Brown’s Chapel, Restoration Church, and Baptisms

Sunday, August 6, Rev. Theo Griffin and the team at Greenfield Brown's Chapel Wesleyan Church welcomed me to bring greetings from our district team and to preach the morning message. After the service, I enjoyed the opportunity to connect with members of their board.
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​This has been an encouraging season of ministry at Brown's Chapel. Their summer sports camp has grown from 40 children in year 1, to more than 70 in this third year. The church has seen miraculous answers and financial blessing in response to a dedicated team of prayer warriors. It was a special treat to meet Jason, the Griffin's first grandchild, who was making his first visit at Brown's Chapel.
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Sunday evening, I joined Pastor Mike and Elizabeth Weller for the service with Restoration Church in downtown Anderson. Each month during the summer, Restoration Church hosts their service in the park next door to their regular meeting space. A good group gathered last evening in spite of uncertain weather. Pastor Mike and Elizabeth are making a difference in the inner city while they both work other jobs to support this ministry. Please keep Restoration Church in your prayers!

​Last week's schedule included a wide-variety of appointments and ministry opportunities. On Monday, I joined Dr. Chris Williams, Assistant DS, for an online debrief from our district conference, before heading to a meeting at Taylor University, and then wrapping up the day at Central Wesleyan Church in Indianapolis. The last meeting was the most surprising. The leaders at Central Wesleyan voted to close and move together as a congregation to become part of an ultra-conservative holiness church in the area. I'll be working with our DBA to make plans for a new ministry serving the mission field in the Fountain Square neighborhood.

Tuesday included coaching conversations in Marion and connections with two prospective church planters. Pray that God will continue to send laborers into His harvest.
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Wednesday, I was in Kokomo for two meetings concerning a leadership transition at The Branch in Lafayette. Rev. Phil Carder announced his resignation on Sunday (August 6) and will conclude his service to The Branch early in September. I'll be meeting with the LBA this Wednesday to work on the transition and a pastoral search process.

​Wednesday afternoon, I met with Rev. Nate Thomas who continues to be active in a ministry to motorcyclists. He was packing for a quick ride to Louisiana for a special church service. Pastor Nate brings a whole new meaning to the concept of circuit rider.

​Wednesday evening, I met with the LBA at New Castle Memorial Wesleyan Church as they prepared to interview a candidate to become their new lead pastor. The team has been diligent in their search process because Dr. Joe Harmon has been such a blessing to the church in his interim ministry. They did vote unanimously to recommend the candidate and we anticipate an exciting announcement in the near future. Please keep Dr. Harmon in your prayers for his continuing health concerns and an upcoming surgery.
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My last stop of the day was in Ingalls where Pastor Scott Rhyno and the congregation of Waterline Church had gathered for an evening of praise and prayer. They were meeting in the unfinished warehouse space that will rent and build out for their future growth. There was a strong turnout for this midweek service which included powerful testimonies and baptisms.

Thursday morning, I had the honor of welcoming and praying for the leadership cohort that Rev. Carla Working (chair of our DBMD and Director of Clergy Care for The Wesleyan Church) is leading this year for women in ministry in our district. This a growing group that will be meeting once each month for leadership development, encouragement, fellowship, and prayer.
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​Thursday afternoon, I was blessed to connect with Rev. Dr. Tim Kellerman, who leads the Church of the Nazarene here in northeast Indiana. It was inspiring to hear his story of effective local church leadership and how God is now blessing his ministry as district superintendent.

Later in the afternoon, I drove to Ann Arbor (Michigan) to check in on Eden, our youngest granddaughter, who is recovering from open heart surgery. It was good to be with Eden and her parents for a visit that evening and again on Friday. Thank you for the many prayers that have been extended to Eden and our family.

May I encourage you to also be praying for Simon, son of Rev. Emily and Rev. David Hines, who will be undergoing a similar surgery on Wednesday morning, August 8. While we all are grateful for the amazing advances of medical technology, our faith rests in the Great Physician, the source of all healing.
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Pastor Brent Miller and the team at Gas City Southside Church had an all-church camping weekend cut short by the weather. They were not discouraged but quickly moved their meals and activities back to their facility. I celebrate the creativity and resiliency of our pastors!
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Nothing brings greater joy than to hear stories of life transformation from our district churches. Pastor Paul Van Cise and Bryant Wesleyan celebrated two baptisms this weekend.
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Dr. Steve DeNeff and the team at College Wesleyan Church celebrated two more baptisms this past Sunday.
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​Pastor Josh Fox and the team at Hartford City Wesleyan Church celebrated five baptisms. This was extra special for Pastor Josh as his two oldest children were baptized.

​Pastor Scott Rhyno and the team at Waterline Church celebrated five baptisms on Wednesday evening at their new gathering space.

​Pastor Matthew Trexler and the team at The River Church in Marion celebrated 12 more baptisms on Sunday. They've baptized 70 new believers so far in this calendar year.

​Praise the Lord for these reports of spiritual victories across our district in churches both older and newer, larger and smaller. God is on the move and lives are being #MadeNew!

Our prayers and condolences are extended to Rev. Chris Taylor, pastor of Plymouth Wesleyan Church, on the passing of his father on Friday afternoon. He had just been placed in hospice care and Rev. Taylor was able to make it home in time to be with him before he passed.

Today marks Day #2 for the 21 Days of Prayer focus that several of our district churches are leading. Dr. Chris Williams reported that Lakeview Wesleyan Church had 41 people gather at 6:00 this morning. If you'd like to participate online, Church of Highlands livestreams their prayer service through their app and website at 7:00 a.m.
https://21days.churchofthehighlands.com/

​Please pray with us for the Follow Conference this December. I encourage you to attend and bring as many teenagers as possible for this life-changing experience!

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

Your servant in Christ,

Mark Gorveatte

​Crossroads District Superintendent