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Most church leaders have a complicated relationship with numbers.
On the one hand, we know metrics matter. Scripture isn't allergic to counting. Crowds are numbered, growth is noted, fruit is observed. On the other hand, many of us have been wounded by numbers used poorly. Weaponized comparisons, shallow scorekeeping, or pressure that reduces ministry to a spreadsheet. As a result, leaders often swing between two extremes: over-measuring or under-measuring. Neither serves the church well. What we need instead is a wiser, more faithful way of thinking about measurement. Why We Measure at All Jesus told a parable about a master who entrusted resources to his servants and then returned to see what had been done with what they were given (Matthew 25:14–30). The point of the story isn't productivity for productivity's sake. It's faithfulness with what was entrusted. Measurement, at its best, serves that same purpose. We measure not to prove our worth, but to discern:
When we refuse to measure anything, we're often not being spiritual. We're being vague. And vagueness rarely leads to faithfulness. When Metrics Become a Problem Metrics become unhealthy when they are:
When numbers are used as verdicts rather than indicators, leaders begin to hide, defend, or manipulate rather than learn. That kind of culture doesn't produce growth. It produces fear. Jesus reminds us in Luke 16:10, "Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much." Faithfulness, not flashiness, is the issue. Measurement is meant to illuminate whether faithfulness is taking root. Measurement That Forms Rather Than Pressures Healthy leaders use metrics as mirrors, not scoreboards. Mirrors help us see reality clearly. They tell us where we are, not who we are. When measurement is framed this way, it becomes formative:
In John 15, Jesus speaks about fruit. Not to shame branches, but to describe what life connected to Him produces. Fruit is evidence of health, not the source of it. A Balanced Approach to Accountability Faithful leadership requires both clarity and care. Boards and leaders have a responsibility to ask:
But those questions must be asked in a way that assumes good intent, honors context, and keeps people at the center. Measurement that ignores people will eventually lose people. Measurement that serves people will strengthen mission. A Word to Pastors If numbers feel heavy right now, you're not alone. Metrics should never replace prayer, discernment, or pastoral wisdom. But they can support them. They help us name reality so we can respond faithfully rather than react emotionally. You are not accountable for outcomes only God controls. You are accountable for faithfulness with what He has entrusted to you. When measurement is held in that posture, it becomes a servant, not a master. Where We're Going Next Next week, we'll turn our attention inward to pastoral health and soul care. And we'll explore why healthy leaders aren't a luxury, but a necessity for sustainable ministry. For now, let's pause and reflect. Reflection for the Week As you move through this week, take a few moments to consider:
Measurement doesn't define your leadership. But it can help refine it when held wisely. At some point in every leader's journey, we discover a hard truth: titles don't carry as much weight as we thought they would.
Early on, a title can open doors. It gives you a seat at the table. It signals responsibility. But over time, leaders learn that while a title may grant position, it doesn't guarantee influence. Influence has to be earned. And it has to be sustained. Jesus acknowledged this reality when He said, "The rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them… Not so with you" (Mark 10:42–43). He wasn't dismissing authority. He was redefining how authority works in the Kingdom of God. The Limits of Positional Authority Positional authority is real. Pastors are entrusted with leadership responsibility. Boards are entrusted with governance responsibility. Roles matter. But positional authority has limits. It can compel compliance, but not commitment. It can demand attendance, but not engagement. It can enforce policy, but not inspire faithfulness. When leaders rely too heavily on position, they often feel frustrated by resistance, surprised by disengagement, and confused by a lack of momentum. That frustration is usually a signal. Not that leadership is failing, but that authority alone is insufficient. Where Real Influence Comes From Paul describes his leadership posture to the Thessalonians this way: "We were not looking for praise from people… Instead, we were like young children among you… just as a nursing mother cares for her children" (1 Thessalonians 2:6–7). That passage is striking. Not because Paul lacked authority, but because he chose a posture that invited trust rather than demanded compliance. Influence grows where leaders demonstrate:
In the church, influence is deeply relational and profoundly spiritual. People follow leaders they trust, not just leaders who are appointed. Authority That Builds Instead of Controls Healthy authority doesn't diminish as it's shared. It multiplies. When leaders use authority to empower rather than control, something shifts. People begin to own the mission. Teams take initiative. Responsibility spreads instead of bottlenecking. Paul captures this dynamic in 2 Corinthians when he says that authority is given "for building you up, not for tearing you down" (2 Corinthians 10:8). Authority that builds:
Authority that controls:
Why This Matters for Church Leadership In church contexts, authority is especially fragile because leaders aren't simply managing tasks. They're shaping people's spiritual experiences. When authority is exercised poorly:
But when authority is exercised with humility, clarity, and integrity, leaders gain something far more powerful than compliance. They are granted permission to lead. People grant influence to leaders who walk closely with God, treat people with dignity, and make decisions that serve the mission rather than themselves. A Word of Encouragement If you've ever felt the limits of your title (if you've wondered why something that "should work" doesn't), it doesn't mean you're failing. It may simply mean you're being invited into a deeper, more durable kind of leadership. One that's slower to build. Harder to fake. And far more sustainable. This kind of influence can't be demanded. It must be cultivated. Where We're Going Next Next week, we'll turn our attention to metrics and measurement. How leaders can use metrics wisely without becoming metric-driven, and how accountability can form leaders rather than crush them. Reflection for the Week As you reflect this week, consider these questions honestly:
Titles may open doors, but influence is what keeps people walking with you. Rev. Dr. Christopher M. Williams Crossroads District Superintendent Most board members don't join church leadership because they want power.
They join because they love the church. They care about people. They want to protect something that matters to them. And yet, some of the most difficult leadership challenges pastors face don't come from bad intentions. They come from good intentions operating without clarity. When roles blur, trust erodes. When authority is unclear, accountability becomes personal. When governance slips into management, everyone feels the strain. Why Governance Matters More Than We Admit Healthy churches don't happen by accident. They're shaped, slowly and intentionally, by leadership structures that protect mission, people, and momentum. Scripture gives us a glimpse of this in Exodus 18, when Jethro watches Moses trying to do everything himself. His counsel is direct and compassionate: "What you are doing is not good. You and these people who come to you will only wear yourselves out." The issue wasn't Moses' heart. It was his structure. Good intentions were producing unhealthy outcomes. That same dynamic plays out in churches when boards and pastors haven't clearly defined how leadership is shared, how decisions are made, and how accountability works. Ownership vs. Stewardship in Governance One of the most important shifts a church board can make is moving from an owner mindset to a steward mindset. Owners ask, "How do we keep control?" Stewards ask, "How do we protect mission and people?" Owners tend to micromanage. Stewards focus on direction, boundaries, and accountability. Paul reminds us in 1 Corinthians 4 that leaders are "those entrusted with a trust." That applies not only to pastors, but to boards as well. Boards aren't owners of the church. They're caretakers, entrusted with governance on behalf of Christ, the congregation, and the community they are tasked with reaching. When boards embrace that posture, their work becomes both lighter and more effective. Accountability Without Micromanagement One of the most common tensions I see in churches is this: boards want accountability, and pastors want trust. But neither side always knows how to hold both at the same time. Healthy governance does both. Boards are called to:
Pastors are called to:
Problems arise when boards move from governing to managing, or when pastors resist accountability because it feels like mistrust. Titus 1 reminds us that leadership structures exist to ensure the church remains healthy, faithful, and mission-focused. Not to centralize power or avoid responsibility. The Cost of Blurred Roles When governance roles are unclear:
Over time, this creates fatigue, frustration, and disengagement. Often on both sides of the table. But when roles are clear, something different emerges:
A Word to Pastors and Board Members If you've experienced tension in governance, I want to say this gently: tension does not mean failure. It often means people care deeply but lack shared language and clarity. The invitation is not to assign blame, but to pursue alignment. Steward leadership calls all of us (pastors and board members alike) to ask better questions:
When governance is shaped by stewardship rather than control, leadership becomes more joyful, more focused, and more faithful. Where We're Headed Next week, we'll turn our attention to authority and influence. Why titles alone rarely sustain leadership, and how trust, character, and credibility shape long-term impact. But for now, let's pause here. Reflection for the Week As you reflect this week, consider these questions prayerfully:
Leadership becomes healthier when roles are clear and stewardship shapes how authority is exercised. Leadership carries weight. Anyone who tells you otherwise hasn't led for very long.
There is the visible weight. Decisions, meetings, budgets, staffing challenges, sermons, crises, and expectations. And then there is the quieter weight. The emotional and spiritual load of caring for people, holding competing concerns, absorbing disappointment, and trying to discern God's will when the path forward isn't clear. Many pastors I talk with don't complain about the work of leadership. What wears them down is the weight of it. And yet, Scripture doesn't tell us to avoid that weight. It tells us how to carry it. When Weight Turns Into a Burden Jesus' invitation in Matthew 11 is familiar: "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." But it's important to notice what Jesus is actually addressing. He is not saying that responsibility itself is the problem. He is naming the difference between weight that is rightly carried and burdens that were never meant to be borne alone. Leadership becomes a burden when:
Many of us feel exhausted not because we are leading too much, but because we are leading as if everything depends on us. That posture will eventually hollow us out. The Difference Between Burden and Calling Peter speaks directly to leaders when he writes: "Be shepherds of God's flock that is under your care… not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock" (1 Peter 5:2–3). Notice again the language of care and entrustment. Shepherding is weighty work. It requires vigilance, courage, sacrifice, and endurance. But shepherds are not owners. They are caretakers. The flock belongs to God. When we forget that distinction, leadership starts to feel like a burden rather than a calling. But when we remember it something shifts. The weight remains, but it becomes meaningful. Purposeful. Shared. Why Leaders Are So Prone to Carrying Too Much Pastors and church leaders are especially susceptible to this because:
Over time, responsibility can quietly slide into over-responsibility. And over-responsibility almost always leads to fatigue, frustration, or disengagement. Psalm 127 offers a gentle but firm reminder: "Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain." That verse isn't meant to discourage effort. It's meant to reframe dependence. You were never meant to build alone. You were never meant to carry everything. You were never meant to be the savior of the mission. Carrying Leadership Weight the Right Way So what does it look like to carry leadership weight faithfully rather than destructively? First, leaders learn to distinguish between responsibility and ownership. Responsibility calls us to action. Ownership tempts us toward control. Second, leaders embrace shared leadership. Moses learned this lesson the hard way in Exodus 18 when Jethro told him plainly: "What you are doing is not good… you will only wear yourselves out." Delegation wasn't a leadership failure. It was obedience. Third, leaders attend to their own souls. Jesus regularly withdrew, not because the mission wasn't urgent, but because formation mattered. If we neglect our interior life, the weight of leadership will eventually collapse inward. Fourth, leaders measure faithfulness, not just fruitfulness. Results matter. But fruitfulness detached from faithfulness is fragile and unsustainable. A Word of Pastoral Encouragement If leadership feels heavy right now, I want you to hear this clearly: you are not weak for feeling that weight. Leadership should feel weighty. It means you care. It means you're paying attention. It means you understand that what you're doing matters. But if that weight has begun to feel isolating, crushing, or joyless, it may be a sign, not that you are failing, but that something needs to be re-centered. You are a steward, not an owner. A shepherd, not a savior. Faithful, not alone. When leadership is carried in alignment with that truth, the weight does not disappear—but it no longer becomes a burden. Where We're Going Next Next week, we'll begin exploring how this way of carrying leadership shapes our relationships with boards and governing bodies and how good intentions can unintentionally create unhealthy dynamics when roles are unclear. But for now, let's pause here. Reflection for the Week As you move through this week, take a few moments to reflect honestly:
There's a shift that can happen in leadership, especially in the church, that's both subtle and dangerous.
It happens slowly. Quietly. You barely notice it happening. At some point, if we're not paying attention, we stop seeing the church as something we've been entrusted with and start relating to it as something we own. Or manage. Or protect. And when that shift happens, everything gets heavier. Relationships become more strained. Decision-making becomes more reactive. Leadership starts to feel like something we have to defend instead of something we get to steward. Scripture gives us a different starting point. Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 4:1–2: "This, then, is how you ought to regard us: as servants of Christ and as those entrusted with the mysteries God has revealed. Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful." That word, entrusted, is carrying a lot of weight there. Where Leadership Actually Begins Christian leadership doesn't start with authority. It starts with trust. Specifically, God's trust. People. Resources. Mission. Momentum. Influence. None of these things originate with us. None of them ultimately belong to us. They're placed into our care for a season. And here's the thing: that reality doesn't diminish leadership. It actually dignifies it. It reminds us that leadership isn't about possession or control. It's about responsibility and faithfulness. Jesus tells a story in Luke 12 about a servant put in charge of a household while the master is away. And the question Jesus raises isn't whether the servant is impressive, innovative, or well-liked. The question is whether the servant is faithful with what's been entrusted to him. That's the question sitting at the heart of leadership in the church. Why This Matters So Much How we understand what we've been entrusted with shapes everything else downstream. If I believe the church is mine, I'll be defensive when someone challenges me. If I believe the people are mine, I might start using them instead of serving them. If I believe the mission depends entirely on me, I'll eventually burn out, or burn other people in the process. But if I understand leadership as stewardship (careful, prayerful responsibility on behalf of Someone else), then my whole posture changes. I can lead with humility instead of fear. I can invite accountability instead of resisting it. I can make decisions for the long-term good of the church, not just short-term comfort. This is why Scripture consistently frames leadership as shepherding, managing, caring for. Not owning. Peter puts it this way: "Be shepherds of God's flock that is under your care, watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock" (1 Peter 5:2–3). There's that word again: entrusted. What Changes When We Lead This Way When leaders embrace this posture (when we really believe we've been entrusted with something instead of given ownership of something), several things start to shift. Authority becomes service-oriented, not self-protective. Authority isn't about control anymore. It's about creating environments where people can flourish and mission can advance. Accountability becomes healthy, not threatening. If the work has been entrusted to us, then accountability is just part of faithfulness. It's not a sign we're failing. Metrics find their proper place. We measure not to validate ourselves, but to discern whether we're stewarding well what God has placed in our care. Leadership becomes sustainable. When we remember that the church existed long before us and will continue long after us, we're freed from the crushing pressure of being indispensable. This doesn't make leadership passive. Actually, it makes leadership more intentional, more courageous, more disciplined. Stewardship isn't hands-off leadership. It's deeply responsible leadership. A Word for Right Now I know many of you are carrying significant responsibility. You're navigating cultural change, organizational complexity, spiritual need, and limited resources. Sometimes all in the same week. The weight you feel is real. I don't want to minimize that. But I also want to gently remind you of something: you were never meant to carry that weight as an owner. You're a steward. A steward of people God loves deeply. A steward of a mission bigger than any single church or leader. A steward of influence that can be used to heal or to harm. When leadership feels overwhelming (and it will), one of the most freeing questions we can ask isn't "How do I fix this?" but "What faithfulness is required of me right now?" That question re-centers us. It brings us back to Scripture. And it reorients leadership away from anxiety and toward trust. What's Coming In the weeks ahead, we're going to explore what this entrusted way of leading looks like in practical terms. How it shapes board relationships, accountability structures, decision-making, pastoral health, mission. But everything we talk about builds on this foundation. Leadership in the church isn't about ownership. It's about stewardship. And faithfulness is the measure that matters most. Reflection for the Week Take some time this week to sit with these questions:
There's a quote that's been floating around leadership circles for years, often attributed to John Maxwell, that I keep coming back to: "Everything rises and falls on leadership."
It's one of those lines that sounds obvious until you sit with it. And then it becomes unsettling. Not because it's wrong. Because it's true. As I step into this season as your Interim District Superintendent, and as we start this new Monday rhythm together, I want to begin right here. Not with ministry plans or strategic initiatives, but with something simpler and more foundational: leadership in the church matters. It just does. Leadership shapes culture. It shapes priorities. It shapes how people experience ministry, how they respond to mission, and even how they hear God's voice in their own lives. For better or worse, leadership always leaves a mark. Starting Where We Are Some of you I know well. We've served together, prayed together, worked through hard seasons side by side. Others of you I've only met in passing, or not at all yet. So let me be clear from the start: I'm not coming into this role with all the answers. I'm not interested in controlling things or creating some centralized, top-down leadership model. That's not who I am, and it's not what we need. What I do bring is a deep love for pastors and church leaders, a respect for the weight you carry every single week, and a growing sense of responsibility for the health and effectiveness of our district. I've been a pastor. I've led staff. I've sat through tense board meetings and celebrated kingdom wins. I've experienced seasons where leadership felt life-giving and others where it felt crushing. I know what it's like to wonder if you're doing enough, leading well enough, keeping all the plates spinning. That reality is part of why Leadership Matters exists. Why This Weekly Conversation Here's the premise: when leaders thrive, churches get healthier. When churches get healthier, disciples are made and communities are transformed. And when communities are transformed, the mission of God advances. Leadership doesn't guarantee outcomes. But it absolutely shapes the environments where those outcomes become possible. It influences whether boards govern wisely or reactively. Whether staff cultures are healthy or toxic. Whether pastors lead with courage or caution. Whether churches drift or move with intention toward mission. Leadership matters. Not because leaders are the most important people, but because leadership decisions affect everyone else. What to Expect Each Monday morning, Leadership Matters will show up in your inbox. Not as one more thing to manage, but as a resource delivered at a steady rhythm. Here's what you'll find most weeks:
Moving Forward Together This first issue is mostly about tone-setting and beginning a conversation. In the weeks ahead, we'll get into the real work. How we lead boards well, how we care for our own souls, how we pursue mission without burning people out, how we steward the responsibility God has placed in our hands. We'll talk about both the inner life of leaders and the outer systems that shape our churches. But today, I just want you to know this: I'm grateful for your leadership. I take this season seriously. And I believe, deeply, that how we lead matters more than we often realize. So let's start here. Together. Reflection for the Week Take a few minutes this week to sit with these questions:
Inclement weather caused cancellations across our district on Sunday, November 30, 2025 but I was able to worship with Pastor Michael Hewitt and his team at Rising Hope Church in Muncie at their 11 AM service. The Hewitt family was celebrating another engagement in their growing family. We also took time to prayer for Rev. John Arnett, one of our retired pastors and part of the Rising Hope congregation, who notified us that Linda, his wife, passed away yesterday morning. (We’ll pass along funeral details to district pastors as soon as possible.)  I was reminded again of the faith that led Pastor Michael and Kim Hewitt to move here from Michigan back in 2017 with their family to plant this church. Their impact in Muncie has been significant. They’ve also mentored church planters here in Indiana and even in Spain. Thank you, Pastor Michael and Kim for leading by example in your ministry of multiplication! Sunday evening, I joined Rev. Joshua Fox and the team at Hartford City Wesleyan Church for an “Advent Awakening” service led by their youth ministry. It was great to connect with so many friends in the church that became dear to us as I served in this congregation for several months during the pandemic.  Pastor Josh and Candace (his wife who is also a registered nurse) just returned from serving with others from our district in a short-term team in Cuba. (Rev. Joe Jackson and Rev. Mark Atkinson are leading this initiative and have another trip coming up in January. Reach out to them if you’d like to learn more.) It was also good to see Dr. Ed & Emily Love who serve in their local Wesleyan church. Dr. Love is the General Director of Church Multiplication and Discipleship at Wesleyan headquarters. It is always encouraging when our HQ employees lead by example. Our prayer is that you were able to enjoy a blessed Thanksgiving with your loved ones this past week. Sherry and I took her parents with us and connected with our extended family in Grand Rapids. Thanksgiving Day (November 27) would have been my father’s 90th birthday so the four siblings and our spouses committed to bringing our families back together to celebrate the legacy of our faith passed along to us.  My brother Joel and I are both ordained Wesleyan ministers and my two sisters are both married to ordained Wesleyan ministers. My sister, Beth, has one son who is ordained and serves with the Nazarenes. Sherry and I have two sons and one daughter-in-law who are ordained Wesleyan ministers. Between the siblings, our spouses, our children and their spouses, and the grandchildren, there were 51 of us (15 were aged 5 and under) who shared the Thanksgiving meal, memories, and a prayer of gratitude for the godly heritage passed on to us by Dr. Ken & Anne Gorveatte.  This week, I’ll be joining Dr. Mike Colaw and his staff at Indianapolis Trinity Wesleyan Church for their weekly staff meeting on Tuesday, December 2. Then, on December 3 & 4, Michael and I will be on the road for “Lunch & Learn” gatherings in Lafayette on Wednesday and Anderson on Thursday. There’s still time to RSVP for those lunch meetings. Our last district event together will be the Crossroads District Ministers’ Christmas Gathering at IWU on Friday, December 5. Michael Wood has the remaining tickets for Handel’s “Messiah” presented by the IWU Chorale so reach our today if you’d like us to save a seat for you. When we came together to launch the Crossroads District, we committed to 1) making disciples, 2) equipping leaders, and 3) multiplying churches. Where we’ve succeeded together, it’s been because God graciously blessed our focused faith. When we’ve not experienced God’s blessing, the most frequent reason is that we’ve drifted from that missional focus. Regardless of who you elect as your DS next year, I implore you to stay focused on these Kingdom priorities.  Next Monday, I’ll begin vacation (but on call for you) through the Christmas break so this will be my final Crossroads District Team Update before retirement as your DS. The Apostle Paul often closed his letters to the churches with final words of advice and affection. Allow me to conclude my final epistle with these words from his second letter to the Corinthians, as paraphrased in The Message: "And that’s about it, friends. Be cheerful. Keep things in good repair. Keep your spirits up. Think in harmony. Be agreeable. Do all that, and the God of love and peace will be with you for sure.” 2 Corinthians 13:11 (The Message) Thank you for allowing me the incredible joy and privilege of serving with you in the only cause that counts for eternity! Your servant in Christ, Mark Gorveatte Crossroads DS Sunday morning, November 23, I was with Rev. Zack Working and his team at Hope Rising Church in Huntington. Rev. Carla Working led the worship team (with my new friend Drew, their 4th grade guitar player). Pastor Zack preached a powerful message on stewardship and then shared the important but emotional announcement that he will be stepping out of pastoral leadership for a season.  Both Zack and Carla are deeply loved by the Hope Rising congregation so this was hard news to hear. I affirmed the support that the district team will bring to the church in the transition and then led the time of prayer for the Working family. Rev. Carla Working continues to serve at Wesleyan HQ in the Education and Clergy Care office. We celebrate the 137 people who professed Christ and nearly 100 people who were baptized at Hope Rising in just over 7 years under Zack’s ministry. I’m confident God has an exciting new chapter ahead as Pastor Zack steps back for a season of rest and renewal. Please be in prayer for the search process, for Assistant Pastors Mason Yopp and Angela Spangler, and for the LBA as they lead through this transition.  Sunday evening, Sherry and I attended the Local Church Conference at The River in Marion. The members approved (by 190 of 193 votes) the loan authorization for $4.8 million from WIF to begin renovations at the South Campus (formerly Lakeview) in January. I know Pastor Trexler and his team would welcome your prayers for this project and capital campaign. More space is essential as the NextGen ministry serves 600 (nursery through middle school) on Sundays and worship attendance runs 40% ahead of last year.  Monday morning, Michael Wood and I shared lunch with members of the two monthly leadership cohorts that gather in Marion for coaching/mentoring with Dr. Chris Williams and Pastor Trexler. The leadership lessons are valuable, but I’m most grateful for the relationships that have developed among these pastors. We are better together!  Monday evening, I was in Indianapolis to meet with Dr. Richard and Rev. Carol Schenck. Rich and Carol serve as bi-vocational pastors for Circle of Hope Church in Noblesville. Dr. Rich also serves as a hospice chaplain and Pastor Carol works with IWU at the Indy North campus. They’ve been a blessing to our district board and global outreach team. Tuesday, I was at IWU along with 21 of the 22 districts superintendents. We were invited to join the General Board of The Wesleyan Church for a discussion of proposed memorials that may be considered at the upcoming General Conference (May 17-20, 2026). The announcement of the board’s General Superintendent nominee created the most buzz. The General Board has nominated Dr. Jim Dunn (current president of OKWU) to be our next General Superintendent. The election of the new GS will be among the first action items of May 18. Pray for Dr. Dunn and OKWU.  The General Board meeting carried over into Wednesday. Another of the highlights was the excellent presentation by Dr. Jeff Clark (IWU) on the momentum that is building around “Praying on Offense.” Delegates from last year’s district conference will be receiving an email communication from General Superintendent Dr. Schimdt with an invitation to join. Our Crossroads District Board of Administration met on Thursday at Waterline Church in Pendleton. Special thanks to Pastor Scott Rhyno for graciously hosting. The DBA covered a variety of topics with most attention to the transition with Dr. Chris Williams becoming our full-time Interim DS effective January 1.  We have a rich diversity of voices on the board, both women and men, lay and clergy, from our largest and smallest churches, from our oldest church (Fountain City - LifeSpring) to one of our newest churches (Indianapolis - The Encounter). This was my last official meeting with them as DS and I’m deeply grateful for the privilege I’ve had serving with them. Friday morning, the Retired Ministers and Spouses Fellowship gathered for brunch at Eastview Wesleyan Church. Our guest speaker was Dr. Jo Anne Lyon, GS Emerita. Wayne Lyon not only came along with Dr. Lyon, but he also presented handmade gifts to every attender. Special thanks to Cindy Horn and Rev. Ken Dykhoff for graciously hosting us!  Saturday evening, Rev. Grace Lopez, our Assistant DS for Hispanic Ministries, gathered several of our Hispanic pastors and their congregations in Union City for a night of worship. Pastors took turns praying and sharing from scripture. The highlight of the evening was sharing The Lord’s Supper led by Rev. Claudia Ruiz Wilson, leader of the Casa Network. It was also good to connect with Pastor John Hannan, our church planter in Union City. We’re praying with him for his upcoming surgery and recovery.  Pastor Sam Maddox sent along the encouraging news that another new believer was baptized and three new members joined the church. God is on the move in Albion!  Pastor Dan Fisher and the team at Delphi Wesleyan Church are rejoicing with four young people who publicly professed their faith in Christ through water baptism. Praise the Lord!  Pastor Andy Jellison and the team at Lifeway Wesleyan Church in Fort Wayne had a wonderful celebration yesterday with four baptisms and 385 in worship. Lifeway added a second service this fall. Now they are putting out more chairs to accommodate the growth. Praise the Lord!  We’re praying that you enjoy a blessed Thanksgiving with your loved ones this week. Then next week, December 3 & 4, we’ll be on the road for Lunch & Learn in Lafayette and Anderson. There’s still time to RSVP. Our last district event together will be the Crossroads District Christmas Gathering at IWU on Friday, December 5. Michael Wood can still find tickets to Handel’s “Messiah” presented by the IWU Chorale but don’t delay. Thank you for all you do in the cause that counts for eternity! Your servant in Christ, Mark Gorveatte Crossroads DS  I’m grateful for the opportunity to travel with Dr. Dennis Jackson and be part of the 25th anniversary celebration of the New Zealand Wesleyan Methodist Church. New Zealand is a beautiful country but the spiritual need is undeniable. It was encouraging to see how the Lord is working through our Wesleyan churches in powerful ways. One special highlight for me was reconnecting with Dr. Richard and Jane Waugh. Dr. Waugh, now retired, served as pastor of East City Wesleyan Church in Auckland for more than 2 decades and led the NZMWC through its formative years. He also hosted two of our sons, John and Joel, who had the privilege of completing internships under his supervision at East City Wesleyan. Thank you, Dr. Waugh!  Dr. Dennis Jackson and I wrapped up our quick trip to New Zealand on Tuesday, November 11 with an overnight flight back to the USA. With the crossing of the dateline, we ended up with two Tuesday nights. The first night was spent in a Boeing 777 traveling around 600 mph at 37,000 feet from Auckland to LAX. The second Tuesday night was back home in Indiana, gratefully landing before midnight on Tuesday.  I was glad to be home in time to join Michael Wood on the road Wednesday for the next in our ongoing series of Lunch & Learn meetings. The Indy crowd was enthusiastic although we missed a few pastors who had scheduling conflicts. The Thursday crowd in Fort Wayne was just as enthusiastic, but we had our strongest turnout for the month as Michael Wood led our discussion around effective and ethical uses of AI for ministry.  Thursday night, I was able to join Pastor Ben Parker and the team at Back Creek Wesleyan Church as they welcomed back Dr. Joe Harmon for their fall revival. Dr. Harmon was Ben’s pastor when Ben answered God’s call to ministry. If you need an anointed revival speaker, you can’t do better than Dr. Harmon!  Friday morning, I was back in Indianapolis for two coaching conversations. My afternoon connection was with Rev. Seth Bye who leads the 317Church restart project in Avon. My morning appointment was with Pastor Gawin (Jerome) Anderson who leads the ministry at SoBro (South Broad Ripple) Community Church. There are many things I’ll miss about serving as district superintendent but the one I’ll miss most is working alongside pastors who are taking big risks for God’s Kingdom.  Sherry and I attended Saturday morning prayer meeting together at The River and then sat in on a vision conversation about the exciting renovation project planned for the south campus. Saturday evening, Pastor Jacob Gibson and the team at Richmond LifeSpring Church welcomed Dr. Jim Dunn, president of Oklahoma Wesleyan University, as guest speaker. Dr. Dunn and I go back a few decades working in the Wesleyan youth movement. I was glad to catch up with Pastor Gibson and to hear Dr. Dunn preach the Word. It is inspiring to see how God is blessing his leadership at OKWU!  Sunday, I began the day with Rev. Nicholas Hect and the team at Tipton Trinity Wesleyan Church. Pastor Hect announced his resignation, effective December 31. I was present to walk the congregation through our next steps and to lead in prayer. Following the service, I met with the LBA and we’ll begin the pastoral search process in the next few weeks. Our prayers for God’s blessing are with the Hect family as they head back to South Dakota. Please also remember Trinity Wesleyan in your prayers as they adjust to this unexpected transition. God is still on the throne!  Across town, Pastor Jerry Smith leads the smaller but faithful congregation at Ash Street Wesleyan. I was able to drop in on their worship service. Pastor Smith graciously welcomed me to bring greetings and I enjoyed singing a trio with Jerry and Beth, his wife. Never forget that it takes all kinds of churches to reach all kinds of people. Every church matters.  Sunday evening, I had the joy of joining Rev. Jerome Bell and the team at Autumn Hills Church (Pendleton). Pastor Jerome and Anita (his wife) launched this new church in 2021 while we were still emerging from the worst of the pandemic. They hold their services around tables on Sundays at 5:30 PM but recently began a Sunday morning Bible study that has already grown from 4 to 14.  Last night, they celebrated two more baptisms! One was a young man who was reaffirming his baptism as an infant. The other was a man who came to the Lord through the faithful witness of Kevin, a faithful lay leader in the church. Praise God for changed lives!  This had been another exciting month of baptisms across our district. Pastor Eric & Amanda Roemer and their team at Greentown Wesleyan Church baptized 8 new believers on November 16. They also welcomed a recent high attendance of 145 for worship. God is on the move in Greentown!  Pastor Andy Riemersma and the team at ONE Church in Westfield continue to make good use of the largest baptismal tank in our district. (They meet in the YMCA). Praise God for two more baptisms this morning at one of our newest congregations!  Pastor Mark Wooten and the team at Memorial Wesleyan Church in New Castle are rejoicing with four new believers who publicly professed their faith in Christ through water baptism on November 9. Praise God for lives being #MadeNew!  Pastor Mike Colaw and the team at Indianapolis Trinity Wesleyan Church continue to see young people coming to Christ and moving forward in discipleship. Four more new believers were baptized at Trinity last weekend (November 9). Amazing grace!  Pastor Ryan Budde and the team at Westview Wesleyan Church in Jonesboro celebrated 4 more baptisms yesterday. Praise the Lord!  Please remember key meetings in your prayers this week. The General Board of The Wesleyan Church will be meeting at IWU this Tuesday through Thursday in preparation for General Conference. Our own Crossroads District Board meets in Pendleton on Thursday and will be working with Dr. Chris Williams in preparation for his service as our interim DS from January through June.  Then, on Friday, Sherry and I will host our Retired Pastors and Spouses Fellowship Brunch at Gas City Eastview Wesleyan with Dr. Jo Anne Lyon as our guest speaker. It will be a full week, so join us in seeking God’s will for every moment and every meeting. Your prayers matter! Keep on making a difference in the cause that counts for eternity! Your servant in Christ, Mark  The Wesleyan Methodist Church of New Zealand gathered in Palmerston North on November 7-8 for their national conference and the celebration of their 25th anniversary. Rev. Brett Jones, National Superintendent, convened this assembly of 30+ churches for this special occasion. Dr. Dennis Jackson, Executive Director of Global Partners, and I were invited to be guest presenters. It was a delight to return after an absence of 15 years and to witness the beautiful multi-cultural ministry that God is blessing here in the South Pacific.  This national church was launched by a courageous band of 6 ministers who left behind a denomination that was increasingly hostile to evangelical Methodism. They joined themselves to The Wesleyan Church after early conversations with the Australian National Conference. 25 years later, those original churches have become an established national conference and, together with Australia, for the South Pacific Regional Conference of The Wesleyan Church. There were so many highlights including the introduction of new ministers to be ordained and church planters to be celebrated. Living Streams Church generously hosted our celebration. They not only cared for the meals and the logistics for this gathering but they also provided special music. If you’ve not yet enjoyed the singing of Pacific Islanders, listen to this clip: It was in 2009 that Dr. Richard Waugh, then National Superintendent of the New Zealand Wesleyan Methodist Church, invited Dr. H.C. Wilson, Dr. Brent Dongell, and me to accompany him to ChristChurch. This strategic visit was an opportunity for vision-casting and prayer. While the Wesleyans were growing and multiplying in the north island, the south island was ripe for a resourcing church that could become a center for leadership development and multiplication.  One of the memorable moments of that experience was praying together on Cashmere Hill Lookout. You can see a stunning panorama of this thriving city from this strategic point. This sprawling metropolis of more than 500,000 people is the second largest city in the nation and the largest city in the south island. At that time, there were a few interested former Methodist laypeople open to helping but God had not yet provided the church planter. Today, I had the privilege of standing on that very same spot 15 years later with the pastor of that first church.  God began writing an exciting new chapter in Christchurch in 2013 when Dr. Clint and Jamie Ussher answered God’s call and planted a new Wesleyan Church called The Well. The church built deep roots before it began to expand but today they average more than 300 in their two weekend worship services. Even more exciting than that is the new daughter church that they launched this year by sending out planters from their own team along with 30 launch team members. Dr. Ussher has two more planters-in-process serving on the staff at The Well. The Lord is sending workers into the harvest field!  All of us believe in giving to missions. Dr. Jackson doesn’t just preach it, he practices what he preaches. One of the special joys of this trip with Dennis was watching him celebrate his own daughter Jamie as she serves in this mission field alongside Clint, her husband, and their two amazing daughters. It was a tender moment this morning in the worship service as Dr. Jackson went forward to receive communion and his daughter served him.  Church planting is just an accelerated process of disciple-making. If you’re not making new disciples in a church plant, you’re just rearranging the saints. The Well is making new disciples. What a delight it was to hear the testimonies yesterday morning of the seven new believers being baptized, some of whom have just come to the Lord in the past few months. Indiana has had a special investment in the mission field of New Zealand with Rev. Amber (Livermore) Cook and Rev. Josh Bowlin both playing key roles in the development of this new work. Pray that God will continue to bless the NZWMC as they make disciples and multiple churches! We're also celebrating back home as Pastor Eric George and the team at Memorial Drive Wesleyan in Muncie celebrated three baptisms yesterday morning. Praise God for lives #MadeNew!  Hurricane Melissa has caused severe damage across Jamaica and Haiti, including Wesleyan churches and the Caribbean Wesleyan College. Our partners at World Hope International are already on the ground providing emergency aid and supplies. You may join in supporting recovery efforts by giving at: worldhope.donorsupport.co/page/Hurricane-Melissa  Save the Date: Crossroads District retired ministers and their spouses are invited to join us for our fall brunch and fellowship on Friday, November 21, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. at Eastview Wesleyan Church in Gas City. We’re honored to welcome Dr. Jo Anne Lyon, General Superintendent Emerita, as our guest speaker. This is the first year since Dr. Lyon officially “retired” but she and Wayne are both staying very busy. Come join us for this special occasion. Please RSVP by emailing [email protected] or by calling 765-674-8593 and leaving a message with your name and number of guests attending. 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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