Brookhaven, Freed Farewell, and Lament

Injustice. Death. Destruction.

The tragic events that unfolded this past week were sparked by the loss of George Floyd’s life under the knee of a person entrusted to serve and protect. There is no justification for failing to provide relief and medical aid to a man in handcuffs who cannot breathe. The subsequent protests and riots speak of deeper, historic pain and suffering but they are powerless to restore this one precious life.

The Book of Common Prayer offers this petition “For the Death of Someone Killed in The Neighborhood.”
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Lamb of God
You take away the sins of the world
Have mercy on us.
Grant us peace.

For the unbearable toil of our sinful world,
We plead for remission.
For the terror of absence from our beloved,
We plead for your comfort.
For the scandalous presence of death in your Creation,
We plead for the resurrection.

Lamb of God
You take away the sins of the world
Have mercy on us.
Grant us peace.

Our words will be inadequate but silence is insufferable. We can change laws, but laws don’t change hearts. Political promises are as empty as they are plentiful. Only the Gospel of Jesus Christ faithfully proclaimed and faithfully lived out offers any hope for justice, righteousness, and peace in our nation.

“Learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression…” Isaiah 1:17 (ESV)
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For many of us, it will not be our sins of commission that will cry out against us. It is far more likely that it will be our sins of omission, not doing what we could to become part of the solution. It does not matter whether we personally caused the injustice, the Bible makes it clear that we are called by God to stand with the oppressed and to seek justice. If we fail to act to correct the oppression, we become complicit in the evil. We must not allow silence to become consent.

None of us can change everything. All of us can do something.

Listen prayerfully. Speak truthfully. Stand courageously. Serve lovingly.

“He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” Micah 6:8 (ESV)
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Pentecost Sunday morning, May 31, I joined Pastor Tony Bye and the team at Brookhaven Wesleyan Church for both of their morning services. They are still rejoicing over the answered prayers in the wonderful recovery of David Henry. It was a blessing to see David and his family worshiping together. I had the privilege of preaching at Brookhaven and it was the first time preaching with people in the auditorium in over three months. Pastor Tony and his team have done a great job leading through this transitional season in both their online ministry and preparing the facility to welcome back their congregation.
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Sunday afternoon, Sherry and I participated in the farewell Commissioning Service for Pastor John and Danielle Freed at Waterline. Staff members, lay leaders and friends gathered for this special occasion in the parking lot outside the Wesleyan HQ building where Waterline meets. General Superintendent Dr. Wayne Schmidt prayed the commissioning prayer. The Freeds are leaving a wonderful legacy of changed lives here in Indiana. We are praying for God’s blessing as they accept the new challenge of leading multiplication in the Great Lakes Region District!
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Last evening was to have been the opening session of General Conference 2020. Although the gathering in Saint Louis was postponed until 2021, the scheduled prayer gathering moved online. General Superintendent Dr. Schmidt and his team led us in a concert of prayer that included Wesleyans from around the globe. Thank you to the many Crossroads District leaders who participated and to Josh Lavender, worship pastor on staff at Indianapolis Trinity, who led us in the musical portion of our prayer time.
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Most of us enjoyed a slightly shorter week with Memorial Day on Monday. Our district staff meeting was on Tuesday. Assistant DS Chris Williams has now fully transitioned into his role as Lead Pastor at Lakeview Wesleyan Church. We’re grateful for Chris being willing to serve as Assistant DS for Region 3 this year and he’ll continue with the coaching cohort he’s been leading for these pastors.

Tuesday evening I was in Richmond for a coaching conversation with Pastor Claudia and Victor Silva. Pastor Claudia is bi-vocational so the past few weeks have been difficult with her employer closing. Fortunately, Victor’s work was steady for the past few months and then the dental practice where Claudia works reopened last week. The church has held together well although some families were directly impacted by the pandemic.
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Wednesday morning, I met with Pastor Logan Westrick at Ash Street Wesleyan Church in Tipton for our annual coaching conversation. I participated in the weekly Zoom call for district superintendents that Dr. Karl Eastlack hosts at noon on Wednesdays. Rev. Ervin Webster, pastor of Saint Stephen Wesleyan Church in Warren Park, and I met on Wednesday afternoon. It was good to catch up with Pastor Webster and to hear how their members have continued to serve through this crisis.

Thursday morning, I met with Pastor Tony Bye in Marion in preparation for Sunday at Brookhaven. Thursday afternoon I connected with Pastor Jim Weinmann at his HQ office for an update on the ministry at Evanston Avenue Wesleyan Church. My last stop for day was with Rev. Barry Dixon, pastor of Calvary Family Church and member of the DBA. I appreciated Pastor Barry’s time and wisdom in this difficult season.

Friday morning, I represented our district team at the home-going celebration for Mrs. Faith Watkins held at Circle of Hope Wesleyan Church in Noblesville. Dr. Earle Wilson, General Superintendent Emeritus, preached the funeral message and Dr. Rich Schenck and Rev. Carol Schenck shared in leading the service. Please pray for the Watkins family as they grieve their loss.

Friday afternoon, I was able to connect with Pastor Craig and Tiffany Thurmon, our church planters leading The Encounter Assembly on the east side of Indianapolis. Church planting is never easy but planting in the middle of a pandemic is especially challenging. Please keep the Thurmons in your prayers as they lead this new work.
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Rev. Charles Moorer, pastor of our Divine Direction congregation in Indianapolis was my last appointment for the day. Pastor Chuck’s anointed music ministry has been expanding nationally but he still continues to provide exceptional leadership in this neighborhood church that offers community-impacting ministries including their food kitchen and discipleship program.

Saturday morning, Assistant DS Mike Colaw hosted a ZOOM meeting for our pastors in Region 2. Seth and I were able to join the group. Several of these congregations serve the greater Indianapolis community and that was a special focus of our prayer time.

Congratulations to Pastor Lyle and Pat Breeding on the occasion of their 40th wedding anniversary. We appreciate Lyle and Pat and are grateful for the way they lead the ministry of Bluffton Sonlight Wesleyan Church.
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Thank you all for leading with vision and faith in the cause that counts for eternity!

Your servant in Christ,

​Mark Gorveatte

Crossroads District Superintendent