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Rev. Chris Williams, Assistant DS, and I were privileged to invest this past weekend in StratOp planning and training with Pastor Tim McClellan and a team of 14 leaders at Lakeview Wesleyan Church. The initial phase of StratOp is a 3-day retreat that builds on the lessons of the past, brings clarity to the realities of the present, and develops a strategic operating (StratOp) plan within the church’s vision to create momentum around key action initiatives that the team prioritizes.  We appreciate the invitation from Pastor McClellan and the team to serve them in this process. It was also a joy to preach in the morning service. Lakeview Ministries (with the powerful combination of the church, Christian counseling center and Christian school) has unique positioning for significant Kingdom impact in Grant County and around the world. Pray that God will bless their intentionality to move forward with ever increasing effectiveness in the Great Commission ministry! We are excited to welcome Rev. Andrew and Elicia Cole back to our Crossroads District team as they’ve accepted the call to lead Daybreak Community Church in Lapel! Pastor Andy has more recently been serving in Alabama and is a certified trainer with Dynamic Church Planting International. Special thanks for Rev. Dr. Joe Harmon for a great job serving the Daybreak congregation during this transitional season. (Dr. Harmon will have a little more time for golf now but he wanted to make sure that I let you know he’s available for weekend revivals and pulpit supply.) Attendance doubled on Pastor Andy’s first Sunday, November 4, and they are expecting great things ahead for Daybreak! Monday is usually a catch-up day after the weekend but I was delighted to meet with Dr. Aron Willis on Monday morning. He is a wise mentor and trusted friend so these opportunities, more limited since his move to North Carolina, are always valued. On a personal note, Dad (Dr. Ken Gorveatte) and Merle Stevens Gorveatte, his new bride, stopped in on Monday enroute to Brooksville, Florida. It’s always a blessing to have them in our home but they didn’t stay long with colder temperatures forecasted here and Florida’s sunshine calling! Our Crossroads District team marked three passings this week with retired minister Rev. Jimmy Robbins’ funeral on Saturday, Pastor Chuck Moorer’s son’s funeral on Wednesday, and faithful lay leader Mr. Jack Bickel’s funeral on Tuesday. I was honored to be able to represent our team on Tuesday at Jack’s funeral and extended our sympathies to Rev. Dan Bickel, DS of Wisconsin District, and his family who gathered in Muncie for Jack’s funeral. Rev. Michael Hewitt, pastor of Rising Hope Church, officiated and brought a message of hope and comfort from God’s Word. Tuesday afternoon, I was back in Marion to meet with a prospective church planter and took advantage of the opportunity to cheer on the IWU Wildcats Men’s Basketball team. Assistant Coach Jeff Clark is a member of the Crossroads District Board of Administration so I was glad to be there to cheer him on. And, yes, the Wildcats won!  On Wednesday, morning I connected with Assistant DS Chris Williams in Marion before heading to Indianapolis to attend Chadwin Moorer’s funeral. Rev. Chuck and Crystal Moorer, Chad’s parents, are valued members of our pastoral team as they lead Divine Direction Church on 46th Street. There was a strong representation from our Region 2 pastors led by Rev. Mike Colaw, Assistant DS. Indiana Wesleyan University was well represented with faculty, staff and Chad’s friends, led by Rev. Dr. John Bray, Chaplain. After the funeral, I met with Rev. John & Danielle Freed, pastors at Waterline Church in Fishers, who play a key role in our district’s multiplication initiatives. They have been effectively leading our bootcamp for church planters and we are working on next steps to increase the capacity of our church multiplication systems. I met with Rev. Jarod Osborne, pastor of Warsaw Pathway Church, in Fort Wayne on Thursday as he and his team prayerfully consider their next steps in ministering to the growing Hispanic community in the Warsaw area. From Fort Wayne to Kokomo that afternoon to meet with Rev. Alan Downing, pastor of Frankfort’s Connecting Point Church, for our annual coaching conversation. My final stop of the day was a quick check-in with Rev. Matthew Trexler, Region 1 Assistant DS and pastor at The River.  StratOp was the highlight of the weekend. We started at 6 p.m. on Friday evening and wrapped up that first session just before 9. We were back at 9 a.m. on Saturday and worked together until just before 6. Then, immediately after the worship service on Sunday, we worked through the process and wrapped up before our 6 p.m. deadline. Special thanks goes to the members of the Lakeview team who worked together so well and stayed fully engaged through a long weekend! (Please connect with one of our team members if you would like to explore using these StratOp resources for your ministry’s next planning retreat.) Thank you to each of our churches, including Lakeview Wesleyan Church, who took time in their services yesterday to thank our veterans for their sacrificial service in the cause of freedom. May we never forget.  Your prayers are appreciated as the General Board of The Wesleyan Church meets this week in Indianapolis. God’s wisdom is always needed but never more than in these days of challenge and opportunity for the church. Keep on 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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