Sunday morning, September 24, I had the privilege of worshiping with Rev. Don Bayne and the team at New Carlisle Wesleyan Church. New Carlisle is a bedroom community just to the west of South Bend. Pastor Don has served this healthy congregation since 1995. Assistant Pastor Andrew Colaw leads worship and the youth ministry. The youth ministry is rebounding under Andy’s leadership with 25 students attending just this past Saturday.
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Following the service and a brief meeting with the Local Board of Administration, I hosted Pastor Don and Karen, his wife, and Ty, their son for lunch. I’m grateful for the many ways that Rev. Bayne has served in our Crossroads District team over the years and how he continues to provide strong leadership to this important ministry.
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Sunday evening, I was blessed to represent our district for the installation service of Rev. Ed Friberg at Shiloh Wesleyan Church. Pastor Ed had previously served at Plymouth Wesleyan Church but accepted the call to Shiloh Wesleyan earlier this summer. The ministry is off to a strong start with 8 baptisms this month. I’m excited to see what God has in store for the future!
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Last week’s schedule included dropping in to check on Rev. Matthew Trexler’s leadership cohort at The River Church in Marion. Pastor Matthew has been leading a monthly morning group for the past 2 years and agreed to open an afternoon group this year. The two groups overlap for a fellowship over the noon meal. “Iron sharpens iron!”
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Monday evening, I joined my friend Dr. Keith Loy at Taylor University for a special pre-screening of Ordinary Angels, a new inspirational film starring Hillary Swank.” The film is based on a true story from the ministry of Rev. Dave Stone at Southeast Christian Church in Louisville. Kevin Downes, the producer of “Jesus Revolution” and this new movie, was present to introduce the project and answer questions from the film school students after the screening. The film is scheduled to be released in February.

I was back on the road Tuesday for coaching conversations. My first stop was with Rev. Chris Taylor, our new pastor at Plymouth Wesleyan Church. Rev. Jarod Osborne, pastor of Pathway Wesleyan Church in Warsaw, was my second stop. Rev. Martin Furrow, pastor of The Cross Wesleyan Church in Rochester was my final stop of the day. This was the first day of coaching conversations based on the CliftonStrengths assessment and the book “Living Your Strengths” that we’re providing for every lead pastor this year.

Wednesday morning, I met with Assistant DS Dr. Chris Williams in preparation for the six weeks that I’ll be away on sabbatical (October 15 – November 30). I appreciate Dr. Williams’ leadership at Lakeview Wesleyan Church and his willingness to go the second mile in serving our district in this important role. Dr. Williams also leads our impactful church coaching initiative called “Next Level Experience” which will be offered again this fall (November 11).

Wednesday evening, I was in Lafayette to meet briefly with the LBA at The Branch as they manage through this time of pastoral transition. I am grateful to Allan Conley who provides effective lay leadership and to Rev. Naomi and Alex Small who serve respectively with children and youth. In addition to the normal operations, the LBA has also started planning for the church’s 100th anniversary celebration next spring. Dr. Aaron Perry and Rev. Shannon Rodgers have been assisting the church with pulpit supply. The LBA plans to begin the pastoral search process in January.
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On the way back from Lafayette, I dropped in on Pastor Johnnie Blair and his team at Tipton Trinity Wesleyan Church who are engaged in a facility planning process. They are looking at creative ways to utilize current space and options for expanding their worship capacity.
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I took Thursday as a day off and then, on Friday, I was in Indianapolis to connect with Rev. Cary and Cindi Sanders as they work on planting The Fountain Church in downtown Indy. Saturday morning, I connected with two of my heroes, Rev. Grace and Rev. Neftali Lopez in Fishers, where Neftali is the general manager for a new restaurant, Ali’i Poke. Grace leads our FLAMA courses for Hispanic leaders and has also been helping at Monte De Sion. In addition to working as a part-time chaplain for IWU, and working on his doctoral degree with Liberty University, Neftali serves as a circuit rider with our Crossroads District Hispanic churches.
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We celebrate every time someone takes the step of obedience to publicly profess their faith in Christ. Often, these are younger people in our congregation but occasionally someone receives Christ later in life. In addition to the six more baptisms just this past Sunday at Sheridan Six Points Church, Rev. Scott McDermid had the joy of baptizing Rex, an 89-year-old gentleman, on the previous Sunday. As Pastor Scott wrote, “It’s never too late to say YES to Jesus!”
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Pastor Andy Jellison and the team at Lifeway Church in Fort Wayne had another successful VBS this summer with 9 first-time commitments to Christ. On Sunday, Pastor Andy baptized one of those new believers with more to be baptized later this fall. Praise God for lives being #MadeNew!
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The Encounter Assembly on the east side of Indianapolis is led by Rev. Dr. Craig Thurmon. Dr. Thurmon also serves as our Crossroads District Secretary and member of the DBA executive team. He passed along the exciting news that their church celebrated six baptisms on Sunday. Included among those six was Cayden Thurmon, son of Pastor Craig and Tiffany!
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I’m looking forward to hosting our retired ministers and their spouses for our annual fall fellowship on October 6, 10:00 a.m., at College Wesleyan Church. Dr. Joe Harmon will be our guest speaker for this delightful time together. If you’ve not yet reserved your place, you may RSVP by emailing office@crossroadsdistrict.org or calling the district office at 765-674-8593.
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Rev. C.K. Chitty is leading our Crossroads District Senior Adult Ministry (SAM). He and his team have planned a special event on December 1st at the Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre in Indianapolis for our seniors. Here’s the link to register:
​https://crossroadsdistrict.churchcenter.com/registrations/events/1933896

Please keep the Follow Conference on your church’s prayer calendar. Would you encourage your congregation to pray for a powerful move of God among our next-generation students and their leaders? Plan to join us and bring as many teenagers and young adults as possible to this life-changing experience!
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Please save the date and begin making plans to join us for the 2024 Heartland Gathering in Pigeon Forge, TN, on April 2-5. 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.
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Keep on making a difference in the cause that counts for eternity!

​Your servant in Christ,

Mark Gorveatte
​
Crossroads District Superintendent

Sunday morning, September 17, Sherry and I had the joy of worshiping with Pastor Andy & Elicia Cole and the team at Lapel Daybreak Community Church on their 25th anniversary. The special service included 3 baptisms and was followed by a fellowship meal. I was welcomed to bring greetings and special remarks on behalf of our Crossroads District team.

Rev. Richard and Debbie Cole founded the church back in 1998 while Richard was still working full-time at General Motors. The church has witnessed more than 500 conversions, more than 200 baptisms, and more than 20 people who have answered God's call to missions or ministry. The church has lived through some challenges and is excited for the next 25 years of making disciples in Lapel and beyond. Congratulations!
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Sunday evening, I dropped in on Pastor Jerome Bell and the team at Autumn Hills Church in Pendleton. They hosted a "Back to Church" event for the community with a great team of volunteers serving the meals and welcoming new families.

Last week's schedule included a day on the campus of Indiana Wesleyan University hosted by Dr. Jim Lo. Dr. Lo invited me to present to two of his classes and Dr. Jonathan Morgan was also gracious in allowing me to connect with students in his class. 
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This was also Summit Week at IWU so I was able to attend chapel with Dr. Lo and his students on Tuesday and then returned on Wednesday evening for the closing rally. God powerfully ministered through the preaching of Rev. Mick Veach, pastor of Kentwood Community Church. Altars were lined in response to Mick's challenge of answering God's call to missions and ministry. Pray for our IWU leadership and faculty members, especially those in the School of Theology and Ministry!
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Our Crossroads District Board of Administration (DBA) met on Thursday at Lakeview Wesleyan Church in Marion. Thank you to Dr. Chris Williams and his staff for their gracious hospitality. Your DBA handles a wide variety of business on behalf of the district conference. We approved property improvement grant proposals and also approved a $300 scholarship (1 per church) to assist pastors in attending the Heartland Gathering coming this April 2-5.
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Nothing is more exciting for the DBA than commissioning new church planters. We welcomed Rev. Cary and Cindi Sanders (and Grace, their 11-year-old daughter) who have accepted the challenge of launching a new Wesleyan ministry in the Fountain Square neighborhood of Indianapolis utilizing the sanctuary and parsonage of the former Central Wesleyan Church congregation.

​Fountain Church, a Wesleyan ministry, will focus on this diverse zip code where nearly 40,000 people live, many of them without any religious affiliation. If you and your church would be interested in investing prayers, service, or matching gifts from your Multiplication Fund (1%), Pastor Cary would be delighted to connect with you.
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I met with Dr. Tim Kellerman, DS for the NorthEast Indiana District of The Church of the Nazarene, over breakfast on Friday. Dr. Tim has been an effective pastor for many years and is off to a great start in his new assignment as DS. I'm grateful for his friendship and prayers.

​Friday evening, Sherry and I hosted another amazing group of Crossroads pastors and their spouses in our home for food, fun, and fellowship. There's something very special about the camaraderie of people who have answered the call to serve Christ and His Church. There are still a few more evenings set aside for this conference year and we'd love to have you join us.
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Praise God for the many signs that He is moving across our district family. Way City Church, in Speedway, is one of our newest congregations. This past Sunday, Rev. John Miller and the Way City Church baptized five new believers, two of whom were Pastor John's own children!

Greenfield Brown's Chapel Wesleyan Church hosted their annual "Back to Church Sunday." In addition to welcoming 15 first-time guests, and praying with four people who wanted to receive Christ, Rev. Theo Griffin had the joy of baptizing three new believers on this special occasion!
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​We're always excited to celebrate lives being #MadeNew here in the Crossroads District but we also rejoice when we hear from our district missionaries who are serving around the globe. Last week we received this note and photograph from Rev. Matt and Caryl Aukerman in Albania:
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"Each week I look forward to reading the district update to keep up to date on some of what's happening back in Indiana. I always look forward to seeing reports of baptisms in our district churches and join in celebrating how God is at work. I just wanted to share the good news that we had the opportunity to baptize three Albanian Christ-followers yesterday here in Durres, Albania, where Caryl and I have been serving with Global Partners for nearly 17 years."

Rev. Titus and Jewel Romdenh (missionaries from our Brookhaven Wesleyan Church) shared this picture from a recent baptism in Cambodia where they serve under appointment with World Gospel Mission. The T-shirts have the words "Made New" in both English and Khmer.
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​Praise God for precious lives being #MadeNew here in Indiana and around the world! (Please send photos and notes from your baptism services to praise God and encourage the team.)
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Please keep the Follow Conference on your church’s prayer calendar. Would you encourage your congregation to pray for a powerful move of God among our next-generation students and their leaders? Plan to join us and bring as many teenagers and young adults as possible to this life-changing experience!

It’s not too soon to save the date and begin making plans to join us for the 2024 Heartland Gathering in Pigeon Forge, TN, on April 2-5.
​

Keep on making a difference in the cause that counts for eternity!

Your servant in Christ,

Mark Gorveatte
​
Crossroads District Superintendent

Sunday morning, September 10, Rev. Jim Weinmann and the team at Evanston Avenue Wesleyan Church in Indianapolis welcomed me to bring greetings in their morning service. Pastor Jim and Angie, his wife, have deep roots in this community. Jim has lived in this neighborhood of Indy for 48 years and has served as pastor at Evanston Avenue for the past 28 years. In addition to pastoring the church, Jim works at Wesleyan HQ as the Assistant Director of Operations for the Wesleyan Pension Fund.
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In his spare time, Jim serves as a volunteer chaplain with the Lawrence Police Department which includes a monthly ride-along with patrol. The church hosted an appreciation cookout for first responders, both police and firefighters, on Saturday, September 9, with more than 30 officers stopping by for the free lunch and to connect with neighbors.
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On the way to Evanston Avenue, I was able to drop in on Pastor Barry Dixon and the team at the Calvary Family Church for their 9 a.m. worship service. Rev. Barry and Rev. Joyce Dixon have been faithfully serving the people of Calvary for 14 years. It’s always a joy to experience their worship service and to hear Pastor Barry preach the Word.
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Sunday evening, I joined Pastor Jon Noggle at Elwood Central Wesleyan Church for a congregational meeting. The congregation has experienced some unique challenges over the past few years. They are looking forward to a vision planning retreat on Saturday, October 7.

After enjoying a break for Labor Day, I was back on the road for coaching conversations on Tuesday. Rev. Tim Witte and I met in Marion at Lola’s Coffee Shop for a chance to catch up as he leads the revitalization project at Nelson Street Wesleyan Church. Pastor Tim was on his way to spend the day recruiting ministry interns and resident pastors at Indiana Wesleyan University so he had a special shirt made for the occasion.
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My next stop was in Indianapolis. I was able to drop in on the staff meeting that Pastor Mike and Leslie Colaw were leading at Trinity Wesleyan Church. They are also ramping up their commitment to providing residency and internship opportunities at Trinity. After the staff meeting, Pastor Mike and I caught up on some of his ministry adventures. Mike is on the home stretch for completing his Doctor of Ministry degree with Wesley Seminary. He also represents our Crossroads District as a member of the Board of Trustees for Indiana Wesleyan University.
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My last stop on Tuesday was with Rev. Allen Gross, pastor of United Family Wesleyan Church in Cicero. In addition to leading the church, Pastor Allen serves as a supply teacher in the community schools and was the featured speaker at this year’s Frankfort Camp Men’s Retreat.

Wednesday morning, I met with Rev. Josh Fox, our pastor at Hartford City Wesleyan Church. Pastor Josh and his family joined us from New England last year and are off to a strong start at HCWC. Candace, his wife and an RN, has roots in the Gas City Eastview Church.

Wednesday afternoon, I met with Rev. Michelle Henry. In addition to serving on Rev. Tony Bye’s staff at Brookhaven Wesleyan Church, Rev. Henry serves as champion and coach for children’s ministry directors in our district. It was exciting to hear about her plans for a children’s ministry leaders workshop coming up in the spring. Stay tuned for details.

Wednesday evening, I worshiped with Rev. Claudia Ruiz and the congregation of Casa del Alfarero in Richmond. Pastor Claudia leads the ministry at this location while also serving the Casa del Oracion campus in Union City and the new Casa del Esperanza campus in Portland.
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One of the keys to Rev. Ruiz’s effective ministry is raising up and empowering other leaders. This is PreacHer month in The Wesleyan Church, so I asked Pastor Claudia for this photo of the women in ministry at Casa del Alfarero who are taking FLAMA classes and being developed under her leadership.

Rev. Carla Working, our DBMD chair, and monthly cohort meeting of women in ministry that she’s leading invited me to join them for lunch in Marion. Following our luncheon, I joined Rev. Kalina Carlson and Michael Wood for our district staff meeting. My last stop of the day was in Anderson for the initial meeting of a team exploring a Habitat for Missions project. Rev. Wayne Richards does a wonderful job of leading this ministry. Pastor Joe Jackson and several pastors from the Anderson area are looking at the possibility of partnering to do a house rehab and flip project in the coming year to raise money for missions.
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Friday included a DBMD preparation meeting with Rev. Carla Working in Huntington. Many of you may know that Rev. Working is now serving at Wesleyan HQ as the Director of Clergy Care and Development. We’re grateful that she continues to lead the Crossroads District Board of Ministerial Development. While she was still working in our district office, Rev. Working accepted the invitation to preach at North Anderson Wesleyan Church. Pastor David Shafer and several of their team members had special shirts printed to show their support.
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Friday evening, I dropped by Fairmount Camp to check in on some of our friends attending the Married Couples Retreat. The friends in this photo came from Lafayette The Branch, Marion Brookhaven, and Sweetser Wesleyan Church. Thank you to the leadership of Fairmount Camp for offering this impactful ministry!
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This week, we received the best news of all from several of our churches who celebrated baptisms! Rev. Dan Van Cise and the team at Marion West 8th Street are rejoicing with two decisions for Christ last moth and one baptism!
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Pastor Michael Henry and the team at Fort Wayne Level 13 celebrated another baptism this past Sunday.
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Pastor Andy Riemersma and the team at ONE Church in Westfield are celebrating more changed lives with five baptisms this past weekend. That makes 18 people since ONE Church launched!
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Praise God for these lives being #MadeNew! (Please send along photos and notes from your baptism services to give God praise and to encourage the team.)

It’s not too soon to save the date and begin making plans to join us for the 2024 Heartland Gathering in Pigeon Forge, TN, on April 2-5.
​

Please keep the Follow Conference on your church’s prayer calendar. Would you encourage your congregation to pray for a powerful move of God among our next-generation students and their leaders? Plan to join us and bring as many teenagers and young adults as possible to this life-changing experience!​
​

​Keep on making a difference in the cause that counts for eternity!
​
​Your servant in Christ,

​Mark Gorveatte

​Crossroads District Superintendent

Sunday morning, September 3, I joined the team at Tipton Trinity Wesleyan Church as they welcomed Pastor Johnnie Blair home from his sabbatical. The auditorium and parking lot were filled to capacity and the congregation welcomed Rev. Blair home with a standing ovation.
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It is always good to be at Trinity to catch up with friends like Maxine Robinson, Bev Hudson (former DBA member), Michael Wood (Woody) who is also a member of the Trinity staff, and Mr. Ken Ehman who was elected as a member of our Crossroads District Board of Administration this summer.

I made it over to The River Church in Marion in time to hear my friend Dr. John Ott preach in their third service. Pastor John played a key role in Pastor Matthew Trexler’s life beginning as a mentor while serving together at Roanoke Parkway Church. When Pastor Trexler stepped out to plant The River Church, Dr. Ott and the team at Parkway Church invested financially to make the dream a reality. Pastor John continues to be a mentor and prayer partner to this day. It was inspiring to see this well-deserved honor and appreciation extended to Dr. Ott.

Last week was a mix of emotions. We were saddened to receive word on Tuesday that Rev. Logan Westrick, former pastor at Ash Street Wesleyan in Tipton, had passed away. His funeral service was held in Ohio on Saturday. Our condolences and prayers are extended to Mrs. Nancy Westrick, his widow, and the family he loved so well.

Friday evening, I joined the family and friends of Rev. Richard Cole who gathered to celebrate his 70th birthday. Though semi-retired, Rev. Cole continues to serve actively at Daybreak Community Church in Lapel, the congregation that he and Debbie planted 25 years ago.

Saturday afternoon, I joined the family and friends to celebrate the 50th wedding anniversary of Rev. and Mrs. Duane Summitt at Fishersburg Wesleyan Church. Pastor Duane and Cindy are pictured here with some of their grandchildren.
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The Wesleyan Church is celebrating PreacHer Sunday this month. Pastor Aldean Pablo may have the record for bringing his guest speaker the farthest. Rev. Alfel Pablo, Aldean’s mother, was visiting from the Philippines and preached at ARISE Church in Roanoke on Sunday.
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The best celebration in the life of the church are baptisms when people publicly profess their trust in Christ! Pastor Gawin Anderson and the team at Divine Direction in Indianapolis celebrated two baptisms this past Sunday. Praise the Lord!
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Monte de Sion Iglesia Wesleyana celebrated six baptisms at their church picnic last weekend. Special thanks to Rev. Grace Lopez for providing leadership as the supply pastor this summer.
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Rev. Terry and Lennaire Vaughn have been leading The Bridge Urban Church in monthly neighborhood outreach events called “Bless the Bloc” in their new location in Mishawaka. This past weekend they celebrated four baptisms! Praise God for lives being #MadeNew!
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This is the weekend for the Married Couples’ Retreat at Fairmount Camp, September 7-10. You may register at this website:
​https://fairmountcamp.breezechms.com/form/26a0334395555415
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Please keep the Follow Conference on your church’s prayer calendar. Pray for a powerful move of God 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!​
​

Keep on making a difference in the cause that counts for eternity!
​
​Your servant in Christ,

​Mark Gorveatte

​Crossroads District Superintendent

Sunday morning, August 27, Rev. Nathan Richardson and the team at Southview Wesleyan Church in Indianapolis welcomed me to bring greetings from the Crossroads District and to preach. Following the morning service, I met with Pastor Nathan and the LBA for an update on their ministry. They are excited to be marking their 56th Anniversary this October and will also be celebrating paying off their mortgage.
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Southview has an active ministry in addition to Sundays with a preschool meeting in their facility and activities like basketball and Zumba classes open to the community. They partner with another local church in serving at the food bank. The church hosts an onsite weekend camping experience for families over the Labor Day weekend. They also graciously host Shalom Church, a delightful congregation of immigrants from Myanmar (formerly known as Burma). In addition to hosting this ethnic congregation, Pastor Nathan is also prayerfully exploring the possibility of hosting a church plant for Spanish-speakers.

I enjoyed sharing lunch with Pastor Nathan and his family and then dropped back to the church to greet Pastor Benjamin Tuimuk, who leads the Burmese congregation. Shalom Church continues to do well and God is blessing their special focus on children and teens.
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My last stop on Sunday was at Hartford City Wesleyan Church to check in on Pastor Joshua Fox and the team as they hosted a back-to-school bash. Pastor Josh is starting his second year at Hartford City and it's encouraging to see the church rebounding under his leadership!
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Yesterday was a good day at ONE Church in Westfield. Pastor Andy Riemersma reported in that their young congregation had the privilege of dedicating 10 babies with 186 people in attendance for this special occasion. God is on the move in Westfield!
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Pastor Lyle Breeding was able to be back in the pulpit at Bluffton Sonlight Wesleyan Church yesterday after his recovery from surgery and the Lord blessed with people lining the altars for prayer. Sonlight also celebrated another baptism. Praise God for lives being #MadeNew!
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Pastor Aldean Pablo and the team at ARISE Church in Roanoke celebrated 3 more baptisms yesterday and expect up to five more new believers will be ready to take this step in September. Praise the Lord for spiritual progress in our newest church in Allen County!
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Pastor Joe Jackson reported in that the team at United Wesleyan Church in Anderson also had a good day with two more baptisms. This has been a summer of outreach at United with a car show in July and the kickoff of their Upward soccer league on August 16.
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Some of you will know that The River Church has a campus in Chesterton lead by Andy Hammonds. They celebrated another baptism yesterday for a total of four in the past two weeks. Praise God for what He’s doing in northwest Indiana!
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Pastor Ben Jones reported in that Beaver Creek Wesleyan Church (North Liberty) had a wonderful baptism celebration on Saturday with eight people publicly professing their faith in Christ!
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And if that wasn’t exciting enough, Pastor Ben and Kirsten welcomed their second child and first son, Leo, early this morning. This handsome baby boy weighed in at 8 lb., 7 oz. and 20.5 inches tall. We extend congratulations and prayers for God’s blessing on this growing family!
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Last week’s schedule included meetings with Dr. Mark Rennaker (Kokomo Southdowns) and then Rev. Jeff Brady (Commoners Church) on Tuesday in Marion. Tuesday evening, I joined the leadership team at East Liberty Wesleyan Church (north of Decatur). Rev. Dennis Croy has accepted their invitation to serve as supply pastor for the remainder of this conference year with the possibility of accepting their call as pastor in the spring.
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Wednesday morning, I met with Rev. Cary and Cindi Sanders to explore next steps toward launching a new ministry in the Fountain Square community in downtown Indianapolis. Dr. Rich Schenck and I met in Noblesville on Wednesday afternoon for an update on the Circle of Hope network of congregations. Dr. Schenck is also providing leadership for multi-ethnic ministry projects this year. Wednesday evening, I joined the LBA at The Branch Wesleyan Church in Lafayette for a planning meeting. They have supply preachers lined up through Christmas. Pray with them as they navigate through this season of transition.
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Thursday morning, I joined Rev. Dan Fisher in Delphi for our annual coaching conversation. After fully remodeling the church, Pastor Dan has undertaken another big project in remodeling the first floor of their parsonage that is more than 120 years old. Thursday afternoon, I jumped in on the vision webinar hosted by Tony Morgan and the Unstuck Group.

Friday was another full day starting with 6:00 a.m. prayer at The River Church. Nicole Trexler, Pastor Matthew’s wife, brought the devotional encouraging us to not make prayer so complicated, but to focus on sincerity and embrace spontaneity in our conversations with God.
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My next meetings were at Wesleyan HQ in Fishers. I connected with Rev. Claudia Ruiz who is leading a three-campus network serving Richmond, Union City and Portland. I also met with Rev. Grace Lopez who has been serving as supply pastor at Monte de Sion in Indianapolis. While at headquarters, I was able to briefly observe Rev. Carla Working leading the training for all DBMD leaders in our denomination. We miss having Rev. Working on our district staff but celebrate the wider platform God has entrusted to her for our North American churches.
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Friday evening, Sherry and I were blessed to host three pastoral couples for an evening of fellowship at Thornapple. Rev. Nathan and Jenny Richardson (Indianapolis Southview), Rev. David and Marcie Shafer (North Anderson Wesleyan), and Dr. Rich & Rev. Carol Schenck (Circle of Hope network) honored us with their presence for an evening meal, laughter and prayer. Some fall and spring dates are available but slots are filling up so please reserve the time that works best for you!
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Speaking of dates, there’s still time to take your lifetime date to this year’s Married Couples’ Retreat at Fairmount Camp, September 7-10. You may register at this website:
​https://fairmountcamp.breezechms.com/form/26a0334395555415
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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!​
​

Keep on making a difference in the cause that counts for eternity!
​
​Your servant in Christ,

Mark Gorveatte

​Crossroads District Superintendent

Sunday, August 20, Pastor Nathan Kingsbury and the team at Stoney Church in Detroit welcomed me to preach in their two morning services. Pastor Nate and I have known each other for almost 25 years and it was a joy to serve with him this weekend. The church is flourishing under his leadership. Nearly every seat was full for the 11 a.m. service. The Kingsbury family invited me to join them for lunch as they celebrated their son Micah’s 20th birthday. It’s wonderful to see how God is at work in and through this faithful family.
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On Sunday evening, Pastor Nate gathered the leadership cohort that he had been leading monthly for the past year as they studied the book “Lead Like Wesley.” I shared some of the lessons I’d learned from Wesley’s ministry and then answered questions from the group. I’ll wrap up my time in a meeting with the church staff on Monday morning before heading home.
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Last week, I was in Chicago for certification in StrengthsFinder coaching. Our class included people from Los Angeles, Atlanta, and Philadelphia. Organizations represented included Caterpillar, Paramount, UK Health System, and UCLA. It was a diverse group and an intense learning experience. God also provided two gracious opportunities to share my faith and pray with classmates.

Many of you will be familiar with the Gallup organization and the work of Dr. Don Clifton in developing the research that identified 34 talent themes. Talents, when developed, become strengths. Strengths, when well-utilized, yield great effectiveness and engagement. When leaders and team members know and use their strengths effectively, they enjoy greater connectedness and produce better results.

The DBA approved this certification training and strengths-based coaching as an investment in our pastors and their staff. Every lead pastor will have the opportunity to receive their free CliftonStrengths assessment this year. Then, the annual coaching conversation with the DS will be structured around how their strengths can be deployed in their ministry. I’m excited for us to be able to offer this assessment and look forward to the impact in our churches as more pastors take advantage of this resource.
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To learn more about strengths-based leadership in your ministry context, check out the book titled Living Your Strengths: Discover Your God-Given Talents and Inspire Your Community by Albert Winseman and Don Clifton. Here’s the link: ​https://a.co/jhvEXBW

I returned home on Friday in time to be with Rev. Mark Atkinson, one of our Crossroads District Circuit Riders, as he hosted Old Time Camp Meeting at Fairmount Camp. Rev. Ken Dykhoff led the singing and Rev. Gale Janofski, former pastor at Brookhaven Wesleyan Church, brought the evening message. It was a beautiful evening to gather for worshiping the Lord. I’m grateful for this ministry provided by the dedicated team that leads Fairmount Camp.
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Saturday morning, I was able to drop in at The River Church in Marion as they continue in their 21 Days of Prayer. Thank you to every pastor and congregation across our district that is purposefully moving deeper into gathered prayer. Missionary Hudson Taylor was right when he said “When we work, we work. When we pray, God works.”
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And God is working! Pastor Terry and Lennaire Vaughn can testify that God is on the move at The Bridge Urban Church in Mishawaka. They hosted their first overnighter on Friday for neighborhood children and 62 showed up. They’ve been hosting monthly “Bless Our Block” days to better engage with their immediate community. Yesterday, they welcomed more than 100 for worship with 8 new believers publicly professing their faith in Christ through baptism!

God is on the move in the student ministries at The River Church. Rev. Sam Kauerauf, youth pastor, had the privilege of baptizing four more teenager just last evening. Praise God for these young lives being #MadeNew!
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Dr. Ed Love, Executive Director of Church Multiplication and Discipleship for The Wesleyan Church, attends Hartford City Wesleyan Church with his family when he’s not traveling for the denomination. Yesterday, they welcomed their church family and friends to their pond for the special opportunity of baptizing their two oldest children, Josiah and Jennah. Praise God for the legacy of faith that is being passed on in this family!
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Speaking of the next generation, thank you in advance for your prayers on behalf of the Follow Conference coming up in just over four months, December 28-30. Plan to attend and bring as many teenagers from your church as possible for this life-changing experience!

​​Keep on making a difference in the cause that counts for eternity!

​Your servant in Christ,

Mark Gorveatte

​Crossroads District Superintendent

Sunday morning, August 13, Pastor Marc and Heather Ulrich welcomed me to bring greetings from our district team to the growing fellowship at ReThink Church in Merrillville, our most northwesterly congregation. This church was planted in 2016 and averaged 80 in worship last year with six professions of faith. The ReThink team is ministering in a community that has often been labeled as “gospel-resistant” but their faithful, persistent witness is bearing fruit.
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We had the joy of witnessing baptism of a young father and Pastor Marc preached a strong challenge for us to follow Christ reaching people “on the other side.” Following the service, I had the privilege of hosting the Ulrich family for lunch. Pastor Marc and Heather both serve in the public school system as well as ministering at ReThink. They’re also the proud parents of two young men, Shad and Carson, who have made an impact serving alongside their parents in this new church.

On my way to Merrillville, I took a quick detour through Chesterton to check in on our team serving at The River campus. Campus pastor Andy Hammonds shared about the effective back-to-school outreach the church hosted on Saturday. Sonny and Cody, Andy’s sons, were helping with the worship team. I first got to know Sonny (pictured in the middle) when he was still a student in the class I taught at IWU so it was fun to see how he’s jumped in to make a difference in planting this campus.
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Last week was the the first week of this summer’s 21 Days of Prayer. I was able to connect with three of our churches in person. On Monday evening, I joined Pastor Zach Working and the team at Huntington Hope Rising Church.
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Tuesday morning, I joined Pastor Matthew Trexler and his team at The River Church in Marion for their 6:00 a.m. prayer gathering.
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Saturday morning, I joined Dr. Chris Williams and his team at Lakeview Wesleyan Church for their prayer service at 9:00 a.m. This week was a good reminder that it doesn’t matter what time of day or how many people gather, the church is at her best when she prays!
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I enjoyed fellowship over a meal with Dr. Wayne Schmidt, our General Superintendent, on Monday evening, with Dr. David and Angie Smith on Tuesday evening, and with Rev. Naomi and Alex Small on Wednesday evening. I was in Lafayette to meet with the LBA at The Branch as they move into a season of pastoral transition. After the LBA meeting, I caught up with Alex and Naomi as they hosted a back-to-school kickoff with the youth group.
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Coaching conversations last week included Rev. Tim Becker (Elwood Main Street Wesleyan) on Tuesday, and with Rev. Brent Miller (Gas City Southside) and Rev. Joe Park (Lafayette Evergreen) on Wednesday. Then, on Thursday, I caught up with Dr. David Wright and Dr. Judy Crossman to present their retirement awards from district conference.
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You may already know this but church planters are my heroes. Last week, Rev. Mike Hewitt (our champion for church planters) and Rev. Matthew Trexler (District Treasurer) joined me in spending time with Rev. Cary Sanders as we pray about another new church plant in Indiana. The Crossroads District is blessed with so many amazing team members!
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Thank you for praying for our little ones! Simon Hines arrived home safely on Friday after his successful heart surgery, much to the joy of Petra and his parents.
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Eden, our granddaughter, returned home from her heart surgery on Sunday. All of these parents and grandparents are grateful for the many prayers and expressions of love!
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God is on the move and here is another example of what happens when we pray. This report comes in from Pastor David Cox in Laketon: “Some great things to report from Laketon, we started a new series titled ‘Revival Fire’ we had commitments from the entire congregation to pray for revival. We have had 6 baptisms in the last two weeks, last Sunday we had one young man walk in and tell us he needed a life change and came forward and accepted Christ, the altar was full with others seeking recommitments…'” Below is a picture from one of the three baptisms on this Sunday.
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God is also on the move in our Hispanic churches! Rev. Claudia Ruiz, Rev. Joe Schmit, and Rev. John Hannan baptized two new believers from the Casa network of churches on Saturday at a combined church picnic. Praise God for these lives #MadeNew!
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Pastor Scott McDermid and the team at Sheridan Six Points are celebrating as another teenager, the third in three weeks, publicly professed faith in Christ through baptism!
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Pastor Tony Bye and the team at Brookhaven Wesleyan in Marion had a wonderful evening of celebration on Sunday with six baptisms! Praise God for lives being transformed by the Gospel!
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Don’t forget that this is the week for Old Time Camp Meeting at Fairmount Camp. Rev. Gale Janofski will be preaching and Rev. Ken Dykhoff will lead the hymn sings. Services are held each evening, 6 p.m., August 16-20, and all are welcome!
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​https://www.fairmountcamp.org/old-time-camp-meeting.html

Thank you for praying with us for the Follow Conference this December. You will want to attend and bring as many teenagers as possible for this life-changing experience!
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​Keep on making a difference in the cause that counts for eternity!

Your servant in Christ,

Mark Gorveatte

​Crossroads District Superintendent

P.S. I will be in Chicago this week (Monday through Friday) for training and coaching certification in the Clifton StrengthsFinder resources. Michael Wood (Woody), our district administrator, will be available to you and can contact me in case of emergencies.

Sunday, August 6, Rev. Theo Griffin and the team at Greenfield Brown's Chapel Wesleyan Church welcomed me to bring greetings from our district team and to preach the morning message. After the service, I enjoyed the opportunity to connect with members of their board.
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​This has been an encouraging season of ministry at Brown's Chapel. Their summer sports camp has grown from 40 children in year 1, to more than 70 in this third year. The church has seen miraculous answers and financial blessing in response to a dedicated team of prayer warriors. It was a special treat to meet Jason, the Griffin's first grandchild, who was making his first visit at Brown's Chapel.
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Sunday evening, I joined Pastor Mike and Elizabeth Weller for the service with Restoration Church in downtown Anderson. Each month during the summer, Restoration Church hosts their service in the park next door to their regular meeting space. A good group gathered last evening in spite of uncertain weather. Pastor Mike and Elizabeth are making a difference in the inner city while they both work other jobs to support this ministry. Please keep Restoration Church in your prayers!

​Last week's schedule included a wide-variety of appointments and ministry opportunities. On Monday, I joined Dr. Chris Williams, Assistant DS, for an online debrief from our district conference, before heading to a meeting at Taylor University, and then wrapping up the day at Central Wesleyan Church in Indianapolis. The last meeting was the most surprising. The leaders at Central Wesleyan voted to close and move together as a congregation to become part of an ultra-conservative holiness church in the area. I'll be working with our DBA to make plans for a new ministry serving the mission field in the Fountain Square neighborhood.

Tuesday included coaching conversations in Marion and connections with two prospective church planters. Pray that God will continue to send laborers into His harvest.
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Wednesday, I was in Kokomo for two meetings concerning a leadership transition at The Branch in Lafayette. Rev. Phil Carder announced his resignation on Sunday (August 6) and will conclude his service to The Branch early in September. I'll be meeting with the LBA this Wednesday to work on the transition and a pastoral search process.

​Wednesday afternoon, I met with Rev. Nate Thomas who continues to be active in a ministry to motorcyclists. He was packing for a quick ride to Louisiana for a special church service. Pastor Nate brings a whole new meaning to the concept of circuit rider.

​Wednesday evening, I met with the LBA at New Castle Memorial Wesleyan Church as they prepared to interview a candidate to become their new lead pastor. The team has been diligent in their search process because Dr. Joe Harmon has been such a blessing to the church in his interim ministry. They did vote unanimously to recommend the candidate and we anticipate an exciting announcement in the near future. Please keep Dr. Harmon in your prayers for his continuing health concerns and an upcoming surgery.
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My last stop of the day was in Ingalls where Pastor Scott Rhyno and the congregation of Waterline Church had gathered for an evening of praise and prayer. They were meeting in the unfinished warehouse space that will rent and build out for their future growth. There was a strong turnout for this midweek service which included powerful testimonies and baptisms.

Thursday morning, I had the honor of welcoming and praying for the leadership cohort that Rev. Carla Working (chair of our DBMD and Director of Clergy Care for The Wesleyan Church) is leading this year for women in ministry in our district. This a growing group that will be meeting once each month for leadership development, encouragement, fellowship, and prayer.
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​Thursday afternoon, I was blessed to connect with Rev. Dr. Tim Kellerman, who leads the Church of the Nazarene here in northeast Indiana. It was inspiring to hear his story of effective local church leadership and how God is now blessing his ministry as district superintendent.

Later in the afternoon, I drove to Ann Arbor (Michigan) to check in on Eden, our youngest granddaughter, who is recovering from open heart surgery. It was good to be with Eden and her parents for a visit that evening and again on Friday. Thank you for the many prayers that have been extended to Eden and our family.

May I encourage you to also be praying for Simon, son of Rev. Emily and Rev. David Hines, who will be undergoing a similar surgery on Wednesday morning, August 8. While we all are grateful for the amazing advances of medical technology, our faith rests in the Great Physician, the source of all healing.
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Pastor Brent Miller and the team at Gas City Southside Church had an all-church camping weekend cut short by the weather. They were not discouraged but quickly moved their meals and activities back to their facility. I celebrate the creativity and resiliency of our pastors!
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Nothing brings greater joy than to hear stories of life transformation from our district churches. Pastor Paul Van Cise and Bryant Wesleyan celebrated two baptisms this weekend.
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Dr. Steve DeNeff and the team at College Wesleyan Church celebrated two more baptisms this past Sunday.
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​Pastor Josh Fox and the team at Hartford City Wesleyan Church celebrated five baptisms. This was extra special for Pastor Josh as his two oldest children were baptized.

​Pastor Scott Rhyno and the team at Waterline Church celebrated five baptisms on Wednesday evening at their new gathering space.

​Pastor Matthew Trexler and the team at The River Church in Marion celebrated 12 more baptisms on Sunday. They've baptized 70 new believers so far in this calendar year.

​Praise the Lord for these reports of spiritual victories across our district in churches both older and newer, larger and smaller. God is on the move and lives are being #MadeNew!

Our prayers and condolences are extended to Rev. Chris Taylor, pastor of Plymouth Wesleyan Church, on the passing of his father on Friday afternoon. He had just been placed in hospice care and Rev. Taylor was able to make it home in time to be with him before he passed.

Today marks Day #2 for the 21 Days of Prayer focus that several of our district churches are leading. Dr. Chris Williams reported that Lakeview Wesleyan Church had 41 people gather at 6:00 this morning. If you'd like to participate online, Church of Highlands livestreams their prayer service through their app and website at 7:00 a.m.
https://21days.churchofthehighlands.com/

​Please pray with us for the Follow Conference this December. I encourage you to attend and bring as many teenagers as possible for this life-changing experience!

​Keep on making a difference in the cause that counts for eternity!

Your servant in Christ,

Mark Gorveatte

​Crossroads District Superintendent

Sunday morning, July 30, Sherry and I had the privilege of worshiping with Pastor Aaron and Jennifer Lee at Cultivate Church in LaOtto. This congregation in LaOtto was one of the first churches planted in our conference back in 1843. Yesterday, Pastor Aaron's grandmother told me about the conversations she had with a granddaughter of one of the founding members. That lady remembered her grandfather's stories of hiding the former slaves in belfry at the church and in their basement. Their home had a trap door hidden in the floor under the kitchen table to access the secret compartment. 
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LaOtto Cultivate is still a church on mission. Several members of the congregation arrived home at 3:00 a.m. from their short-term mission work with "Impacto" in Guatemala and still made it out for the worship service. I brought greetings from the district team and shared the message from God's Word. Pastor Lee closed the service with communion. Following the service, I appreciated the opportunity to connect with several members of the local board.
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Fairmount Camp concluded their annual Family Camp on Sunday evening after another successful week of ministry with Rev. Patty Bray and Rev. Nathan Metz as the evangelists. I was glad to be able to attend some of the evening rallies. Fairmount's Old Time Camp is just around the corner (August 16-20, 2023) with Rev. Gale Janofski serving as camp evangelist.

Here's the link: https://www.fairmountcamp.org/old-time-camp-meeting.html

More than 30 lay leaders and pastors, including me, from the Crossroads District attended the GROW Conference at Church of the Highlands last week (Tuesday over Thursday). Our leaders left inspired by Pastor Chris Hodges and Dr. John Maxwell. We came home with the clarifying question that every board can ask: "What one thing if it got better would make the biggest difference in our church?" (How would you answer that question?)
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We continue to hear encouraging reports from across the district about the ways that God is moving and changing lives. Pastor Scott McDermid and the team at Sheridan Six Points baptized another young man earlier this month with two more moving toward that decision. Praise God!
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While Pastor Mike Hewitt was leading a team from Muncie Rising Hope on a mission trip to the Dominican Republic, Janiel Caraballo, Rising Hope's church planting resident, baptized 8 at their summer camp. Exciting days ahead at Rising Hope!
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Pastor Jacob Gibson and the team at LifeSpring Church hosted their annual picnic and baptized 10 new believers yesterday afternoon!
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Rev. Zach Working and the team at Huntington Hope Rising also celebrated their annual church picnic and baptism yesterday with six new believers publicly professing faith in Christ!
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Congratulations to Rev. Andy and Leanza Riemersma (Westfield ONE Church) on the birth of their second child, Eminora Grace, born just last week. God is blessing Pastor Andy with a growing church and a growing family!
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Congratulations also to Rev. Randy and Carole Yaryan on their 40th wedding anniversary. Their children invited me to join in the surprise celebration that they hosted in the Winchester church fellowship hall on Saturday afternoon.
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God is on the move. Let’s keep making a difference in the cause that counts for eternity!

Your servant in Christ,

Mark Gorveatte

Crossroads District Superintendent

P.S. Please pray with us as our next generation of Wesleyan leaders gather in Cincinnati for Follow Conference this December. Seminars and workshops will be available for pastors and parents so please make every effort to attend!
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Sunday, July 23, I had the privilege of representing our district team and bringing the morning message at Monon Wesleyan Church. Rev. Dr. Bradford Snyder, though officially retired, has stepped up to lead this revitalization project. Pastor Brad and Peggy are not strangers to challenges in ministry having served in church planting projects in Alaska.
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The highlight of the service was the presentation of a baptism certificate to a teenage boy and his family. After the service, I chaired a brief meeting with the LBA and then joined folks from the church for lunch at the Monon Whistle Stop Restaurant and Railroad Museum.
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Sunday evening, Sherry and I joined hundreds who gathered at Fairmount Camp for the opening rally of Family Camp. Rev. Jeff Luedtke, chair of the board, and Rev. Rob Tippey, are doing a great job leading the camp forward. Rev. Patty Bray and Rev. Nathan Metz are the evangelists for this year’s camp. Rev. Dan Van Duyne, from LifeSpring Church, is leading the worship team. Rallies are held each evening at 6:30 and you’ll be blessed by attending!
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Check out their website for more details: https://www.fairmountcamp.org/family-camp.html
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I had a great week connecting with pastors and other district leaders, but the real action is on the frontlines in our local churches. Listed below are updates from just the past few days:

Rev. Sam Maddox, Jr. leads the team at Albion Wesleyan Church. Saturday, they hosted their first Block Party as their first “Next Level” outreach initiative. The team of 30 volunteers provided free food, games, prizes, and gave away over 100 backpacks with back to school supplies for neighborhood children. They also had the joy of celebrating six baptisms this weekend, with three on Saturday and three more on Sunday. Pastor Sam wrote that “God is good and on the move in Albion!”
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Pastor Dave and Suzanne Cox are officially retired from the marketplace but are ministering effectively at Laketon Wesleyan Church. Yesterday, the church gathered at the lake for a picnic fellowship and celebrated three baptisms. Pastor Dave also shared that some younger families have started attending Laketon Wesleyan in the past few weeks.
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Pastor David Leitzel and the team at Hamilton Wesleyan Church also hosted their church picnic yesterday and capped it off with 5 baptisms and two more affirmations of baptism. The most special of those was Pastor David’s own daughter who spent some years away from the Lord but has come back to faithfully follow Jesus!
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Praise God for lives being #MadeNew and for small town churches that are making a big difference!

Here’s another idea from one of our pastors who is leading by example in going to “one more” place. Pastor Randy Yaryan coached T-ball this year. Yesterday, he welcomed and honored his team for what they called “Baseball Sunday” and they welcomed 15 visitors. He shared a message comparing baseball and the Christian life with the goal in both to make it “Home.” Where is the next place God may be calling you and your church to go?
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We have pastors with serious health concerns. Rev. Dan Clark (Colfax Wesleyan) updated us on his cancer surgery now scheduled for August 28. You can follow Pastor Dan on Facebook for additional information. I also spoke with and prayed for Rev. Dr. Joe Harmon (New Castle Memorial Wesleyan Church) by phone last week. He had been hospitalized with a critical heart condition. Join me in praying for Dr. Harmon as he is now home awaiting open heart surgery.

Rev. Emily and Rev. David Hines would welcome your prayers for Simon, their baby boy, who has an upcoming heart surgery on August 8. You can join their prayer team and stay updated at this site https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/simonathanasius
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And we would be grateful for your prayers as our granddaughter Eden undergoes heart surgery in Michigan on August 2. We are blessed to serve our God who hears and answers prayer. He is still the Great Physician!

We would also invite your prayers this week for more than 30 leaders from churches in our Crossroads District who will be traveling to Birmingham (Tuesday-Thursday) to attend the GROW Conference at Church of the Highlands. Pray that God will bless this time of learning and fellowship!

Let’s keep making a difference in the cause that counts for eternity!

Your servant in Christ,
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Mark Gorveatte

Crossroads District Superintendent

P.S. Please pray with us as our next generation of Wesleyan leaders gather in Cincinnati for Follow Conference this December. Seminars and workshops will be available for pastors and parents so please make every effort to attend!
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