This is an abbreviated July 4th holiday edition of the Crossroads District Team Update. I trust that you and your loved ones were able to have some time off to celebrate America’s birthday. Sherry and I were able to take a few days to reconnect with our children in Michigan. We came back Saturday evening so that we would be able to join Josiah and Elizabeth, his fiancee, as he led worship at Harvest Church in McCordsville on Sunday morning, This was the first Sunday for Harvest Church to worship together in the building since March. We enjoyed hosting the LeRoy family for lunch after the service. Founding pastor Brad LeRoy has done a great job leading his team and the congregation through this challenging season. Before leaving town, I joined the staff meeting at Hartford City on Monday afternoon. Tuesday, I was on the road visiting pastors in the Indianapolis area. I dropped in for prayer with Pastor Rick Matthews (Southview Wesleyan), Pastor John Miller (Way City Church in Speedway), Pastor Ben Thomas (Avon Nehemiah Church), and Pastor Scott McDermid (Sheridan Six Points Church). Wednesday morning, I met with our district staff in Marion and then signed out for a few days of vacation with family. This was also a week for transitions. Mrs. Hannah Searcey Brown joined the district office staff on July 1 and will be serving as Executive Assistant to Rev. Seth Bye. Hannah is an IWU graduate (Christian Ministries and Christian Worship majors) who also brings graphic design skills to the team. Hannah grew up in the Chesapeake District of The Wesleyan Church (some of you may know Rev. Marilyn Searcey, Hannah’s mother). Hannah will be working remotely from Danville where she and Ross Brown, her husband reside. If not before then, many of you will have the opportunity to meet Hannah at our August 15th ordination service. I know you’ll join me in welcoming her to the district team. After a thorough search process, the members at Wabash New Journey Community Church voted unanimously to extend a call to Rev. Rob Tippey to become their senior pastor for this new season of ministry. Pastor Rob officially accepted that call this weekend. Rob has most recently been serving on staff with Rev. Jeff Luetke’s team at Fairmount Wesleyan Church. New Journey is one of the newer churches in our team and Pastor Rob brings a wealth of experience from planting Level 13 Church in Fort Wayne. Pray for both churches and for the Tippey family in this time of transition. Congratulations to Dr. John Bray who retired last week from serving as Dean of the Chapel for Indiana Wesleyan University over the past 5 years. John and Patty Bray have had an incredible ministry together serving the students at IWU after pastoring at Heritage Wesleyan Church in Illinois for more than 40 years. We’re glad to announce that John will begin a new part-time assignment this summer with Rev. Matthew Trexler’s team at The River Church. Patty will continue teaching at IWU. Waterline Church in Fishers has released their pastor profile online (https://secure.wesleyan.org/job/frame/8051) to formally launch their search process. Please keep their search team in your prayers and refer great candidates that you believe could be a good fit for Waterline’s next chapter of ministry. Two reminders:
Rev. Pete Benson, is an ordained Wesleyan minister and exceptional financial advisor. In cooperation with the Department of Education and Clergy Development, Pete has released a series of timely videos to help pastors with their personal finances. Thank you, Pete, for making a difference! Thank you for all you do to advance God’s Kingdom! Your servant in Christ, Mark Gorveatte Crossroads District Superintendent Comments are closed.
|
Archives
March 2025
|