Impact, CrossRoads Church, and Heartland Region Update

Sherry and I had the joy of worshiping with Pastor Kory and Becky Christensen at New Haven Impact Church. There was a full house this morning including some first-time guests. I was privileged to bring greetings from our district team and to share the morning message. After the service, Pastor Kory and I met with the LBA.
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We enjoyed lunch together with the Christensen family before heading north for a family gathering in Grand Rapids. We were able to surprise Jordan, our daughter, and Sam, her fiance at a Sunday evening dinner to congratulate them on their engagement. Sam is a graduate of Calvin College and his parents are church planters in San Jose, California. We are happy to welcome Sam An to our growing family and pray for God’s blessing as they make plans for a bright future.
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Pastor John Hannan and the team at CrossRoads Church in Union City had a busy weekend. They haven’t met yet for their first Sunday morning worship service but the launch team decided to enter a float in the community’s Heritage Days parade on Saturday. They gave away 600 bottles of water and 400 cups with their name and theme “CrossRoads Church: Where Everyone Matters.” Sunday afternoon, they welcomed 34 people for a vision casting fellowship and cookout in the park. Continue to pray with Pastor John and Beth as they build a team to launch this new church in the fall.
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Last Monday, I was pleased to join with Angela Spangler, Executive Director of Fairmount Camp, and the dedicated team who helped her lead this year’s youth camp. Angela is providing strong leadership to the camping ministries at Fairmount and it is always encouraging to sit in with a group of leaders who are committed to pouring into the next generation.

Tuesday morning, I met briefly with the Lakeview Wesleyan Church staff before connecting with the district office team. I was in Anderson on Tuesday afternoon for two more meetings. On Tuesday evening, I joined Dr. Norman Wilson, Rev. Neftali Lopez and Rev. Eliorgy Guerrero via Zoom to thank them for the leadership they are bringing to our growing team of Hispanic leaders and their congregations.

Wednesday morning, I joined Dr. Ed Love and a cohort of Wesley Seminary students for a class on Church Multiplication that he was teaching at Trinity Wesleyan Church in Indianapolis. I enjoyed the questions and interaction with the students.
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It was a special delight to hear from Pastor Bernie Hadad and learn more about the work she is doing multiplying disciples in our prison system. Pastor Hadad was excited to share about a breakthrough at the prison in New Castle where she’s been granted permission to plant a church among prisoners. Pray that God will send more laborers into His harvest field!
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​Wednesday afternoon, I met with Pastor John Miller in Speedway. We toured the rental facility that he’s been able to secure for the fall launch of Way City Church and spent time in prayer for God’s blessing on this new work.

On Thursday and Friday, I joined representatives from the four districts of the Heartland Region in a strategic planning retreat at Wesleyan HQ. Doug Slaybaugh, the former executive pastor with Rick Warren at Saddleback Church, led our two-day retreat to consider a range of possibilities for more intentional collaboration between our districts.
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It is an honor to serve alongside DS Les Crossfield (Greater Ohio), DS Mark Eckart (Indiana South) and DS Aaron Sherman (KY-TN). Our next step is a combined meeting of our four district boards of administration in November. This will also be in preparation for the Heartland Region Gathering, a retreat for pastors and their families, to be held in Pigeon Forge, March 10-12 2020. Please mark your calendars and plan to join us.

Baptism reports keep coming in! This week’s picture of people being #madenew comes from Pastor Lee Miller and the Muncie Memorial Drive Wesleyan Church. Pastor Miller also had the joy of dedicating two children in their morning service yesterday.
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Please 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

Prayer is also requested for Rev. Seth Bye’s grandfather, Amy’s dad and Pastor Tony Bye’s father-in-law, who was hospitalized last week in critical condition but has begun to show some signs of recovery.

Thank you for all you do to advance the Kingdom!

Your servant in Christ,

Mark Gorveatte

Crossroads District Superintendent

P.S. Wesley Seminary at Indiana Wesleyan University is celebrating its 10th Anniversary this Thursday, August 8. Many of you will have already received announcements directly, but I want to remind you of the special opportunity to hear Dr. John Perkins on Thursday evening, 7:00, at College Wesleyan Church. Here’s the link for additional information:
Wesley Seminary’s 10th Anniversary