman Wilson was teaching the FLAMA course on intercultural ministry. It was good to connect with Dr. Wilson and our students. Rev. Grace Lopez does a wonderful job coordinating these classes and assisting our Spanish-speaking ministerial students. Pastor Noah Farmer and team at Gas City Eastview Wesleyan Church had the joy of celebrating an unexpected baptism. This one wasn’t on their schedule but they were delighted to welcome another new member into God’s family. Praise the Lord! Congratulations to Rev. Seth and Kassidy Bye on the safe arrival of Sonora Rose! Mother and baby are both home and doing well. Pastor Seth is doing all he can to grow the congregation of 317 Church in Avon and Sonora is the most recent wonderful addition to their congregation. Rev. Tony & Amy Bye (Brookhaven Wesleyan Church) are very proud grandparents! Please save the date and begin making plans to join us for the 2024 Heartland Gathering in Pigeon Forge, TN, on April 2-5, 2024. The DBA has approved one $300 scholarship for each church to help cover the majority of the registration cost. More information and registration is coming soon. Keep on making a difference in the cause that counts for eternity! Your servant in Christ, Mark Gorveatte Crossroads District Superintendent |
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