Christmas Outreach, Hillside, and Baptisms

Praise the Lord for the many ways by which our churches in the Crossroads District are taking full advantage of Christmas to serve their communities and share the Gospel. I’m hearing stories from our churches generously giving gifts to imprisoned parents who were then able to give to their children, to providing entire Christmas meal packages for needy families, to hosting creative events that encourage members to bring unchurched friends. Thank you for sharing the Good News of Christmas!
​

Friday night, I was able to drop in on Pastor Steve Arnett and the team at New Castle Mt. Zion Wesleyan Church for their musical drama “Blue Christmas.” Pastor Steve is a gifted communicator and played the lead role in the drama. Mt. Zion offered this program on Friday evening and again on Sunday morning.

I was scheduled to be with Rev. Gary Bingham and his team at Marion Hillside Wesleyan Church on Sunday morning but, in what I can recall as one of only a few Sundays in more than 20 years as a DS, I had to cancel due to illness. Hillside streams their worship service so I joined them online and appreciated Pastor Gary including me in his prayers for the congregation. I am grateful for the faithful way in which Pastor Gary and Karen Bingham have lovingly served Hillside since 1992.
​

Monday is when our district office team meets in Marion. It was also the monthly meeting day for Rev. Carla Working and her cohort of women leading in ministry. In addition to her responsibilities serving in the Education and Clergy Development Department at Wesleyan headquarters, Rev. Working leads the Crossroads District Board of Ministerial Development. She’s the mother of four, she’s happily married to Pastor Zack Working (Huntington Hope Rising), and, in her spare time, is completing her doctoral degree at Wesley Seminary.
​

Last week’s calendar included annual coaching conversations with Rev. Noah Farmer (Gas City Eastview) and Rev. Kory Christensen (New Haven Impact). One of the actions at our last DBA meeting was to approve a request from the Impact Church leadership team to conclude their ministry and allow them to be adopted by Pastor Andy Jellison and Lifeway Church. That motion was approved and Kory will join Pastor Andy’s staff as part-time Assistant Pastor for Outreach. We are grateful for the significant influence that Kory, Becky and their team have had in New Haven through the ministry of Impact Church since 2013. It’s encouraging to see that their influence will continue as they become part of Lifeway Church.

It was good to catch up with Rev. Sam Maddox (Albion Wesleyan Church) on Tuesday afternoon and then share supper with Pastor Terry and Lennaire Vaughn in South Bend (The Bridge Urban Church). Wednesday afternoon, I met with one of our ministerial students for coffee in Marion as she is exploring chaplaincy. Wednesday evening, I met with Pastor Zack Working, Executive Pastor Angela Spangler, and the LBA at Huntington Hope Rising Church.

I was back on the road Thursday to meet with Pastor Jarod Osborne (Warsaw Pathway Church) in preparation for his upcoming vote this spring. Esther, Jarod’s wife and assistant pastor, was able to join us for lunch. My last appointment of the week was for lunch on Friday with Rev. Jordan Baker in Marion. Jordan and his family have recently returned to Marion after serving for several years at Hayward Wesleyan Church in Wisconsin. It was good to welcome Pastor Jordan home and we’re excited to see what God has in store for this next season.
​

Congratulations to graduates from Indiana Wesleyan University and Wesley Seminary who were awarded their diplomas at the commencement ceremonies this past weekend. These are special milestones, not just for the graduates but also for their family members. Rev. Dr. Theo Griffin (Greenfield Brown’s Chapel) is pictured above with his grandson. Dr. Griffin completed a Doctor of Ministry degree from Wesley Seminary earlier this year and his family joined him for the celebration this weekend.
​

The Christmas season is a great time to celebrate new life in Christ. Pastor Mike Hewitt and Faith Strand (assistant pastor for youth ministry) are pictured above with just three of the nine people who were baptized yesterday at Rising Hope Church in Muncie. It was a bittersweet weekend for the Hewitt family. They celebrated their son’s graduation from Ball State University on Saturday and later that evening received word that Kim Hewitt’s ailing mother had passed away in Iowa. Our prayers for God’s grace and comfort go with Kim and her family as they travel to Iowa for the funeral.
​

Rev. Joe and Jennifer Jackson (Anderson United Wesleyan) have been faithfully discipling Ava and Emily for the past three years. Yesterday, this mother and her daughter publicly professed their faith in Christ through water baptism. Pastor Joe reminded me that they have celebrated three baptism services over the past six weeks. Praise the Lord for lives being #MadeNew!
​

​Carey Nieuwhof posted this reminder last week on his social media feeds. I’m praying that this Christmas season, the Crossroads District team will make the most of every opportunity (Colossians 4:5) to invite friends and neighbors to learn the real reason for the season!

May God fill you with His unspeakable joy as you worship and serve Him this Christmas!

Your servant in Christ,
​
Mark Gorveatte

Crossroads District Superintendent