Memorial Day, Festival of Preaching, and Trinity Wesleyan

Sunday, May 28, I was privileged to worship with Pastor Mike Colaw and the terrific team at Trinity Wesleyan in Indianapolis. I preached in each of the three worship services at the Allisonville Road campus and then met with the LBA members for a positive review of Pastor Colaw’s extended call.  It’s always a joy to be led in worship by Josh Lavender.
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​These are exciting days as Trinity Church leads the way in making disciples and multiplying congregations. I also appreciate the investment that Pastor Mike makes in serving on the DBA and leading the pastors in Region 2. It was a special treat to meet their newest member of the staff, Sam Linette (Student Pastor), and to meet the newest member of his family, Selah Grace!
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​Last week began with another successful “Festival of Preaching” hosted by Dr. Steve DeNeff and the team at College Wesleyan Church on Monday and Tuesday. Pastor Steve kicked the event off with a powerful message on the challenge of preaching to the church in exile. The event included strong presenters and diverse perspectives from the panelists. I was encouraged to see a good number of our Crossroads District pastors and staff among the more than 130 participants in this year’s festival.
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​Coaching conversations last week included Pastor Aaron Lee, Pastor Tom Bradley, Pastor Darrel Herring, Pastor Tim Becker, Pastor Ryan Budde, Pastor Ben Capshaw, Pastor Ben Parker, Pastor Jordan Gardner and Pastor Jeff Luedtke. Our district is blessed with a great team of pastors serving faithfully in a wide variety of contexts. I leave these meetings inspired by the dedication of our pastors who are committed to making disciples and multiplying Kingdom communities.
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On Thursday morning, I met with Rev. Chris Williams and the planning team for this year’s district conference which takes place in just 4 weeks. I’m excited not just by the planning but by the prayer focus that is going into this most important gathering on our district calendar.
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We have outstanding guests joining us. Alex Sicila, pastor of Senda de Vida Church in Mexico City, will be our keynote speaker. You’ll love his passion and the purposeful way in which his church is making disciples and multiplying congregations.

​​Elizabeth Rhyno, Worship Arts Director at Waterline Church, will be leading us in worship. Elizabeth and Scott led worship together at The Gathering and served with me at Kingswood University. I am anticipating that God will meet with us in powerful ways as we gather in His presence. You’ll also want to join us for Ordination Service on Friday evening (6:30) as we welcome Dr. JoAnne Lyon to lead this meaningful ceremony for the 7 candidates who are answering God’s call on their lives.

​While we will be conducting the required “business” of the conference, this event includes training and inspiration for your whole team. It’s not just for delegates!

To learn more about this opportunity, please visit and share the link: http://conference.crossroadsdistrict.org/
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​I trust you were able to have some down time over this Memorial Day weekend. Sherry and I spent a few hours painting in the new district office suite next to Abbey Coffee. The office is on schedule to be completed before district conference and then we’ll transition our finance and data operations there in the last week of June.
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​Sherry, Jordan and I also made a quick trip to Michigan on Friday and back Saturday for time with our children. With the exception of Josiah who serves a church in Florida, we were blessed to have the rest of the team together for 24 hours. We couldn’t be more proud of these amazing children who love and serve God!
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​We are so privileged to live in such freedom here in America but this weekend stands as a moving reminder that freedom isn’t free. We owe so much to those who bravely gave their all in defending our liberties. May we honor their sacrifice in grateful lives as one nation under God.

Your servant in Christ,
Mark Gorveatte