Happy Thanksgiving, Icy Roads, and Christmas Season!

Inclement weather caused cancellations across our district on Sunday, November 30, 2025 but I was able to worship with Pastor Michael Hewitt and his team at Rising Hope Church in Muncie at their 11 AM service. The Hewitt family was celebrating another engagement in their growing family. We also took time to prayer for Rev. John Arnett, one of our retired pastors and part of the Rising Hope congregation, who notified us that Linda, his wife, passed away yesterday morning. (We’ll pass along funeral details to district pastors as soon as possible.)
​

I was reminded again of the faith that led Pastor Michael and Kim Hewitt to move here from Michigan back in 2017 with their family to plant this church. Their impact in Muncie has been significant. They’ve also mentored church planters here in Indiana and even in Spain. Thank you, Pastor Michael and Kim for leading by example in your ministry of multiplication!
​
Sunday evening, I joined Rev. Joshua Fox and the team at Hartford City Wesleyan Church for an “Advent Awakening” service led by their youth ministry. It was great to connect with so many friends in the church that became dear to us as I served in this congregation for several months during the pandemic.

​Pastor Josh and Candace (his wife who is also a registered nurse) just returned from serving with others from our district in a short-term team in Cuba. (Rev. Joe Jackson and Rev. Mark Atkinson are leading this initiative and have another trip coming up in January. Reach out to them if you’d like to learn more.)

It was also good to see Dr. Ed & Emily Love who serve in their local Wesleyan church. Dr. Love is the General Director of Church Multiplication and Discipleship at Wesleyan headquarters. It is always encouraging when our HQ employees lead by example.
​
Our prayer is that you were able to enjoy a blessed Thanksgiving with your loved ones this past week. Sherry and I took her parents with us and connected with our extended family in Grand Rapids. Thanksgiving Day (November 27) would have been my father’s 90th birthday so the four siblings and our spouses committed to bringing our families back together to celebrate the legacy of our faith passed along to us.

My brother Joel and I are both ordained Wesleyan ministers and my two sisters are both married to ordained Wesleyan ministers. My sister, Beth, has one son who is ordained and serves with the Nazarenes. Sherry and I have two sons and one daughter-in-law who are ordained Wesleyan ministers. Between the siblings, our spouses, our children and their spouses, and the grandchildren, there were 51 of us (15 were aged 5 and under) who shared the Thanksgiving meal, memories, and a prayer of gratitude for the godly heritage passed on to us by Dr. Ken & Anne Gorveatte.
​

​This week, I’ll be joining Dr. Mike Colaw and his staff at Indianapolis Trinity Wesleyan Church for their weekly staff meeting on Tuesday, December 2. Then, on December 3 & 4, Michael and I will be on the road for “Lunch & Learn” gatherings in Lafayette on Wednesday and Anderson on Thursday. There’s still time to RSVP for those lunch meetings. Our last district event together will be the Crossroads District Ministers’ Christmas Gathering at IWU on Friday, December 5. Michael Wood has the remaining tickets for Handel’s “Messiah” presented by the IWU Chorale so reach our today if you’d like us to save a seat for you.
​
When we came together to launch the Crossroads District, we committed to 1) making disciples, 2) equipping leaders, and 3) multiplying churches. Where we’ve succeeded together, it’s been because God graciously blessed our focused faith. When we’ve not experienced God’s blessing, the most frequent reason is that we’ve drifted from that missional focus. Regardless of who you elect as your DS next year, I implore you to stay focused on these Kingdom priorities.

​Next Monday, I’ll begin vacation (but on call for you) through the Christmas break so this will be my final Crossroads District Team Update before retirement as your DS. The Apostle Paul often closed his letters to the churches with final words of advice and affection. Allow me to conclude my final epistle with these words from his second letter to the Corinthians, as paraphrased in The Message:

"And that’s about it, friends. Be cheerful. Keep things in good repair. 
Keep your spirits up. Think in harmony. Be agreeable. 
Do all that, and the God of love and peace will be with you for sure.” 
2 Corinthians 13:11 (The Message)

Thank you for allowing me the incredible joy and privilege of serving with you in the only cause that counts for eternity!

Your servant in Christ,

Mark Gorveatte
​
Crossroads DS