ReEquip and Kingsford Heights

Sunday morning, April 22, I had the privilege of worshiping with Pastor Jere and Ruth Gowin (and two amazing grandchildren) at Kingsford Heights Wesleyan Church (near LaPorte). In addition to being the bi-vocational pastor of this caring congregation, Pastor Gowin has an ongoing ministry in the African country of Ghana. After the morning service, I met briefly with the LBA members before heading home. The church is bearing faithful witness to the Gospel in the small but needy Kingsford Heights community. Please keep them in your prayers as they reach out!
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ReEquip 2018 is in the history books. Congratulations to Rev. Amanda Blair and Rev. Michelle Henry for leading their teams to pull off two terrific training events in one day. Preliminary reports indicate 150 pastors and adult ministry leaders gathered at River Church in Marion to hear Professor Mark Wilson and a team of presenters speak to leading change, church health, and missional ministry. The participation level was almost double last year’s event. John & Patty Bray did a great job hosting at this site. One of the best quotes I took away from our time together was “You don’t measure a church by its seating capacity, but by its seeding capacity.” (Mark Wilson)
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Meanwhile, across town at College Wesleyan, more than 80 children and youth workers gathered to hear Mathew DePrez and a team of presenters to learn how to pass along our faith to the next generation. Attendance was down some (from last year’s event with Phil Vischer) but the response was positive to the presentation and format. If you were able to attend either of these events, please help us make next year’s event even better by responding to the e-mail survey you’ll be receiving this week.
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Last week’s office calendar included chairing the conference action committee (Monday evening) and the district nominating committee (Thursday evening), both using Zoom internet conferencing for the first time. I was on the road Tuesday with coaching conversations with Lay Supply Pastor Kay Dickerson (Kirklin Wesleyan) and Rev. Barry Dixon (Indianapolis Calvary Family Church). I also enjoyed coaching conversations on Wednesday with Pastor Tim McClellan (Marion Lakeview) and Pastor Tomasa Granados (Indianapolis Monte de Sion). Along the way I also connected with our staff, interviewed pastoral candidates, conferred with search committee chairs, and signed documents for the sale of our Crawfordsville property to the Church of the Nazarene.
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This week I’ll be traveling to New Jersey to present a “Lead Like Wesley” seminar for a group of United Methodist district superintendents, pastors and lay leaders on Tuesday. I’ll be back in the district on Thursday for meetings with G.S. Dr. Schmidt, the Discipleship Cohort, and a budget committee meeting. Then, on Friday and Saturday, our family will be celebrating with Jordan, our daughter, as she graduates from IWU, and with Lindsey, our daughter-in-law, as she graduates from Wesley Seminary.
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​This is the last full week of our 2018 district conference/fiscal year. Thank  you in advance for your leadership in completing all reports on time and in supporting the United Stewardship Fund! (If you have questions or need assistance as you complete these reports, please call Mrs. Roxene Lo in our office.)

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

Your servant in Christ,
Mark Gorveatte