2020 Palm Sunday and Communion

This week marked the first time for most of us to celebrate Palm Sunday via technology.  April 5 would have been my regularly-scheduled visit to The River Church in Marion so I joined Pastor Matthew Trexler and his team in leading their congregation for a first-time online communion service.
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I received an exciting praise report yesterday from Dr. Steve Bray, lead pastor at LifeSpring Church (Richmond). He shared that 53 people responded to the salvation invitation at the close of Palm Sunday message. God is on the move!

We continue to pray for David Henry, husband of Rev. Michelle Henry (staff pastor at Brookhaven Wesleyan Church) and received word yesterday that Pastor Calimerio Rodriquez (Frankfort Templo de Poder) has also been hospitalized. Please join us in praying for these pastoral families.

Please continue to pray for our amazing health-care workers who are battling this pandemic. We have so many graduates of IWU serving on the frontlines and caring for patients. Churches in Marion are hosting a prayer vigil each evening this week in the parking lot of Marion General Hospital and Pastor Ryan VanMatre (LifeSpring Church South) is coordinating the same initiative in Richmond.
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Our Crossroads District pastors and their leadership teams are responding to this challenge with innovation and creativity. Some of our larger churches have been streaming and offering online services for years but this pandemic has created a learning opportunity for churches of all sizes. Thank you for doing whatever it takes to keep preaching the Gospel!

Last week’s schedule included coaching calls, teaching online for IWU, meeting with the Wesley Seminary board and the Indiana Wesleyan University board, and chairing our Crossroads District Conference Action Committee. The highlight of the week was connecting with 50 of our pastors for a conversation on Tuesday afternoon via Zoom. Even the introverts are looking forward to the opportunity to get together!
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Lead Pastors, Staff Pastors and Ministerial Students – Annual Service Report (ASR). You should have received an email from Wesleyan Headquarters with your login username to complete this year’s report. For instructions, please access this link:
https://www.wesleyan.org/asr-and-lcsr-instructions

Join us in praying for each of our congregations as we respond to the opportunity to celebrate the hope of Easter in new ways during this pandemic. The church buildings may be empty but so is His tomb. The Lord is Risen!

Your servant in Christ,

Mark Gorveatte

Crossroads District Superintendent