Pastoral Transitions, General Conference, and Baptisms

This week’s team update is coming to you from the 14th General Conference of The Wesleyan Church in St. Louis, Missouri. I’m here with 18 delegates representing our Crossroads District for meetings that began on Sunday evening. The evening rally concluded with a powerful time of prayer led by Rev. Mick Veach, lead pastor at Kentwood Community Church.
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Last week began with the opportunity on Monday morning to meet with Pastor Matthew Trexler and his leadership cohort meeting at The River Church. Monday afternoon, I met with Rev. Carla Working and her team as they plan for our district conference on June 25 at Indiana Wesleyan University.

Tuesday morning, I was able to meet with Rev. Mike Colaw as he welcomed Rev. Gregg Parris, lead pastor at Union Chapel UMC in Muncie, for a leadership development session on finishing well in our calling. Pastor Gregg has led the ministry of Union Chapel for more than 40 years!

Tuesday evening, I met with the LBA at Colfax Wesleyan Church as they began their pastoral search process. We’ve been blessed to have Rev. Harold Henson serving this congregation for the past five years but recently announced that he has accepted a call to a church in Alabama.
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Wednesday morning, I connected with Rev. Jeff Brady for an update on Commoners Church, the micro church network that he has been leading. He has also just been accepted into a CPE for a new opportunity in chaplaincy. Wednesday evening, Rev. Carla Working and I met with the leadership team at Wabash North Wesleyan Church to serve them in their pastoral search process. Rev. Working was able to help them connect with Rev. Ashlynn Lutrell to serve as their interim pastor effective immediately.
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Our reconvened district nominating committee met on Thursday evening and unanimously nominated Rev. Craig Thurmon to become our next district secretary. Pending the vote of our district conference, Craig would move from serving as our district treasurer to this new position. The DBA is empowered by our standing rules to appoint a new treasurer if that vacancy occurs.
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Then, on Saturday, Sherry and I traveled to St. Louis for the four days of our General Conference. After a meeting with the new Wesleyan Theological Network at noon and a meeting of the General Board in the afternoon, we closed out the day with a wonderful service of worship. Please join us in praying for these important meetings!

While we’ll be meeting in General Conference, ministry continues on the frontlines. We’ve been enjoying receiving the annual statistical reports from our local churches and nothing is more exciting than news of lives being changed by the Gospel. For example, just last week, The River Church celebrated even more baptisms after reporting 49 in the previous conference year. Praise God for lives #MadeNew!
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We are excited to announce that Rev. Jon and Lindsay Noggle will be joining our Crossroads District team as the new pastoral family at Elwood Central Wesleyan Church. Pray for the Noggles as they make their transition this summer.
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We’re also pleased to announce the Rev. Joshua Fox has accepted the unanimous call of Hartford City Wesleyan Church and will be relocating to Indiana this summer. We’re looking forward to welcoming Joshua and his family to the Crossroads District!
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​Keep on making a difference in the cause that counts for eternity!

Your servant in Christ,

Mark Gorveatte

Crossroads District Superintendent