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2025 is off to a great start! Rev. Dr. Theo Griffin and the team at Greenfield Brown’s Chapel welcomed me on Sunday, January 5, to bring district greetings and the challenge from God’s Word. We concluded the service with John Wesley’s covenant prayer and by celebrating the Lord’s Supper together.  Following the service, I was able to meet with the LBA to express appreciation for their partnership in the Crossroads District ministry. Brown’s Chapel has experienced incredible financial miracles over the past few years. Since becoming debt-free, they are giving even more to their local and global missions projects. It was also good to reconnect with Assistant Pastor Rev. Ben Wade. Ben and Kate, his wife, were both valued students at Kingswood University during my tenure as president. It’s great to see our investment in our Wesleyan colleges producing effective ministers for our churches. Sunday, December 29, I was able to drop in for worship with Pastor Mike Colaw’s team at Trinity Wesleyan Church on my way to visit the church family at Monte de Sion. Trinity Church is currently hosting three Sunday morning services in their Olio Road campus while repair work is being completed in their sanctuary on Allisonville Road. Trinity also hosted multiple Christmas Eve services at the Olio Road location with more than 10 professions of faith.  Following Trinity, I joined Pastor Walter Martir and the team at Monte de Sion (formerly Eagledale Wesleyan) for their morning worship service. The congregation is growing under the leadership of Pastor Walter and Diana, his wife. Attendance has increased with the families of several new converts becoming part of the congregation. They’ve remodeled the auditorium, expanded the parking lot, and are exploring plans to enlarge the building. Pray for God’s continued blessing!  Like many of you, we were able to spend time with family over the Christmas break. Two of our sons serve on staff in Wesleyan churches in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Since they both have ministry responsibilities on Christmas Eve, Sherry and I spent the weekend before Christmas with them. One special joy was hearing both sons preach on Christmas Sunday, Joel at Caledonia Journey Church (9:15 service) and John at Berkley Hills Church (11:00 service). We’re grateful that our children and grandchildren are walking with the Lord!
It was exciting to hear baptism stories from across our district team in the last few weeks of December and yesterday to begin the new year. Below are photos from baptisms at Columbia City New Hope (Pastor Shane Wilson), Waterline Church (Pastor Scott Rhyno), Marion River Church (Pastor Matthew Trexler) and Albion Wesleyan Church (Pastor Sam Maddox). Praise the Lord for lives being #MadeNew! (Please pass along photos and stories as your church celebrates baptisms in 2025 so we can rejoice with those who rejoice.)   In other exciting developments, Pastor Andy Riemersma and ONE Church held their final services at the Union St. property on December 29. They are now transitioning and preparing for their grand opening at the new Westfield YMCA. They were able to set up their equipment for the first time on Sunday, January 5. The next two weeks will be test runs (previews) in the new facility with the grand opening set for January 26. Thank you for your prayers and financial investment in this young church!  The Branch Wesleyan Church in Lafayette is welcoming Cole Thomas to the staff as their part-time youth pastor. Cole is currently completing his ministry degree at IWU and Jesselyn, his wife, is a nursing student at IWU. Cole’s father, Rev. Ben Thomas, is serving as interim pastor for The Branch this conference year so this is an exciting opportunity for them to serve together in ministry.  The family of Dr. Joseph Sawyer hosted a 100th birthday party in his honor at Shumen House last week. Dr. Joe and Lois Sawyer invested their lives in serving the Lord in a variety of assignments in The Wesleyan Church, from church planting to district superintendent to leadership roles at headquarters. Congratulations, Dr. Sawyer on your lifetime of service and this significant century milestone!  Our prayers are extended to Rev. Jim Weinmann (Evanston Avenue Wesleyan Church) and Mr. Elvin Weinmann (IWU) on the passing of their father, Robert A. Weinmann, on December 17. His service was held at Evanston Avenue on December 23. Bob was a long-time employee at Heritage Christian School and a valued volunteer at Hephzibah, Frankfort Camp, and The Wesleyan Church headquarters.  Several churches across our district are participating in 21 Days of Prayer and Fasting in cooperation with Dr. Chris Hodges and Church of the Highlands. I joined the live online service (photo above) from Highlands this morning (7-8). You will appreciate the free resources that they provide for your prayer journey and can learn more at this site: https://21days.churchofthehighlands.com/resources Youth leaders: mark your calendars and make plans to bring your largest group ever to this year’s Crossroads District All-Nighter, February 21, in Fort Wayne. You can find all the information and registration at this link: https://crossroadsdistrict.churchcenter.com/calendar/event/174593782  Assistant DS Dr. Chris & Marietta Williams will be joining Dr. Sherry Gorveatte and me in Africa over the next two weeks. Sherry and I will be voting delegates at the International Conference of The Wesleyan Church that convenes in Johannesburg, South Africa (January 9-12). We will then be part of the delegation representing Crossroads District at the dedication service for Africa Wesleyan University in Zimba, Zambia.  While at AWU, Dr. Williams and I will be presenting seminars for ministry students and area pastors. To learn more about Africa Wesleyan University, here’s the link: https://africawesleyanuniversity.edu.zm/ Michael Wood, our district administrator, will be available to assist pastors as needed in my absence and he can reach me in cases of emergency. Rev. Mark Atkinson, Circuit Rider, will also be on call for pastors who’d like to tap into his wisdom and prayer support. Thank you all for making a difference in the cause that counts for eternity! Your servant in Christ, Mark Gorveatte Crossroads District Superintendent Comments are closed.
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