Brooksville, GS/DS, and Exponential

Nothing is more exciting to our Crossroads District family than celebrating lives #MadeNew by the gospel of Jesus Christ. We’re rejoicing this week with Pastor Shane Wilson and the team at New Hope Wesleyan Church in Columbia City as they baptized four more new believers. Praise the Lord!
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Sunday, March 6, I was in Orlando, Florida for a GS/DS meeting preceding the Exponential church planting conference. The schedule allowed for me to worship at Brooksville Wesleyan Church where I once again had the privilege of sitting under the preaching ministry of Dr. H.C. Wilson, General Superintendent Emeritus. It was an unusual event in that Dr. Jerry Pence, former General Superintendent, is the pastor of the church and Dr. Wayne Schmidt, our current General Superintendent, closed the service in prayer. I also had the joy of sitting with my father in the worship service.
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After the service, it was good to connect with Crossroads District friends like Jim & Martha Blackburn, Mrs. Kathy Benson, and Bob Vardaman. Please remember Suzanne Vardaman, Bob’s wife, in your prayers for continuing health concerns.

Sunday afternoon, Sherry and I joined Dr. Wayne Schmidt for the first session of the GS/DS meeting in Orlando. This was the first time many of us had been together since the outbreak of Covid just after Exponential 2020. We will continue in a working session on Monday and then, on Tuesday join with approximately 500 Wesleyan leaders who have traveled to Orlando for this church planting conference.
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Monday morning, I dropped in on Pastor Matthew Trexler’s cohort meeting at The River Church. I’m looking forward to the leadership that this team is going to bring to our Crossroads District prayer gathering at The River Church on Sunday evening, April 10. Consultant Mark Meyer and I connected via Zoom on Monday afternoon. Mark is part of Tony Morgan’s Unstuck Group and their team has been been a trusted partner with our district for the past 7 years. (www.theunstuckgroup.com)
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Tuesday, I was in Richmond for coaching conversations with members of the LifeSpring staff and then stopped in Hartford City Wesleyan Church to check in with interim minister Rev. John Davey. My coaching conversations on Wednesday were with Rev. Scott McDermid (Sheridan Six Points) and Rev. Tim Becker (Elwood Main Street). Wednesday evening, I was able to make it back in time to join Pastor Steve DeNeff and the team at College Wesleyan Church for their Ash Wednesday service.
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Thursday morning, I joined Dr. Matthew Stewart (Sweetser Wesleyan Church) for the Wesleyan Church History and Discipline class he is teaching at Indiana Wesleyan University. It was fun to connect with Dr. Stewart and his students to discuss developments in our district and the denomination. Pastor Jose Cardenas (Cielos Abiertos Iglesia Wesleyana) and I met in Elkhart for our coaching conversation on Thursday afternoon.
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Friday morning, Sherry and I traveled first to Paoli Wesleyan Church for the funeral of Dr. Mark Eckart before driving on to Atlanta. The service for Dr. Eckart was a moving tribute to this humble servant of God. Dr. Wayne Schmidt, our General Superintendent, was one of the key speakers. Dr. David Wright, president of IWU, closed the funeral service with a compelling invitation and prayer for those who had not yet put their faith in Jesus Christ. Please continue to remember Mrs. Debbie Eckart and the family in prayer.
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Our next Crossroads District Prayer Gathering will be held this coming Sunday, March 13, 6:00 p.m., at Delphi Wesleyan Church, (508 N Union St, Delphi, IN 46923). We are grateful to Pastor Dan Fisher and his team for hosting this prayer gathering. Please plan to join us. Thank you for making prayer a priority in your church!

If you are a retired minister in the Crossroads District, we would love to have you join us for our Retired Ministers and Spouses Gathering on Friday, April 8. This spring we will be meeting at Wesleyan World Headquarters in Fishers at 10:30. Your RSVP can be sent via email ([email protected]) or you may leave a voicemail reservation with Rev. Carla Working at (260) 224-7252.

Your servant in Christ,

Mark Gorveatte

Crossroads District Superintendent