Greenfield Browns Chapel and Next Generation Leaders

This Sunday morning, Sherry and I had the privilege of worshipping with Pastor Josh Keesling and the team at Greenfield Browns Chapel. Josh and Alicia have settled into their first year in Greenfield after 8 years of ministry in North Carolina. Josh is originally from the Richmond area and was part of the Fountain City Wesleyan Church as he was growing up. After graduating from Indiana Wesleyan University and Asbury Theological Seminary, Josh served in North Carolina. We’re glad to have Josh, Alicia and Josiah (their 3-year-old son) back home and part of the Crossroads District team.
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​Happy 7th Anniversary to New Journey Church in Wabash. Launched by Pastor Tom & Sarah Cochran, this community-impacting congregation is now led by Pastor Brian Scramlin. Thanking God for dozens of lives made new through this ministry!

I was in Marion on Monday morning for staff meeting and then in Fishers for afternoon appointments. Tuesday morning began with an appointment in Marion and then I was on the north side of Indianapolis for three appointments.
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I had coffee with Pastor Gardner on Tuesday and learned more about the progress that is being made in Westfield as Pastor Jordan Gardner and the launch team at Paradox Church remodel the property and get ready to welcome the community on Easter Sunday. Jordan shared an encouraging story of a young unmarried couple that Jordan and Karen have connected with in their neighborhood. They have agreed to come to check out this new ministry. Paradox Church is being launched to reach hundreds of unchurched people just like Chad and Katie who are searching for answers. Your prayers are making a difference.

​Wednesday morning included coffee with Ed Hoover, one of my heroes, followed by sitting in on Pastor Darren Campbell’s teaching team session at the Tree of Life offices. The last appointment of the day was with Pastor Matthew Trexler at River Church. Pastor Matthew shared an inspiring report of last Sunday’s services as the team responded to a prompting of the Holy Spirit to open the service for baptisms. People responded in both of those services and more people were planning to publicly declare their faith in baptism this Sunday.
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​For ten Thursdays, I am teaching the Congregational Leadership class at Wesley Seminary. It was a joy to welcome Pastor Dave Bever (CrossLink Church in Columbus, OH) as a guest lecturer in the afternoon session. God is doing an incredible work through the ministry of CrossLink and the class was challenged by Dave’s stories of this risk-taking congregation that now averages 800 in worship with another 5000+ joining online.
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On Friday morning, Rev. Jon Wiest and the Crossroads District Multiplication Team met in Marion to strategize for next steps. It was exciting to see the doors that God is opening and the leaders that are stepping forward as we believe together for 100 new Kingdom communities in the next 10 years.

​One of the first steps we ask leaders to take if they’d like to explore the possibility of leading a church planting team is to complete the Church Planters Profile. Once you’ve completed this pre-assessment tool, contact your regional director for information about next steps. (Region 1 – Rob Tippey, Region 2 – John Freed, Region 3 – Tom Cochran). You don’t have to have a seminary degree or 10 years of experience to be considered as a lead planter. Pray, take the pre-assessment and take a step of faith!
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​The last appointment of the day was with 10 undergraduate ministerial students from Indiana Wesleyan University who requested an interview as part of their course on History and Discipline of The Wesleyan Church. These are some terrific emerging leaders with great potential to help the church reach the rising generation.
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Please join us in prayer for our Crossroads District Board of Administration as we meet in Marion on Thursday. We’ll be considering a full agenda including church planting possibilities for the next conference year.

Thank you for your partnership in the Harvest!

Your servant in Christ,
Mark Gorveatte