Sunday morning, September 20, I had the joy of worshiping with Pastor Rick Matthews and the team at Southview Wesleyan Church. Pastor Rick and Mary were first appointed to serve at Southview back in 1983. They have done a great job helping their congregation navigate through the challenges of Covid-19. Southview is gathering about 50% of their congregation for in-person worship.
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The members have been faithful in their local church stewardship and in support of their missions partnerships. Southview Wesleyan is also the gracious host for Shalom Church, a Wesleyan congregation comprised of Chin refugees from Myanmar. After the service, I was blessed to enjoy Sister Mary’s home cooking with their family.
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Sunday afternoon, I brought greetings and preached the afternoon message for Shalom Church. Benjamin Tuimuk is appointed to serve this congregation as lay supply pastor. Most of their members immigrated from Myanmar (formerly Burma) in the face of extreme political persecution. There are significant communities of refugees in both Indianapolis and Fort Wayne. Trinity Wesleyan Church in Indianapolis also has a Burmese congregation as part of their ministry in the Garfield Park neighborhood. We are blessed to partner with these brothers and sisters in Christ.
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Sunday evening, Dr. Steve Bray and Campus Pastor Ryan VanMatre led in a dedication service for their new south campus in what was formerly the St. John’s Lutheran Church. Former senior pastor David Anderson was part of the story as this historic facility (112 years old) was gifted from an aging Lutheran congregation to become the home for the thriving south campus of LifeSpring (formerly Fountain City Wesleyan Church) in the heart of Richmond. David Snow, the mayor of Richmond, brought greetings and Dr. Steve Bray preached a challenging message from Nehemiah. Pray that God will continue to bless this step of faith to create a hub of hope in the inner city.
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On Monday, I flew to Florida to represent the General Board on the Board of Directors meeting at Wesleyan Village, Inc. The board includes Rod Benson and Martha Blackburn from our Crossroads District family. Dr. Don Maness serves as Chair and Executive Director. The village has seen lots of improvements under his leadership. If you’ve never visited, Dr. Maness and his team are wonderful hosts and would welcome you to experience the wonderful fellowship of this Wesleyan retirement community.
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Wednesday morning, I was back on the road for coaching conversations. I was glad to be able to connect with Rev. Rick Fletcher (Lifeway Wesleyan Church) and Pastor Kyle Horton (Three Rivers Church) in Fort Wayne. Wednesday evening, I met with Rev. Matthew Trexler, our Region 1 Assistant DS and vice-chair of the DBA, in preparation for our district board meeting.

Thursday, our Crossroads District Board of Administration met at The Branch in Fairmount. Pastor Jeff Luedtke and his team always do a great job hosting events in their second floor conference room. Rev. Craig Thurmon brought the devotional and we enjoyed good discussions and clear decisions on a variety of district concerns. Some of the discussions are weighty but we have a great group of leaders who enjoy working together to keep our district focused on Great Commission priorities.
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One of the highlights of our DBA meetings is hearing from our church planters. Pastor John Hannan sent a very positive report via video from the CrossRoads Church in Union City as they prepare for their grand opening on Sunday morning, September 27. We were also blessed to have Rev. Aldean Pablo join us in person to share highlights from the SEND Church project in Roanoke. You may recall that they baptized 10 believers just lat month. God has opened an unusual door for collaboration with an existing campus. Pray that God will continue to grant wisdom and favor as they press forward to make disciples in Roanoke and southwest Fort Wayne.
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Friday morning, Seth Bye and I were in Noblesville to look at a property for possible consideration as a future church campus. It was good to reconnect with Jacob Thurston on Friday afternoon in Marion to hear more about his work with the Kern Project at IWU. Jake was previously on staff at Ransom Church in South Dakota. He is available to speak to youth groups about ministry education at IWU or for supply preaching. You can reach him at jake.thurston@indwes.edu
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Friday evening, Sherry and I had the joy of being with pastoral couples from our Region 3 North Zone at the New Carlisle Wesleyan Church. Pastor Don and Karen Bayne were our gracious hosts. The food was good, the fellowship was better, and the prayer time was the best. Thank you to each couple who was able to make time to invest in each other and in building a stronger team!
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Saturday morning, I was able to drop in at Lancaster Wesleyan Church to share a devotional with their team as they gathered for Day 2 of their Vision Defining Retreat. Dr. Robert Hallett is serving as the interim pastor this year. He is doing a terrific job of leveraging his extensive consulting experience in helping this congregation create a clear pathway forward into their next chapter of ministry.
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We in the district always love to receive and pass along baptism reports. Dr. Oliver Dongell and the team at Plymouth Wesleyan Church send pictures and the good news that 6 people were baptized in their church on September 13. Praise the Lord for changed lives!
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Pastor Matthew Trexler and the team at The River Church celebrated two more baptisms on Sunday morning, September 20. Praise the Lord for lives #madenew
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Pastors, staff, and district ministry leaders are called to a Prayer Summit this Sunday evening, 6 p.m., at The River Church in Marion. Dr. Jim Lo and a team have prepared a focused prayer gathering for us. We are leading in unusual times. We need fresh anointing to lead our congregations in this time of intense spiritual warfare. I would be grateful if you would make this prayer time a priority in your calendar.
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Your servant in Christ,

Mark Gorveatte

Crossroads District Superintendent
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Sunday morning, September 13, I joined Pastor Dan Fisher and the team at Delphi Wesleyan Church for worship. Their in-person attendance has been running more than 75% of pre-Covid numbers, with several new folks becoming part of the congregation since they’ve been gathering in the building. Last year they celebrated 9 professions of faith and 6 baptisms.
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I met with Pastor Fisher and the LBA after the service for lunch and a good discussion. They’ve done an amazing job of updating their facility over the past few years. They recently completed remodeling their kitchen and fellowship room. Delphi Wesleyan has also taken advantage of grants to improve their technology for a growing online ministry. They are also encouraged by the growing response to their new Thursday evening prayer service. God is on the move in Delphi!
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Sunday afternoon, I chaired the LBA meeting at Eastview Wesleyan Church in the absence of Pastor Mark Atkinson. I am glad to report that Pastor Mark is making steady progress in his recovery. He surprised the congregation at the Jonesboro campus by slipping in to worship with them. Please keep Mark and Ronda in your prayers as they continue this recovery process.
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Tuesday morning, I met with Dr. Jim Lo in preparation for our Crossroads District prayer gathering on September 27, 6 p.m., at The River Church in Marion. Dr. Jim Lo leads our district intercession team and will be hosting this summit with me. Please make plans to join us as we pray for revival in our hearts, our churches, and our nation. (Dr. Lo was at The River Church today teaching on prayer in all three morning services and in an afternoon seminar.)

Wednesday, Rev. Theo Griffin (Brown’s Chapel Wesleyan Church) and I met in the morning for our annual coaching conversation. I was also able to connect with Rev. Craig Thurmon, our district treasurer, in preparation for this week’s DBA meeting. Pastor Craig and Tiffany are working together to plant The Encounter Assembly on the east side of Indianapolis. Wednesday afternoon, I dropped in on Pastor Brad LeRoy and the staff at Harvest Church before heading back to Greenfield. Mrs. Randy Griffin (Theo’s wife and ministry partner) graciously took time to tell me about the ministry she launched in Central New York to care for pastors’ spouses. Stay tuned for more.

Thursday, I was in Fort Wayne to meet with Pastor Dave Dignal (Edgerton Wesleyan) and Pastor Aaron Lee (Cultivate Church) for our annual coaching conversations. Jordan Ashley (CFO for College Wesleyan Church) and I met later that afternoon to sign closing documents for the construction loan on their JC Body Shop expansion project. College Wesleyan is making great progress in raising the funding and in completing this building that will expand their capacity for community ministry.

Friday morning, I met with Jim Bogear in Gas City for an update on the growing coaching ministry that he and Jerolyn are leading together. Rev. Jason Tash and I met in Fort Wayne to review the StratOp consultations he is leading for the district. I was glad to connect with Pastor Aldean Pablo to catch up on the progress of the SEND Church planting project. Here’s a photo from their recent outdoor service. Please keep the Pablos in your prayers!

Saturday morning, I made a quick trip to Huntington to check in on Pastor Chris Williams leading the StratOp consultation for Hope Rising Church. I am grateful for Jason Tash, Matthew Trexler, and Chris Williams who join me in sharing this helpful resource with our district churches. We still have a few dates available in the spring if your team is ready to become even more focused and aligned for Kingdom impact.
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No one needs another meeting, but every church can benefit from gaining greater clarity on their mission and the significant next steps that can help us be more effective in making disciples. Pastors Zack and Carla Working did a great job of preparing their team for this weekend and capped it all off with a baptism celebration in this morning’s worship service. That’s why we do what we do. Praise God for lives being #madenew!
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This week I’ll be in Florida for the Wesleyan Village Board meeting Tuesday and then our District Board of Administration meets in Fairmount on Thursday. I am grateful for each one of you who keeps me in your prayers as I have the opportunity to travel and serve our team.

​Keep on making a difference in the cause that counts for eternity!

Your servant in Christ,

Mark Gorveatte

Crossroads District Superintendent

P.S. I am grateful for the many creative ways that our churches engage with and serve their communities. Pastor Dan and Amanda Clark sent along these photos from the special service that they held yesterday at Monon Wesleyan Church to honor the first responders in their town.
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I trust that you were able to enjoy some time relaxing with your family and friends over this Labor Day weekend. Sherry and I enjoyed taking a few days off including time with our children in Michigan. I hope you’ll be encouraged by this briefer than normal team update.

Last week’s abbreviated schedule included working with an LBA on a pastoral search, interviewing prospective church planters, conducting coaching conversations, and leading staff meetings. One of the highlights of last week was a meeting on Friday with Rev. Mike Hewitt (our district’s church multiplication champion), Rev. Bernie Haddad, and Toni, one of the ladies that Bernie is discipling through Mercy Unleashed.
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It is so encouraging to hear how God is at work through this ministry to prisoners and their families. Our church plant (Eden Unleashed) in the New Castle prison continues to meet for ministry but outside guests are still restricted. Pray for Danny and the other men in our church there who are faithfully discipling within the walls.

Again this week we have the privilege of rejoicing with our churches that are celebrating lives #madenew by the Gospel of Jesus Christ! Pastor Paul VanCise shared good news of three baptisms in the Bryant Wesleyan Church on September 6 and 2 more on August 23 in their ministry partnership that Joe Schmidt is leading in Dunkirk.
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​Pastor Jeremy Armiger and Dr. Jim Lo baptized three new believers at Parkview Wesleyan Church in Chesterfield. God is honoring the focused prayer and community evangelism that Parkview is pursuing.

Pastor Neftali Lopez and the congregation at Carmel Amistad Iglesia Wesleyana celebrated lives being #madenew in an outdoor baptism on Sunday. Three new believers publicly professed their faith in Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord!
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Jesus declared, “In the same way, there is more joy in heaven over one lost sinner who repents and returns to God than over ninety-nine others who are righteous and haven’t strayed away!” Luke 15:7 (NLT)
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​We’re thanking God for answered prayer. Three of our pastors who tested positive for Covid-19 over the last several weeks have all received tests confirming that they are now free from the virus. Thank you for each one who joined them in prayer.

Pastor Mark Atkinson (Gas City Eastview) has been released from the hospital to recover at home from his recent heart surgery. It was great to speak with Pastor Mark by phone from his home on Thursday. Please continue to remember Mark and Ronda in prayer.

PRAYER GATHERING set for September 27, 6 p.m., at The River Church in Marion. This is a change from the previous announcement. For the past few months our district pastors have only gathered on ZOOM for updates and prayer. This month, we will plan to meet in person. Dr. Jim Lo and I will be hosting this prayer meeting as we seek the Lord for revival in our churches and in our land. If you are able, please plan to join us.

Your servant in Christ,

Mark Gorveatte

Crossroads District Superintendent

Sherry and I enjoyed worshiping with Rev. Rob and Melinda Tippey at Wabash New Journey Community Church on Sunday morning, August 30. In person attendance was strong again yesterday with many young families and several IWU students. I had the privilege of installing Pastor Tippey on behalf of our Crossroads District team. Pastor Rob cast vision in an anointed message about “The Church I See” from Luke 14:25-33. He challenged the church with the reminder that “we’re not here to fill seats, we are here to make disciples.”
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After the service, we joined the Tippey’s and the young adults of the church for a delicious meal. New Journey was blessed to be launched by Pastors Tom & Sarah Cochran. Pastor Brian & Jessica Scramlin followed the founding pastors and built well on that foundation. Pray for Pastor Rob and Melinda as they lead New Journey into this next exciting chapter of impacting Wabash with the Gospel.
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I connected with the Level 13 Church leadership team last Monday evening and confirmed interim ministry plans and their upcoming StratOp consultation with Jason Tash on October 2-3. Tuesday, I met with the Crossroads District team at Abbey Coffee in the morning. Sherry and I hosted the Hartford City Wesleyan Church staff for a meeting and supper at our place on Tuesday evening.
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Wednesday included a flurry of calls, texts and emails. The best news of the day was the phone call from Pastor Mark Atkinson that he was being transferred to IU Health’s Blackford Hospital so he can rehab closer to home. Wednesday evening, I met with the LBA at Gas City Eastview Wesleyan Church as they confirmed plans for the interim until Mark is healthy enough to return. They have a strong staff team that will be sharing the load for this vital ministry. While we were meeting, Pastor Mark sent us a photo via text so we returned the favor.
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Thursday afternoon, I met with Dr. Mark Eckart via Zoom for an extended discussion about possible merits and models for more collaborative ministry between the Indiana South and Crossroads district. Mark continues to heal from a recent procedure on his vocal cords and is grateful for our prayers. Thursday evening, Seth Bye and I hosted a Zoom meeting for our pastors on communication they had received from the district office. The issue of effective ministry to persons who struggle with same sex attraction is a growing challenge in our congregations and colleges. Our aim is to minister with love and an optimistic view of God’s grace that can empower people to live in freedom.
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Friday, I dropped in on Rev. Rick Carder and the DBMD Zone team that was meeting with ministerial candidates at Eastview Wesleyan Church in Gas City. The DBMD (District Board of Ministerial Development) plays a key role in helping individuals process their calling and walk with them as they prepare for a lifetime of vocational ministry. I am grateful for each of our ministers and lay leaders who collectively volunteer hundreds of hours each year to serve alongside our students in this significant assignment.
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Mr. Carl Shepherd led a group of us serving on subcommittee of the General Board in a Zoom meeting on Friday afternoon. The postponing of General Conference allowed for additional refinement of proposed memorials that will be considered by the board at its fall meeting. Carl and Vicki are actively involved at Indianapolis Trinity Church and Carl also chairs the IWU Board of Trustees. We’re praying with Carl and Vicki as Vicki battles cancer.

Friday evening and all day Saturday, I served with Rev. Jason Tash as he led the Hartford City Wesleyan Church in a StratOp planning retreat. Jason is currently serving as VP for Development at Destiny Rescue but also graciously serves as part of our district team for these weekend consultations. The team at Hartford City Wesleyan Church worked well together in processing through the planning elements. Pray for HCWC as they move through this transition time and prepare to launch their pastoral search.
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I am always excited to hear from our pastors with reports of changed lives and baptism celebrations. Pastor Lyle Breeding shared the good news that he and Assistant Pastor Lane Sander had the joy of baptizing 5 new believers at Sonlight Wesleyan Church in Bluffton. Praise the Lord for lives #madenew!
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Rev. Aldean Pablo, our church planter in Roanoke/SW Fort Wayne reported 10 baptisms and more than 130 in attendance for an outdoor worship celebration this past Sunday at SEND Church in their cooperative ministry with the Sonrise UMC campus. Pastor Aldean had the special privilege of baptizing his son, Eleazar. Praise God for lives #madenew!
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​Please continue to pray for healing grace to our pastors with physical concerns: Rev. Mark Atkinson (Gas City Eastview), Rev. Nicolas Zarate (Circle of Hope), and Pastor Steve Arnett (New Castle Mt. Zion).

Our sympathies and prayers are extended to the family and friends of Rev. Ray Hood, a retired minister who served for many years as pastor of Fishersburg Wesleyan Church. Rev. Hood passed away last week and his funeral will be held on Tuesday, September 1, at the Whetsel Funeral Service in Alexandria.

We believe that prayer makes a difference. We are inviting district pastors and lay leaders to join us for a concert of prayer at 6 p.m. on Sunday, September 20, at Lakeview Wesleyan Church in Marion. Dr. Jim Lo will be leading us in this prayer time with a special focus on revival in our churches. We would love to have you join us.

Keep on making a difference in the cause that counts for eternity!

Your servant in Christ,

Mark Gorveatte

Crossroads District Superintendent

Sherry and I enjoyed worshiping at our home church on Sunday morning. Waterline Church was our neighborhood church when we first moved to Indiana. Pastor John and Danielle Freed welcomed us as members in 2015 and we’ve appreciated the evangelistic passion that still marks the church today. Earlier this summer, John and Danielle transitioned into a staff role leading church planting with the Great Lake District. The lead team has been working diligently through a pastoral search process and we met together after the morning service. Following the leadership team meeting, Sherry and I were delighted to host the staff for lunch. Please pray for Waterline as they seek the Lord for their new lead pastor.
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Sunday evening, Sherry and I joined the church family at Hartford City Wesleyan Church for a hymn sing and ice cream fellowship. It was heart-warming to share in singing these well-loved songs of the church. They topped off the evening with an ice cream sundae buffet. About 50 people joined us for this evening of fellowship and inspiration. This was the first congregation-wide event hosted by the church since March. Thank you to Josh Munoz, worship director, and his team for putting this event together. I am having a lot of fun serving with John Bonham, Administrative Director, and the other members of the ministry team at HCWC while we work through this transition period between pastors.
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Wesley Seminary honored its 2020 graduates in an online commencement ceremony on Saturday afternoon, August 22. IWU President David Wright and Wesley Seminary President Colleen Derr brought greetings to this graduation class. Congratulations to members of our district team who graduated this year including Rev. Ryan Van Matre, campus pastor at Richmond LifeSpring South, and Jordan Rife, worship pastor at College Wesleyan. Dr. Derr reports that Wesley Seminary is off to a great start in this new academic year with record enrollment in July (502 students).
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Assistant DS Matthew Trexler has been leading a cohort of pastors in Region 1 who meet on one Monday morning each month for the past year for learning and encouragement. I was able to drop in on this week’s session and was encouraged to hear the stories of God’s faithfulness in this season. Iron does sharpen iron and we are better together.
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​Monday afternoon, I met with Rev. Johanna Rugh and her husband Robert. The Rugh’s have moved to Indiana with Johanna continuing her service at Wesleyan headquarters working with Education and Clergy Development with special attention focused on FLAMA, our ministerial training program for Hispanic pastors. It was also good to catch up with Dr. David Drury and hear more about how God is at work in the growing network of house churches that now spans coast to coast.
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Tuesday morning, I checked in on the staff at Eastview Wesleyan Church before heading to Marion to meet with our district office team. Tuesday afternoon, I joined Wesleyans online for the Welcome 2020 Conference hosted by our own Rev. Zach Szmara, pastor at Logansport The Bridge Wesleyan Church. One of the celebration points was the Immigrant Connection has now served more than 8000 people from 120 countries. I am thankful for Zach’s leadership as Executive Director for this important ministry that equips churches to help people enter the legal process for immigration. For more information, here’s the link to their website: https://www.wesleyan.org/discipleship/immigrant-connection

Wednesday’s meetings included Dr. Bob Hallett (interim pastor at Lancaster Wesleyan Church), Rev. Jeff Brady (Marion Commoners House Church), and Dr. Jeremy Summers who has returned from a season in the south.  I was able to visit with Pastor Mark and Ronda on Thursday at the hospital in Fort Wayne. It was a blessing to be able to represent our district team as we joined together in prayer. The good news this past weekend was that Pastor Mark is improving and could soon be released to a rehabilitation facility. His family and the church are posting regular updates on Facebook for those who want to follow more closely. Thank you for continuing to pray with us for his full recovery.

Friday included sermon preparation for Sunday morning at Waterline. I also hosted an online meeting with our Assistant District Superintendents in preparation for an important letter that will be coming to our district pastors. If you are a lead pastor in our district, please check your email on Wednesday.

Saturday morning, August 22, Assistant DS Mike Colaw (pastor at Indy Trinity) hosted a Zoom meeting for pastors in Region 2. I appreciated the opportunity to hear how God is faithfully at work in our different settings. Pastor Theo Griffin brought a praise report of a baptism last week at Greenfield Brown’s Chapel, with two more planned for the near future. Pastor Mike reported that 3 more people have recently testified to a call to ministry for a total of 10 young leaders that he is mentoring. He also shared some exciting opportunities that they will be offering for Region 2 pastors in their monthly leadership development meetings this fall.

Congratulations to Rev. John and Sherryl Wrightsman on the occasion of their 50th wedding anniversary. John and Sherryl have served both in local church ministry and then with Indiana Wesleyan University before officially retiring. We are thankful for their ministry and their beautiful example of a Christ-centered marriage.
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​Thank you for all you do to advance God’s Kingdom!

Your servant in Christ,

Mark Gorveatte

Crossroads District Superintendent

Dr. Wayne Schmidt, our General Superintendent, delivered an anointed message and presided over this year’s Crossroads District ordination service on Saturday afternoon, August 15. This class of 15 ordinands was multi-generational (from Millennials to Boomers), multi-ethnic (Asian, African-American, and Latino), with seven women and eight men, and this cohort included five church planters. I am grateful for Dr. David Smith and our District Board of Ministerial Development, and for the many ordained ministers of our Crossroads District team who blessed this service with their presence.
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The following ministers were ordained: Rev. Stephan Binns (Anderson Lone Oak Wesleyan Church), Rev. Marcus DePeal (Indianapolis Trinity Wesleyan Church), Rev. Bernedette Haddad (New Castle Eden Unleashed), Rev. Rochelle Jenkins (Indianapolis Circle City Church), Rev. Amy Luedtke (Fairmount Wesleyan Church), Rev. Nathan Metz (Newark Community Church), Rev. Lee Miller (Muncie Memorial Drive Wesleyan Church), Rev. Titus Romdenh (WGM), Rev. Jessica Teegarden (Marion Hillside Wesleyan Church while applyying for military chaplaincy), Rev. Craig Thurmon Sr. (Indianapolis The Encounter Assembly), Rev. Laura Walls (Fishers Waterline Church), Rev. Jared Webb (Marion Lakeview Churc), Rev. Adriana Zarate (Circle of Hope Network), and Rev. Nicholas Zarate (Circle of Hope Network). Elizabeth Rhyno (Fishers Waterline) was unable to be present due to a family medical emergency in Canada. We were also honored to affirm the ordination of Rev. Ron Ferguson (Grant City Wesleyan Church) who transferred to us from the Church of the Nazarene.
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Fairmount Wesleyan Church’s The Branch Coffee Shop provided wonderful refreshments for the reception that followed the service. Thank you, Velvet Haisley, for taking such good care of us. Special thanks to Rev. Chris Williams, Lead Pastor, and his team at Marion Lakeview Wesleyan Church for the gracious way they hosted our district family for this sacred event. Their facility staff and technical team went the second mile to accommodate us and to provide the online streaming for those who could not be present. This year’s service was extra special for the Lakeview Wesleyan team since their own assistant pastor Rev. Jared Webb was one of this year’s ordinands.
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Many of you have been following the health updates for Rev. Mark Atkinson, senior pastor at Gas City Eastview Wesleyan Church. Rev. Atkinson had emergency surgery last Monday which included a triple by-pass operation. He had some complications earlier in the week but is now making encouraging progress. The restrictions on visits has made this especially difficult for Ronda, Mark’s wife, and his family. Pastor Mark and Ronda appreciate your prayers and support.

Last week included meetings with Dr. Mark Eckart, Indiana South DS, on Monday in Greenwood. I am grateful for Dr. Eckart’s wisdom and his friendship. Tuesday, I hosted our monthly Zoom meeting for district pastors with one session at 10 a.m. and the second at 8 p.m. Praying together in the breakout rooms continues to be a highlight and pastors from across the district are becoming better acquainted as we share with each other.
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Tuesday also included an important training session for our DBMD leaders as the Department of Education and Clergy Development prepares to roll out a new credentialing process for our ministerial students. These changes are significant but should empower local churches for a more meaningful role in credentialing their own ministerial students and local staff.

Wednesday, I was able to head north to connect with some of our pastors in the South Bend area. Rev. Don Bayne (New Carlisle Wesleyan) and I met for lunch and then Pastor Don walked me through the impressive work they’ve done in updating their foyer and auditorium. They’ve upgraded their technology and added beautiful decorating touches that surprised the congregation as they returned to the building.
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Pastor Matt Ohime and I connected at Davis Wesleyan Church. Before we had a time of prayer together, Pastor Ohime showed me through the remarkable job they’ve done in completely remodeling the interior of their worship center. Technology has also been addressed and they’ve complemented the dramatic interior changes with landscaping improvements and attractive new signs.

Pastor Ben and Kirsten Jones (Beaver Creek Wesleyan Church) met me in South Bend for supper. It was my first opportunity to visit with Kirsten. The newlyweds are doing well as they settle into their new ministry and new home. My last stop of the day was to check in on Rev. Terry and Lennaire Vaughn (South Bend The Bridge Urban Church). The Vaughn’s are doing a remarkable job of building a disciple-making movement in the city and we’re grateful for the privilege of partnering with them.

Thursday morning, I checked in on the Eastview staff and met with Seth Bye. Thursday afternoon I dropped in for a visit and prayer with Rev. Mark and Sharie Schnell (Albion Wesleyan Church). Mark would be grateful for your prayers as he puts the finishing touches on the doctoral dissertation while teaching for IWU and pastoring part-time.

This Sunday morning, I had the joy of worshiping with and preaching for Hartford City Wesleyan Church. On Sunday evening, Rev. David Dignal joined me as I met with the congregation of Fort Wayne Level 13 Church to assist them in their pastoral transition. Please pray with the team at Level 13 as they move into a season in interim ministry before beginning their pastoral search.

On the way home from Fort Wayne, I caught up with Pastor Aldean Pablo who is planting SEND church in southwest Allen County. It was encouraging to hear the doors that God is opening for this ministry. Last Sunday evening, they had over 50 people show up for a vision-casting meeting and they are planning a baptism service for later this month.

The best news of all this week was more baptisms! Pastor David Cox, Assistant Pastor Joshua Warren,  and the team at Laketon Wesleyan Church celebrated baptism in the lake. Pastor Jeremy Armiger, Assistant Pastor Dr. Lo, and the team celebrated two baptisms at Chesterfield Parkview Wesleyan Church. Praise God for more lives being #MadeNew!
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Keep on making a difference in the only cause that counts for all eternity!

Your servant in Christ,
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Mark Gorveatte

Crossroads District Superintendent

Sunday morning, August 9, I had the privilege of representing our Crossroads District team to install Rev. Chris Williams as the lead pastor at Lakeview Wesleyan Church. Lakeview was launched as a church plant back in 1960 by Pastor Gene Cockrell. This congregation has long been a vital ministry for Grant County with a global outreach.
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Rev. Williams, immediately after graduating from IWU, served on staff at Lakeview with Pastor David Terhune. Now, God has brought Pastor Chris back full circle to lead this ministry after gaining a wealth of experience in district administration, church planting, and revitalization leadership. We are excited to see what God has in store for Lakeview in this new season as Rev. Williams leads their team forward for Kingdom impact.

In addition to two ZOOM meetings with Dr. Schmidt and the General Board, last week’s calendar included two staff meetings on Tuesday, one with Crossroads District and another with Hartford City Wesleyan Church.

​Also on Tuesday, I received a call from Pastor Heath Croft to let me know that he had accepted a call to become pastor of Mentone Wesleyan Church in Alabama beginning in September. I met with the leadership team of Fort Wayne Level 13 Church on Thursday evening to work on transition planning. I will join the congregation for a family conversation on Sunday evening, August 16. Please pray with me that God will grant wisdom and unity in this transition.
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​The Global Leadership Summit was held online this year. Through the generosity of Pastor Mark Atkinson, I was able to join him and his team members at Gas City Eastview Wesleyan Church for some excellent sessions on Friday. In one of the helpful presentations, Lysa TerKeurst shared insights about the importance of forgiveness for creating innovation space in organizations. She cited this article from Forbes magazine titled “Forgiveness: The Secret to Innovation.” Christian organizations should be able to get this right. One of her helpful pointers was: “The best time to forgive is before we are offended. The next best time is now.”

​This week, I was able to catch up with Pastor Dan Van Cise (Marion 8th Street Wesleyan) on Thursday and Dr. Steve DeNeff (Marion College Wesleyan Church) on Friday just to drop off a gift and thank them for their leadership through this pandemic.

​Dr. DeNeff returned this week from preaching at the Brown City Camp Meeting in Michigan. He shared the beautiful response as the Holy Spirit settled in during their services. One of the key points he made was that we, the Church in America today, have lost our voice because we have lost our hearing. Here is the link to that Sunday evening message Pastor Steve preached: Brown City Camp Meeting.

​Pastor Alan Downing and the team at Frankfort Connecting Point Church linked up with the mayor and other community leaders to provide back-to-school supplies, gifts, and 600 hotdogs for children in their neighborhood. This year’s effort was a drive-thru event to support physical distancing requirements.

Congratulations to Greentown Wesleyan Church on the 100th Anniversary of the founding of their congregation on August 8, 1920. Reverend Anna Linville was appointed by the district conference to serve as their first pastor. The first quarterly conference of the Greentown church was held on September 3, 1920. Class Leader Harold Sloan recorded the following: “The Lord meets with us. We expect great things from the Lord.” Pastor Eric Roemer and his team have done a great job retelling the story of the past while casting a compelling vision for the future.
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I loved hearing from Mrs. Pat Breeding, wife of Pastor Lyle Breeding, about the two pre-teen girls who came to see her in the church office to give their lives to Christ. Bluffton Sonlight Wesleyan Church has a baptism service scheduled for August 30 and Pat is working with them to prepare for this next step of faith. Dr. Jim Lo, Assistant Pastor at Chesterfield Parkview Wesleyan Church, shared the news that a mother and two teenage daughters received Christ this past week as God used the church’s faithful prayer walks and door-to-door evangelism to touch their hearts.

Pastor Scott McDermid and the congregation of Sheridan Six Points Church celebrated four baptisms in one family on Sunday morning, August 9. Praise the Lord for lives being made new by the Gospel!
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Brookhaven Wesleyan Church also celebrated baptisms this week. Six youth and children stepped forward to publicly declare their new life in Christ in a beautiful outdoor baptism service. Thank you, Children’s Pastor Michele Henry, for sharing this exciting report!
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​Dr. Wayne Schmidt, General Superintendent, will lead our 2020 Crossroads District ordination service this Saturday, August 15, 1 p.m. at Lakeview Wesleyan Church in Marion. Ordained ministers will be gathering at 12:30 for a group photo and final instructions. Spatial distancing and face mask guidelines will be followed. The limited seating is available by reservation only. Please join us in praying that God will meet with each of our ordination candidates in a special way on this sacred occasion,

PASTORS ZOOM Connection – Just a gentle reminder that this Tuesday, August 11, we’ll be hosting our monthly ZOOM connection for Crossroads District Pastors. We’ll offer two options to connect, one at 10:00 a.m. and a second opportunity at 8 p.m. There will brief announcements, time for Q & A, and then breakout rooms for prayer. Thank you for prioritizing this team time!

Thank you for all you do to advance the Kingdom!

Your servant in Christ,

Mark Gorveatte

Crossroads District Superintendent

Sunday morning, August 2, Sherry and I worshiped with Pastor Brad and Heidi LeRoy at Harvest Church in McCordsville (just northwest of Greenfield). The LeRoys and a committed launch team planted Harvest Church back in 2007. The church now owns its own building just north of the Mt. Comfort Road exit on I-70 across from the Indianapolis Regional Airport. I had the privilege of preaching in both services and meeting briefly with the LBA between services.
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Josiah Gorveatte, their worship leader and our son, was celebrating his birthday yesterday so this made our visit even more fun. Many of you will know that Pastor Brad has experienced God’s grace through a long journey of medical procedures, one as recent as last week. He is grateful for the prayers and support of our district team. Harvest Church and Pastor LeRoy have strongly supported church planting and they have a vision for multiplication in their surrounding communities.

Last Monday morning, I was in Fort Wayne with Rev. Aldean Pablo, our church planter, for a productive conversation about partnership opportunities with a UMC congregation in the Roanoke community. Pray that God will grant His wisdom and favor as SEND Church makes disciples in southwest Fort Wayne. Monday afternoon, I was back in Hartford City to connect with John Bonham and the staff at our Wesleyan church.
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Tuesday and Wednesday, I took advantage of the opportunity to participate in the GROW conference hosted by Pastor Chris Hodges and Church of the Highlands. Special thanks to Region 1 Assistant DS Matthew Trexler and Region 2 Assistant DS Mike Colaw for hosting area pastors to watch these sessions together. Chris Hodges led 5 sessions and John Maxwell joined in on Wednesday afternoon with insights on leading through a crisis. Church of the Highlands has grown to more than 50,000 in weekend worship since Pastor Hodges planted the church. They have a wonderful culture of excellence and generosity that was on full display as they made these sessions available for free. We had more than 70 attending the live event in our two locations and I heard from other pastors in our district who were participating on their own.
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One of the takeaways for me was the reminder to “make every experience simply excellent. Don’t do too much, but do what you do with excellence.” Another was this ESPN acrostic that they use to keep their small groups focused. Every small group is reminded to have 4 key elements when they meet: Encouragement, Scripture, Prayer, and Next Steps (response/accountability). One last thought, don’t say “our people won’t change” but instead admit “we haven’t yet led our people to change.” The seminar was well worth the investment of time and I can see why the live event sells out each year.

Wednesday morning, en route to the conference, I dropped by Anderson United Wesleyan Church to welcome Rev. Nick Wilson who just arrived on site last week. Nick will be leading the youth ministry on staff with Pastor Joe Jackson. Nick and Brenda have deep roots here in Indiana and we’re glad they’ve come home to the Crossroads District after a season of serving in Maine.
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Thursday morning, I was with Pastors Zach and Carla Working for a meeting in Huntington. God has been blessing their ministry with worship last year averaging 108 and 24 baptisms. Thursday afternoon, I had the joy of connecting with Pastor Hannan and members of his launch team who are preparing a building for the grand opening services of Union City CrossRoads Church on September 27.
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Please keep Pastor John and Beth Hannan in your prayers as they lead this growing team in making disciples who make disciples in Union City!

Friday afternoon and Saturday, Sherry and I took some time away to enjoy the beauty of southern Indiana, overnighting in the historic town of Jasper. On Saturday afternoon, we stopped by to check on Dr. Mark Eckart, our Indiana South DS, who is recovering at home in Orleans after a recent hospital stay. If you need a quick getaway, Jasper is just south of Bloomington, close to French Lick and the beautiful Hoosier National Forest.

This was an exciting weekend for celebrations across our district family. Rev. Tim and Jaclyn (VanCise) Witte were united in marriage at College Wesleyan Church on Saturday afternoon, August 1. Pastor Tim is on staff at College Wesleyan as Special Needs Pastor. Rev. Paul VanCise, father of the bride, and Rev. Bob VanCise, grandfather, presided at the ceremony. Pastor Paul just returned from his sabbatical and would be a helpful coach to others who are making their sabbatical plans.
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Pastor Duane Seitz shared an exciting report from Silver Lake Wesleyan Church where he has been diligently leading a turnaround in this country congregation. Last year at district conference, Pastor Duane felt impressed of the Lord to believe for 7 baptisms. Yesterday, they baptized 7 believers in the lake, dedicated one child, and welcomed three new members into the church family. That’s a wonderful report for a church that averaged 19 in worship last year. Praise the Lord!
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Pastor Randy Yaryan passed along the good report of another baptism at Winchester Wesleyan Church yesterday, He shared some of the back story of this beautiful testimony of God’s grace. Praise God for lives that are being made new!
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Ordination service is just two weeks away, August 15, at Marion Lakeview Wesleyan Church. All ordained ministers, unless previously excused, are honored to attend and support the 15 candidates who have completed the preparation journey and are excited to share in this sacred occasion. We are honored that Dr. Wayne Schmidt, our General Superintendent, is joining us to preside over this year’s ordination service. Ministers will gather at 12:30 for photos and final directions. Seating is limited and reserved to allow for physical distancing.

Thank you for all you do to advance the Kingdom!

Your servant in Christ,

Mark Gorveatte

​​Crossroads District Superintendent

Sunday morning, July 26, Rev. Seth Bye was representing the Crossroads District at Albion Cornerstone Wesleyan with Rev. Dale Munsell and I had the privilege of preaching in both services at the New Castle Mt. Zion Wesleyan Church. Pastor Steve Arnett has led the church through significant changes in the past few years. They are currently having about 50% of pre-Covid worship attendance.
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​With their flexible seating providing social distancing, Mt. Zion offers two service times with the first requiring masks and the second making masks optional. They are also launching a new group Bible study next month on eight Sunday evenings in which they’ll view episodes of “The Chosen” (https://studios.vidangel.com/the-chosen) and then work through discussion questions.
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Later on Sunday afternoon, I met with leaders in the Kirklin Wesleyan Church for an important conversation about their future direction. Please pray that God will grant His wisdom and peace in this congregation.

Last Monday, I met with the Hartford City Wesleyan Church staff on Monday and the Crossroads District office team on Tuesday. Dr. David Smith, chair of the District Board of Ministerial Development, joined our staff at Lakeview Wesleyan Church for a planning meeting as we prepare for the August 15 ordination service. Ordained ministers will gather at 12:30 and the service will begin at 1 p.m. with Dr. Wayne Schmidt presiding.

Wednesday, I joined Dr. Ed Love at Wesleyan HQ in Fishers for the Wesley Seminary course he was teaching on church multiplication. Dr. Love does a great job investing in these students who not only complete the academic experience but who are also actively engaged (or exploring the opportunity) in planting new churches.
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Wednesday afternoon, I met with Aldean Pablo and Jon Wiest, his coach, for an update on the church planting project in Roanoke/southwest Fort Wayne. God is opening doors and we’re praying with Aldean, Jessie, and their team as they stay focused on making disciples who make disciples.

Thursday over Saturday, Sherry and I were in Grand Rapids to celebrate Jordan’s marriage. You may recall that Covid-19 interrupted Sam and Jordan’s original wedding plan, as it did for so many others. We hosted a small wedding at our home on April 18 but the venue that had been booked for the original date was finally able to host the event on Friday, July 24. Sam and Jordan reaffirmed their wedding vows before family and friends gathered from California, Louisiana, and Florida. It was a beautiful evening that honored God and celebrated this new marriage.
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We are always delighted to share reports of changed lives. Pastor Scott McDermid and Six Points Church in Sheridan celebrated baptisms on Sunday, July 19, and Pastors Zach and Carla Working celebrated 8 baptisms yesterday as part of their annual outdoor worship service. Please share pictures from your baptism celebrations!
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We’re rejoicing with Rev. Carol Schenck as her brother Ron was released from the hospital after a battle with Covid-19 that kept him in the hospital for 115 days. Thank you to all who joined their family in prayer for this miraculous recovery. Pastor Carol also passed along word of Jarrett and Caroline Roskey’s wedding on July 21. Jarrett is the communications pastor for the Circle of Hope network of churches. Congratulations to Jarrett and Caroline!
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​Thank you for all you do to advance the Kingdom!

Your servant in Christ,

Mark Gorveatte

Crossroads District Superintendent

Sunday afternoon, July 19, I had the joy of worshiping with Pastor Rodriguez and preaching for Templo de Poder Iglesia Wesleyana in Frankfort. Pastor Calimario and Maria Rodriguez both experienced Covid-19 this spring and have fully recovered. The church reconvened public worship gatherings last month and continues to stream their services online with an international congregation. Pastor Alan Downing at Connecting Point Church (formerly First Wesleyan) and Pastor Rodriguez (Templo de Poder) have developed a vibrant partnership. Both churches are growing as they serve their community together.
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Sunday morning, I had the privilege of preaching at Hartford City Wesleyan Church. Attendance continues to be above 50 percent of the pre-Covid numbers. It was a delight to welcome a new member into the church family yesterday. We also announced our first baptism service of the new conference year to be held on August 16. While HCWC is moving through this time of transition while searching for a new pastor, I am meeting with the staff on Mondays, chairing the monthly LBA meeting and preaching once each month with DBA approval. Thank you to our District Board for allowing this opportunity for me to be reminded of the joys and challenges of serving on the frontlines of ministry.
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Tuesday morning, I met with our office team and then we joined Dr. David Smith to review the upcoming year with our new District Board of Ministerial Development, including arrangements for our Crossroads District ordination service on August 15, 1 p.m., at Marion Lakeview Wesleyan Church. We are delighted that Dr. Wayne Schmidt, our General Superintendent, will be presiding and preaching at this year’s event.

Tuesday afternoon and evening we convened our monthly District Pastors ZOOM meeting. We offered two time slots (2 pm and 8 pm.) in consideration of the many bivocational pastors on our team. The afternoon group was larger than the evening group. The best part of these connections is the breakout rooms in which we share praise reports and have an opportunity to pray for one another.
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Wednesday was so much fun as I traveled north across our district connecting and praying with pastors. My first stop was in Rochester at The Cross Wesleyan Church with Pastor Mike Cloud. Mike just returned from a refreshing break. He was glad to show me the progress they’ve made in building on and remodeling their sanctuary.

Dr. Ollie Dongell and I met at Plymouth Wesleyan Church. Ollie and his family had gathered for vacation earlier this month in South Carolina. Plymouth Wesleyan is one of the host sites for Covid-19 testing in their county.
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Pastor David Cox and I met at his antique mall in Warsaw. David serves the Laketon Wesleyan Church as a bi-vocational pastor. He and Suzanne have done a great job in revitalizing that congregation through community outreach.

Pastor Shane Wilson and I met at Columbia City New Hope Church in his office. The church has responded well to the pandemic. Shane and Jill are in a new stage of life with their first child heading off to college this fall.

Pastor Thomas and Julie Beck welcomed me to their home on Smalley Lake, near Kimmell. Thomas is another of our bi-vocational pastors. He has faithfully served the Larwill Wesleyan Church since 2000. Last year, they baptized 14 new believers.

Rev. Eliorgy Guerrero and I met for supper in Elkhart where he leads the Cielos Abiertos Iglesia Wesleyana. Eligory and his family are among a growing number of Venezuelan refugees who have settled in near Elkhart. He is a gifted leader and I am grateful for our partnership in the Gospel.

My final stop of the day was with Rev. Dale Munsell at Cornerstone Wesleyan Church near Albion. Dale and his team have been busy during the pandemic with a major remodeling of their entryway. He is also encouraged by a promising young adult connection in their community who is helping with their technology.
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We have a wonderful team of pastors and it is such a privilege to pray with and encourage them as we work together to reach 3 million people here in the Crossroads.

Thursday, our office team met at Abbey Coffee in Marion to review our website with Michael (Woody) Wood, our communications director. It can be a painful experience to see how quickly your social media can become outdated. We would welcome your input on ways we can improve our online footprint. When was the last time your team reviewed and refreshed your website?

Thursday evening, I chaired the LBA meeting at Hartford City Wesleyan Church. They are experiencing the same challenges that many of you are facing. One of those challenges we are all working on is rebuilding in-person ministry to those who gather in your building while continuing to improve ministry to your online congregation.

I was on the road again on Friday. Pastor Marc Ulrich and I met for prayer at ReThink Church in Merrillville. Marc continues to find open doors in serving the community as they plant this church. Marc has been active in the Chamber of Commerce and works with the career development program at their city’s high school. Saturday, they had a great time hosting the Merrillville Student Business Expo in the church building.
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My next stop was with Rev. Judy Hatt in Fowler where she serves as pastor for Hope Wesleyan Church. Judy is not our youngest pastor but she has more energy than most of us. Lately, she and her team have been busy making masks for the community.

Lafayette was my next stop. Pastor Joe and Nancy Park welcomed me into their home. For the past few months, Nancy has been working from home. Pastor Joe and I enjoyed catching up and sharing in prayer together. Rev. Park is the longest tenured pastor in our district. I am grateful for the faithful leadership that Joe has provided to Evergreen Wesleyan Church since 1974.

Dr. Morris and Anita Jones were having a yard sale when I arrived at their home late on Friday afternoon. Dr. Jones is another of our bi-vocational pastors who also serves as a student advisor for IUPUI. It was good to hear how God has been faithfully providing through the pandemic.
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Friday evening, I was blessed to be able to worship with Phil & Diane Foley at Frankfort Family Camp. Pastor Bob Van Cise brought a helpful message from God’s Word on the question “Do You Want to Get Well?” Though the crowd was much smaller than previous years, it was good to connect with familiar faces. This week, there will be morning Bible studies offered at Fairmount Camp but there will be no drive-in evening services.

This week, Sherry and I will be in Grand Rapids (Thursday over Saturday) for Jordan and Sam’s wedding reception. Rev. Seth Bye will be covering for me but I will be available for emergency calls. Sunday, July 26, I look forward to being with Rev. Steve Arnett and his team at New Castle Mt. Zion Wesleyan for their two morning services.

Congratulations to two of our pastoral families who celebrated weddings this weekend. Rev. Michael and Kim Hewitt’s (Muncie Rising Hope) daughter Brianne married Mark Flanagin in Muncie Saturday. Rev. David and Stevie Dignal (Edgerton Wesleyan) celebrated the marriage of their daughter Bekah to Evan Gustin in Fort Wayne on Saturday. Congratulations to these newlyweds and their families!
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This was in last week’s update but this is a great opportunity. This year, due to the current circumstances surrounding COVID-19, Church of the Highlands will be hosting their Grow Conference as a free online event on July 28 -29. You will be able to learn the heart behind all that Grow has to offer, as well as how to practically implement essential systems and structures into your church, through live main sessions and an opportunity to connect with the Highlands staff team to get your questions answered. This dynamic online event will empower and refresh you, as well as provide you with the practical ministry tools and resources you need to help your church grow.
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Pastors in Region 1 are invited to be part of the online event hosted in Marion by Assistant DS Matthew Trexler and The River Church. Pastors in Region 2 are welcome to join the event hosted in Indianapolis by Assistant DS Mike Colaw and Trinity Wesleyan Church. Pastors in Region 3 are welcome at either location or may find it more convenient to participate online. Lunch will be provided both days. Please register by Wednesday, JULY 22ND, so our host churches can get an accurate number for lunch. 

Thank you for all you do to advance God’s Kingdom!

Your servant in Christ,

Mark Gorveatte

Crossroads District Superintendent

P.S. Crossroads District Ordination Service, August 15, at Lakeview Wesleyan Church. All ordained ministers will gather at 12:30 for group photo and directions. The service will begin at 1 p.m. and will be live-streamed. Reservations are required for seating in the auditorium. A reception will follow.