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Sherry and I will be attending a Wesleyan Investment Foundation training event in Birmingham, Alabama on Tuesday and Wednesday this week so we left a few days early to connect with Josiah, our 2nd oldest son, who leads worship at Crosspoint Church in Niceville, Florida. We enjoyed being with him yesterday as he led his team and the congregation in worship.  Crosspoint Church is a strongly-evangelical, multi-site UMC congregation of about 4,000. This dynamic ministry is led by Pastor Rural Ausley, who serves with Dr. JoAnne Lyon on Asbury Seminary’s Board of Trustees. Last Monday morning, Sherry and I were with Pastor Wes and Claudia Dupin at Daybreak Church in Michigan. Sherry has been the CFO at Daybreak for more than 10 years and I had the privilege of doing staff development with Pastor Wes and his team on the leadership concepts from “Lead Like Wesley.”  Tuesday morning, I met with our Crossroads District staff for our weekly connection. I am thankful for Mrs. Roxene Lo, Rev. Seth Bye, and Rev. Chris Williams, Assistant DS. They serve our district team with diligence and grace. They love God and they love our pastors. I am grateful for the blessing it is to serve you with this team. On Tuesday afternoon, I met with Dr. Jim Lo, Pastor Armiger (Chesterfield Parkview) and Pastor Steve Binns (Anderson Lone Oak). It was good to be with them as they entered into a conversation about ways that their congregations might collaborate to more effectively serve their respective communities. On Tuesday evening, I met with Pastor Duane and Cindy Summitt over supper in Noblesville for Duane’s annual coaching conversation. Pastor Summitt (Lapel Fishersburg) is another one of our committed bi-vocational pastors who works more 40+ hours per week outside of his ministry calling. I met with Pastor Brent Miller (Gas City Southside) on Wednesday morning for our annual coaching conversation. We also did a walk-through of their building and the kitchen remodeling project that is close to completion. It was good to stop and celebrate the progress they’ve made under Pastor Brent’s leadership. They are also praising the Lord for spiritual victories with 8 baptisms so far this conference year!  Our Crossroads District StratOp facilitators met over lunch on Wednesday in planning for the coming year. I’m grateful for the leadership that Chris Williams gives to our team that also includes Rev. Matthew Trexler and Rev. Jason Tash. If your congregation is hoping to engage in this planning process, there are still a few weekends left but the schedule is filling up fast. Please contact Rev. Chris Williams to book your team. Sherry and I have been hosting Rev. Bryon Scott, pastor of Engage Church in California, for the last few sessions of his M.Div program at Wesley Seminary. It was good to have supper with him and hear his testimony of God’s calling and faithfulness in his church planting journey. Thursday, August 8, marked the 10th anniversary celebration for Wesley Seminary at Indiana Wesleyan University. President Colleen Derr and her team put together a wonderful day of memory and vision-casting. Dr. John Perkins, founder of the Christian Community Development Association, was the featured guest in both the morning service and the concluding evening event. Wesley Seminary announced a new partnership with the Perkins Family Foundation that will continue Dr. Perkin’s legacy of Christ-centered ministries of justice and compassion.  The Global Leadership Summit, hosted by Pastor Craig Groeschel, was live on Thursday and Friday. Pastor Mark Atkinson and his team at Eastview Wesleyan Church in Gas City made it possible for me to join them for several sessions on Thursday and again on Friday. (Fountain City Wesleyan Church also hosted the GLS simulcast.) The sessions I took in were outstanding. One of the most challenging talks came from Todd Henry, author of Herding Tigers. He reminded us that we have to earn the right to lead every single day. He closed by asking: “How are you growing?” “How are you changing?” Pastor Albert Tate helped to host the GLS and we’re excited to announce that he’ll be joining us for the Heartland Regional Gathering in Pigeon Forge, March 10-12, 2020.  We’re always excited to pass along baptisms updates! Brookhaven Wesleyan Church celebrated the baptism of several teenagers last Sunday evening. Pastor David and Pastor Emily Hines led the service and passed along this great picture with their students.  Lifeway Wesleyan Church celebrated baptisms this Sunday. In addition to two of their teenagers being baptized, Pastor Andy Jellison had the incredible joy of baptizing Kate, his daughter. We celebrate with Pastor Andy and Sarah as they mark this significant milestone in their daughter’s spiritual journey. Here’s the link to the video from this special occasion: Video link to Kate Jellison’s baptism Please continue to pray for Grace, the daughter of Pastor Jon and Katie Wiest (Indianapolis Trinity Wesleyan Church), who has been diagnosed with leukemia. The family has created a webpage where you can lend them your support and prayerfully follow their journey: Caring Bridge link for Grace Fairmount Camp is hosting their “Old Time Camp Meeting” this week, August 14-18. There is a morning Bible study at 10:30 and the evening rallies begin at 6:30. For more details, you can follow Fairmount Camp’s Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/FairmountCamp/  Thank you for all you do to advance God’s Kingdom! Your servant in Christ, Mark Gorveatte Crossroads District Superintendent Comments are closed.
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