Sunday morning, January 30, marked the launch day for ARISE Church in Roanoke. Pastor Aldean Pablo was sent out from Gas City Eastview Church to plant a new church in this growing community in southwest Allen County. God opened doors for a small UMC group to join with Aldean’s team last year. Both groups had names and their identity but they were committed to relaunching under the new name, ARISE.

​Gas City Eastview sent a good delegation to support the launch. IWU President Dr. David and Helen Wright, lifelong friends of the Pablo family, were also present. Pastor Aldean’s middle name is Wayne, in honor of Dr. Wayne Wright, David’s father and missionary pioneer in the Philippines. I joined the ARISE team at 9 for pre-service worship and then they prayed over every seat and every corner of the building. The worship service began at 10 with 145 in attendance. What a wonderful start to this new church. Please keep the Pablos and ARISE Church in your prayers as they make disciples in Roanoke.

Sunday afternoon, I joined Rev. David Leitzel and the Local Board of Administration at Hamilton Wesleyan Church for their review in preparation for the upcoming pastoral vote. Pastor Dave and Carol are dearly loved by this church family. One of the highlights of their ministry is the annual concert series that they host in their Life Center.
​https://www.facebook.com/hamiltonlifecenterhlc

Rev. David Anderson, who led Fountain City Wesleyan Church from a congregation of 90 to averaging more than 1000 on two campuses, announced his retirement last Sunday. One of the many expressions of appreciation for his 38 years of effective ministry was being awarded the honorary title of Pastor Emeritus. Rev. Anderson will officially complete his service to the church in May. Dr. Steve Bray became the senior pastor after serving as the executive pastor for Pastor Anderson. Now known as LifeSpring Church, the ministry continues to have a strong regional impact under Dr. Bray’s leadership.
​

Praise the Lord for lives being #MadeNew! Pastor Tony Bye and the team at Marion Brookhaven Wesleyan Church celebrated 4 baptisms yesterday. Pastor Matthew Trexler and the team at The River Church had the privilege of baptizing two new believers last Sunday. Have you scheduled your next baptism service for Palm Sunday or Easter?
​

Several of our district churches joined together for a focused initiative called “21 Days of Prayer” to launch into this new year of ministry. Special thanks to Rev. Tony Bye (Brookhaven Wesleyan), Dr. Chris Williams (Lakeview Wesleyan), Rev. Matthew Trexler (The River), and Rev. Johnnie Blair (Tipton Trinity) for their collaboration in providing videos for each day of the week. This past Saturday, each church gathered in their own sanctuary to conclude this season of prayer with worship and testimonies. I joined Pastor Tony Bye at Brookhaven for their closing session on Saturday morning and was blessed to hear the testimonies, especially the encouraging word from Rev. Bob Van Cise.
​

SPECIAL NOTE: To maximize participation, the Region 2 Prayer Gathering has been rescheduled to February 20, 6 p.m., at Circle of Hope Church in Noblesville. Dr. Rich and Rev. Carol Schenck will be our host pastors. Assistant DS Mike Colaw and Rev. Neftali Lopez will also be joining me in leading our service. We would love to have you join us for this hour of prayer as we seek God and His anointing on our ministries.
​
​The Crossroads District Youth All-Nighter is back and once again open to all of our 100+ churches and youth ministries across the district. The All-Nighter will be held Friday, February 18, 2022 at Pathway Community Church in Fort Wayne with registration beginning at 6:30pm. For more information and to register, visit: https://districtallnighter2022.eventbrite.com
​

Congratulations to Melissa and Michael Wood (staff pastor at Tipton Trinity and also with the Crossroads District) on the safe arrival of Oliver James Wood, born on Monday, January 24, 2022. Mother and son are safely home and doing well. We can’t wait to meet Oliver!
​

​Our prayers and sympathies are extended to Rev. Ken Dykhoff (Gas City Eastview) and Rev. Shawnda Dykhoff Bilbee (Marion Brinker Heights) on the passing of Ken’s mother and Shawnda’s grandmother, Mrs. Esther Vermillion, on Wednesday, January 26. Esther was a member of Lakeview Wesleyan Church and worked for 26 years with World Gospel Mission, retiring in 1995.

Our prayers and sympathies are also extended to Rev. Dr. Colleen Derr, president of Wesley Seminary, on the passing of her brother, Rev. Stephen Wilson, on January 29. The son of Dr. Earle and Sylvia Wilson. Steve was a gifted communicator who enjoyed a long and effective ministry leading the Greeley Wesleyan Church in Colorado. Please remember Rebecca, his wife, and their family in your prayers.

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

Your servant in Christ,

Mark Gorveatte

District Superintendent

​Thank you to every Crossroads District church who joins us in praying and giving through our Great Commission Fund for the planting of new churches. Yesterday, January 23, ONE Church launched in Westfield with three Sunday services led by Pastor Andy and Leanza Riemersma.

This exciting new church is our first district partnership with Pastor Kevin Myers’s team at 12Stone Church, and Pastor Chris Hodges’ network at ARC (Association of Related Churches). Dr. Wayne Schmidt, our General Superintendent, and Dr. Ed Love, Wesleyan Church Multiplication Director were in attendance along with Pastor Mike Colaw and other representatives from Indy Trinity Wesleyan, the mother church for this project. The snowfall may have hindered some from joining us but there were 295 attending in person with another 65 joining online. Most importantly, 9 people prayed with Pastor Andy to receive Christ as Lord!
​

​Here’s the link to watch a highlights video from the first day of ONE Church:
https://fb.watch/aKv8IqC9-z/

After the three services at ONE Church, I dropped in on Pastor Nicolas and Pastor Adriana Zarate’s afternoon Spanish-language service at Noblesville Circle of Hope. Please pray for the Zarates as they make an urgent trip to be with Adriana’s father who is in critical condition in Venezuela.

My final meeting on Sunday afternoon was with the Local Board of Administration at Elwood Central Wesleyan Church as they prepare to launch their search process. Please join us in praying as they seek the pastor that God is preparing to lead this team.

Last Monday morning, I dropped in on the leadership cohort that Assistant DS Matthew Trexler leads for our Region 1 pastors. Kyle Bloom, coach of the IWU golf team, welcomed the cohort and shared an encouraging devotional. Kyle and Pastor Rob Tippey, who is also part of the coaching staff, gave the pastors a chance to work on their swing in the IWU golf team’s training facility.
​

Monday, during the lunch hour, Rev. Mike Hewitt (pastor of Muncie Rising Hope and Crossroads District Church Planting Champion) convened several of our district church planters to meet with the Riemersmas and pray through the building in which ONE Church is launching. Pastor Mike also cast vision for stronger collaboration among our multiplying churches as we reach out to the 3 million.
​

Our district office team met after the prayer gathering and then I traveled on to Tipton to meet with the LBA at Trinity Wesleyan Church. We had a very positive meeting with Pastor Johnnie Blair and his board. Tipton Trinity continues to make strong progress even during the pandemic.
​
Tuesday morning, I participated in the Brooksville Wesleyan Village Board meeting via Zoom and then on Tuesday evening, I met with Dr. Chris Williams and the LBA at Marion Lakeview Church. Pastor Chris is doing a terrific job leading the turnaround at Lakeview.

Wednesday’s coaching conversations included Pastor Bob McHenry (Marion Nelson Street), Pastor Gary Bingham, and Assistant Pastor Jessica Teegarden (Marion Hillside). I was in the northeast part of our district on Thursday morning to connect with Pastor David Leitzel (Hamilton Wesleyan) and then met with Assistant Pastor Chip Bos (Marion College) before closing out the day with the LBA at Wabash New Journey Community Church.

On Friday, we had the blessing of hosting two local church leaders from the underground church in China for a quick visit to IWU and a lunch together with some of our pastors. Dr. Mark Rennaker, pastor of Kokomo Southdowns Wesleyan Church and chair of the Department of Leadership Studies at IWU, helped make their visit meaningful as they explored avenues of cooperation for dozens of underground Christian elementary schools and for university faculty members who are part of their underground church. The lunch gathering lasted nearly two hours. What I’ll remember most is their testimony that “It is an honor for us to be persecuted for the name of Jesus.”

Friday evening, Sherry and I hosted five of our district pastors and their spouses for an evening of fellowship and prayer. This was a fun group, some of whom were meeting like this for the first time. I was encouraged to hear some of them making plans to connect on their own again soon. We really are stronger together.

Dr. Steve Bray and the team at Richmond LifeSpring Church had the privilege of baptizing two new believers yesterday. Pastor Dan VanDuyne had the special privilege of baptizing his oldest daughter. Praise the Lord for lives being #MadeNew!
​

The District Youth All-Nighter is back and once again open to all of our 100+ churches and youth ministries across the district. The All-Nighter will be held Friday, February 18, 2022 at Pathway Community Church in Fort Wayne with registration beginning at 6:30pm. For more information and to register, visit: https://districtallnighter2022.eventbrite.com

This is the final week! 324 have already registered for The Heartland Gathering. Have you? Don’t miss out on this special event in Pigeon Forge, TN. Register today for the Heartland Gathering on March 22-24, 2022. For the speaker lineup and more detailed information, please visit: https://gathering.heartlandregion.org
​

Please pray for wisdom as several of our churches move into the search process for new pastors. This is often the most important decision a congregation will ever make. In addition to those previously announced, Rev. Mark Atkinson, pastor of Gas City Eastview Wesleyan Church, shared his plan to retire (June 2022) with their congregation in yesterday’s services. Pastor Mark has done an outstanding job leading Eastview and we hope to keep him engaged in coaching district pastors in his “retirement.”
​
​May God continue to strengthen you and your church team as you make disciples who make disciples.
​
​Your servant in Christ,
​
Mark Gorveatte
​
​Crossroads District Superintendent

Sunday morning, January 17, I had the joy of worshiping with Rev. Rob Tippey and the team at New Journey Community Church in Wabash. Pastor Rob is in his second year leading this dynamic ministry. There was a wonderful sense of God’s presence in both of their worship services.

Pastor Rob is preaching a series on the Lord’s Prayer to begin the new year. During the second service, he led the congregation in a time of anointing with oil and praying for healing. I am glad that The Wesleyan Church (2016 Discipline, paragraph 430) still affirms this scriptural practice (James 5:14).
​

Last week began with our district staff team meeting on Monday afternoon. Monday evening, I met with Dr. Rich and Rev. Carol Schenck and the LBA at Noblesville Circle of Hope Wesleyan Church for a positive review of their extended call. The Schencks lead the growing Circle of Hope network that includes campuses in Anderson, Beech Grove, Indianapolis, and Noblesville. They also partner with Rev. Nicholas and Rev. Adriana Zarate for a growing Hispanic ministry. Rev. Carol Schenck, in addition to her local church leadership, serves as District Secretary for the Crossroads District.

Tuesday included connecting with Rev. Lyle Breeding at Bluffton Sonlight, interviewing a transferring pastor in Indianapolis, and meeting with Pastor Rich Van Vuren and the LBA at Shiloh Wesleyan Church as they move into their annual membership reaffirmation process.

Wednesday morning, I was in Tipton to meet first with Rev. Logan Westrick (Ash Street Wesleyan) and then with Rev. Johnnie Blair (Trinity Wesleyan Church). It was good to connect over lunch with Pastor Dan Clark (Monon Wesleyan) before wrapping up my day in Indianapolis with Rev. Nicholas and Rev. Adriana Zarate. Thursday morning, Dr. Steve Bray and I met in his office at LifeSpring Church in Richmond. My last meeting on Thursday was back in Marion with Assistant DS Rev. Matthew Trexler.

The highlight of the week was participating in the District Board of Ministerial Development (DBMD) ordination interviews led by Dr. Chris Williams through the day on Friday and again on Saturday morning. Each of our zones and regions do the very important work of welcoming ministerial students into the DBMD process and walking with them as they prepare for ordination. In the final year, the district-wide team (comprised of representatives from each region) meets with candidates for their final round of interviews prior to being recommended to the district conference for ordination.
​

I’m grateful for each lay leader and ordained minister who serves in this significant ministry of our district. Dr. Chris Williams, Chair, and Rev. Carla Working, Vice-Chair and Secretary, are doing a wonderful job leading this vital team and preparing this year’s group for ordination. There are 18 candidates, 9 women and 9 men, who have been approved to move forward in the process toward being recommended for ordination this year. May God continue to raise up workers for His harvest!

On Friday evening, I met with the LBA at Elwood Central Wesleyan Church to assist them as they prepare to launch their pastor search. Pray that God will direct each of our churches that are moving into this time of prayerful consideration for one of the most important decisions in the life of a congregation.

We love to hear how people are responding to the Gospel! This week, Pastor Steve Colter (Marion Chapel Pike Wesleyan Church) shared the exciting news that one of their teenagers was baptized last Sunday and that they have several others “in the wings.” Praise God for lives being #MadeNew!
​

There is still time to register for the Heartland Gathering on March 22-24, 2022 in Pigeon Forge, TN. For the speaker lineup and more detailed information, please visit:
https://gathering.heartlandregion.org
​
May God continue to richly bless you and your church team as you share God’s love with your community in this new year!​
​
​Your servant in Christ,
​
Mark Gorveatte
​
​Crossroads District Superintendent

​PS - We received word from Rev. Emily Hines last night that her father, Mr. Darrell Lumpkin, passed away earlier in the evening. Funeral arrangements will be shared when available. Please remember Pastor Emily and her family in your prayers.

Sunday morning, January 9, Sherry and I had the privilege of worshiping at Waterline Church in Fishers. Waterline was launched 11 years ago by John and Danielle Freed and is now led by Rev. Scott Rhyno and Rev. Elizabeth Rhyno. The church meets at the Wesleyan Headquarters building and has made significant connections in ministry to the Saxony community.
​

Sherry and I had the privilege of working with Scott and Elizabeth when I served as president and they were part of the administrative team at Kingswood University. We appreciate their deep love for people and their passionate, creative approach to ministry. It was also good to catch up with Assistant Pastor Rev. Laura Walls and Micah and their baby Malachi. Following the morning service, I met with the board and staff members. Pray with them as they reach out to their community.

Sunday afternoon, I had the opportunity to visit with Joe Schmidt and several members of the Faith Community Church near Dunkirk. Pastor Joe is appointed on staff with Rev. Paul VanCise at Bryant Wesleyan Church and serves on loan to this community church with Methodist roots. Pastor Schmidt is completing his educational requirements and is on track to be ordained at this year’s district conference.

The highlight of the week for me was gathering for prayer on Sunday evening with Wesleyan pastors and lay leaders from across Region 1. We were graciously welcomed and hosted by Rev. Zack and Rev. Carla Working and the worship team at Huntington Hope Rising Church. Rev. Matthew Trexler, our Region 1 Assistant DS, Dr. Chris Williams, our DBA Vice-Chair, Dr. Jim Lo, district prayer coordinator, and I shared in leading the focused times of prayer. We closed with special prayer for Rev. Aldean Pablo, planting ARISE Church in Roanoke, and Rev. Andy Riemersma, getting ready to launch ONE Church in Westfield. Thank you to each pastor in Region 1 who joined us and for the strong delegation from Brookhaven Church. Our next gathering will be in Region 2 on February 13, 6 p.m., at Noblesville Circle of Hope Church, followed by the Region 3 prayer gathering at Delphi on March 13.

Last week’s schedule included our district staff team meeting on Monday. On Tuesday, I was in Logansport for a coaching conversation with Rev. Zach Szmara (The Bridge) and then back to my home office for a ZOOM meeting with a subcommittee of the General Board. Wednesday morning I met for our coaching conversation with Rev. Joseph Park (Lafayette Evergreen) and then with Rev. Logan Patriquin (Lafayette The Branch). Wednesday afternoon, I stopped in Fowler to connect for prayer with Rev. Judy Hatt. She and John, her husband, are recovering from a recent illness but Pastor Judy is always upbeat about the ministry and it was a blessing to pray with her.
​
Thursday morning, Rev. Rob Tippey (pastor of Wabash New Journey) and I connected at Abbey Coffee and I then drove to Fort Wayne to meet with Rev. Stephanie Morris (assistant pastor at LaOtto Cultivate Church) for our first coaching conversation. It was also good to catch up with Pastor Aaron Lee while in LaOtto. My last stop on Thursday was with Rev. John Davey, interim minister at Hartford City Wesleyan Church, to confirm the next steps as the team prepares to launch their pastor search process. Please pray that God will direct our pastoral transitions again this year.

Friday morning, Dr. Jim Lo and I met in Daleville to catch up on the wonderful work he’s been doing as one of our district shepherds and to prepare for Sunday evening’s prayer gathering. I made a quick stop at HQ to sign property documents at WIF before stopping by to see Rev. Wayne and Dr. JoAnne Lyon. They are always encouraging to me and I especially appreciated Pastor Wayne’s prayer for me and for our district ministry.
​

Saturday, January 8, Rev. Clifton Ashlock and his DBMD team for Region 2, had the joy of interviewing ministerial students who are preparing for ordination. They had a full day with several candidates and I enjoyed spending time with them in the morning session.

Congratulations to Rev. Tim and Jennifer Becker (Elwood Main Street Wesleyan) on the birth of their first grandchild. Ezra, and her mother Jenna, are both home from the hospital now and doing well.
​

There’s something invigorating about beginning a new year. The books are closed on last year with both victories and regrets behind us. The new year opens pregnant with possibilities. Like many of you, I begin a new daily Bible reading plan, open a new journal, and set new goals. On Sunday morning, January 2, I joined Pastor Jeff and Amy Luedtke at Fairmount Wesleyan Church in their 9:30 worship experience as they led their congregation through the Covenant Renewal Service, adapted from that which John Wesley introduced to the Methodist societies as early as 1755.
​

Here is the concluding prayer for the covenant service as written by Wesley:

I am no longer my own, but thine.
Put me to what thou wilt, rank me with whom thou wilt.
Put me to doing, put me to suffering.
Let me be employed for thee or laid aside for thee,
exalted for thee or brought low for thee.
Let me be full, let me be empty.
Let me have all things, let me have nothing.
I freely and heartily yield all things to thy pleasure and disposal.
And now, O glorious and blessed God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
thou art mine, and I am thine. So be it.
And the covenant which I have made on earth,
let it be ratified in heaven. Amen.

From Fairmount, I was able to join Dr. Chris Williams and the team at Lakeview Wesleyan Church for their first service of the new year. Pastor Chris brought a challenging message on renewing our passion for God. He closed the service with a challenge for the Lakeview congregation to go deeper in prayer and the Word. I’m grateful that Dr. Williams and his team are helping lead the 21 Days of Prayer initiative here in the Crossroads District.
​

This coming Sunday, January 9, we are encouraging churches in our district to join us in setting aside a special time of prayer each day for the next 21 days. Some churches, like Lakeview, will be gathering in their sanctuary each morning, Monday through Friday, from 6:30 to 7:30. Prayer prompting videos have been recorded for each of those weekdays and the links will be sent out to each district pastor. Saturday mornings, churches will also gather, some at a later time and some will share breakfast after their hour of prayer together. Each Sunday of the 21 days will also feature focused prayer time in the worship service.
​
To help launch and continue this prayer focus in our district, we will be convening prayer gatherings on the second Sunday at 6 pm in one of our district churches. This month, we are being hosted by Rev. Zach and Rev. Carla Working at Huntington Hope Rising Church. We will hold the prayer gathering in a different church in a different region each month. We would love to have you join us as we pray for revival and for God to send laborers into His harvest!
​

Sunday afternoon, Sherry and I had the privilege of connecting with Global Partners missionary Amanda Banter who will be leaving on Wednesday to join the GP team serving in the Czech Republic. Thank you to each Crossroads District church that has joined Amanda’s prayer and financial support team. Amanda came to Christ through the ministry of The River Church in Marion where she was baptized and discipled by Pastor Amy Biegel. Amanda is the first GP missionary sent out since the Crossroads District was created in 2016. There is still time to join Amanda’s team by contacting Global Partners. May God help us to raise up and send out many more missionaries in the years ahead.

There’s no better way for a church to launch into the new year than in celebrating baptisms. Pastor Shane Wilson passed along the good news that Columbia City New Hope Church baptized two new believers in the first Sunday of the new year. Praise God for these lives #MadeNew by the Gospel!
​

There is still time to register for the Heartland Gathering on March 22-24, 2022 in Pigeon Forge, TN. Every local church received a scholarship for one pastoral couple to register and that amount can also be applied toward the THRIVE initiative. For the speaker lineup and more detailed information, please visit: https://gathering.heartlandregion.org
​
May God richly bless you and your church team as you reach out to your community in this new year!​
​
​Your servant in Christ,
​
Mark Gorveatte
​
​Crossroads District Superintendent