It was over ten years ago now. I remember meeting in the basement of a new house in a new neighborhood south of Harrison on 173rd Street. I was getting ready to lead a small group. It was our first gathering. I invited dozens of people. A dozen showed up. It was such a fun night. A bunch of strangers got to know each other and begin an amazing journey together. I guess if I could point to a moment in time when The Water’s Edge was born, that would be it.
Only two things have stood out during this last decade: God and people. Which is just as well because those are the two things that matter most.
God has done His part.
He has provided resources. He has provided opportunity. He has given us direction. He has corrected us when WE strayed off course. God daily gives things like faith, hope, and love to a people who daily need such things. He is our purpose and passion. Our creator and savior.
And WE have the best people.
I think of hundreds of individuals and families who are The Water’s Edge. God has gathered us together at this time to do amazing things. Thousands of friendships have been created. Millions of dollars have been given. Countless hours of service have been shared.
Every single time I have offered a challenge—from buying a van for a local non-profit to enlisting one hundred new volunteers to buying 25 acres of land to supporting a missionary to giving Christmas gifts to hundreds of children in Millard to serving in places like Uganda and Belize to investing millions of dollars in God’s Kingdom and our city by constructing a building—you all have risen to the occasion every single time.
The church isn’t a building. It’s a collection of people. In our case a committed, loving, fun, focused, compassionate, and generous collection of people.
Our life together will change next week. After over a decade of being a church, WE will move to our building. It’s beautiful and will be functional. Our address and our polished concrete floors and our landscaping will never define us. Our God and our people will always define us.
Sunday, March 18th, is the day we begin worshipping at 19600 Harrison Street. Our worship experiences will be at 9:00 and 10:30. Come and bring a guest with you!
To all who made this happen—whatever you did—thank you! I am looking forward to sharing this next season of life and ministry with you!
The best is yet to come…
Craig
