District Board, General Board, and Baptisms!

Sunday morning, November 23, I was with Rev. Zack Working and his team at Hope Rising Church in Huntington. Rev. Carla Working led the worship team (with my new friend Drew, their 4th grade guitar player). Pastor Zack preached a powerful message on stewardship and then shared the important but emotional announcement that he will be stepping out of pastoral leadership for a season.
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Both Zack and Carla are deeply loved by the Hope Rising congregation so this was hard news to hear. I affirmed the support that the district team will bring to the church in the transition and then led the time of prayer for the Working family. Rev. Carla Working continues to serve at Wesleyan HQ in the Education and Clergy Care office. We celebrate the 137 people who professed Christ and nearly 100 people who were baptized at Hope Rising in just over 7 years under Zack’s ministry. I’m confident God has an exciting new chapter ahead as Pastor Zack steps back for a season of rest and renewal. Please be in prayer for the search process, for Assistant Pastors Mason Yopp and Angela Spangler, and for the LBA as they lead through this transition.
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Sunday evening, Sherry and I attended the Local Church Conference at The River in Marion. The members approved (by 190 of 193 votes) the loan authorization for $4.8 million from WIF to begin renovations at the South Campus (formerly Lakeview) in January. I know Pastor Trexler and his team would welcome your prayers for this project and capital campaign. More space is essential as the NextGen ministry serves 600 (nursery through middle school) on Sundays and worship attendance runs 40% ahead of last year.
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Monday morning, Michael Wood and I shared lunch with members of the two monthly leadership cohorts that gather in Marion for coaching/mentoring with Dr. Chris Williams and Pastor Trexler. The leadership lessons are valuable, but I’m most grateful for the relationships that have developed among these pastors. We are better together!

​Monday evening, I was in Indianapolis to meet with Dr. Richard and Rev. Carol Schenck. Rich and Carol serve as bi-vocational pastors for Circle of Hope Church in Noblesville. Dr. Rich also serves as a hospice chaplain and Pastor Carol works with IWU at the Indy North campus. They’ve been a blessing to our district board and global outreach team.
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Tuesday, I was at IWU along with 21 of the 22 districts superintendents. We were invited to join the General Board of The Wesleyan Church for a discussion of proposed memorials that may be considered at the upcoming General Conference (May 17-20, 2026). The announcement of the board’s General Superintendent nominee created the most buzz. The General Board has nominated Dr. Jim Dunn (current president of OKWU) to be our next General Superintendent. The election of the new GS will be among the first action items of May 18. Pray for Dr. Dunn and OKWU.

The General Board meeting carried over into Wednesday. Another of the highlights was the excellent presentation by Dr. Jeff Clark (IWU) on the momentum that is building around “Praying on Offense.” Delegates from last year’s district conference will be receiving an email communication from General Superintendent Dr. Schimdt with an invitation to join.
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Our Crossroads District Board of Administration met on Thursday at Waterline Church in Pendleton. Special thanks to Pastor Scott Rhyno for graciously hosting. The DBA covered a variety of topics with most attention to the transition with Dr. Chris Williams becoming our full-time Interim DS effective January 1.
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​We have a rich diversity of voices on the board, both women and men, lay and clergy, from our largest and smallest churches, from our oldest church (Fountain City - LifeSpring) to one of our newest churches (Indianapolis - The Encounter). This was my last official meeting with them as DS and I’m deeply grateful for the privilege I’ve had serving with them.
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Friday morning, the Retired Ministers and Spouses Fellowship gathered for brunch at Eastview Wesleyan Church. Our guest speaker was Dr. Jo Anne Lyon, GS Emerita. Wayne Lyon not only came along with Dr. Lyon, but he also presented handmade gifts to every attender. Special thanks to Cindy Horn and Rev. Ken Dykhoff for graciously hosting us!

Saturday evening, Rev. Grace Lopez, our Assistant DS for Hispanic Ministries, gathered several of our Hispanic pastors and their congregations in Union City for a night of worship. Pastors took turns praying and sharing from scripture. The highlight of the evening was sharing The Lord’s Supper led by Rev. Claudia Ruiz Wilson, leader of the Casa Network. It was also good to connect with Pastor John Hannan, our church planter in Union City. We’re praying with him for his upcoming surgery and recovery.
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Pastor Sam Maddox sent along the encouraging news that another new believer was baptized and three new members joined the church. God is on the move in Albion!
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Pastor Dan Fisher and the team at Delphi Wesleyan Church are rejoicing with four young people who publicly professed their faith in Christ through water baptism. Praise the Lord!
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Pastor Andy Jellison and the team at Lifeway Wesleyan Church in Fort Wayne had a wonderful celebration yesterday with four baptisms and 385 in worship. Lifeway added a second service this fall. Now they are putting out more chairs to accommodate the growth. Praise the Lord!
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We’re praying that you enjoy a blessed Thanksgiving with your loved ones this week. Then next week, December 3 & 4, we’ll be on the road for Lunch & Learn in Lafayette and Anderson. There’s still time to RSVP. Our last district event together will be the Crossroads District Christmas Gathering at IWU on Friday, December 5. Michael Wood can still find tickets to Handel’s “Messiah” presented by the IWU Chorale but don’t delay.

Thank you for all you do in the cause that counts for eternity!

Your servant in Christ,

Mark Gorveatte

​Crossroads DS