Four Years

Again Jesus began to teach by the lake. The crowd that gathered around him was so large that he got into a boat and sat in it out on the lake, while all the people were along the shore at the water's edge. He taught them many things by parables. -Mark 4:1-2

Four years ago I sat around a table with twenty friends. For nine months we planned the launch of a worship experience. For almost nine months we planned, we prayed, and we prepared. It was a diverse group. The largest number of people were in their twenties. Some of us were in our thirties. Every decade of people from their forties to their seventies were represented. We had men and women. People from Faith-Westwood and people from the community. I’m not sure if any of us truly knew what we were doing.

We walked through neighborhoods and prayed. We gave out water bottles at parades and car washes at gas stations. We started small groups and formed ministry teams. Our to-do list seemed insurmountable. Our motto was: We are going to work as if it depends on us and pray as if it depends on God.

We didn’t have a clue if The Water’s Edge was going to work or not. The first Sunday we gathered in a circle about 30 minutes before our first worship experience at Russell Middle School. It was pouring rain. We were having a few issues with lots of things. Nobody was there besides the people who had to be there. A half hour later, the room was filled with about two hundred people: some supporters from Faith-Westwood, some curious people from neighboring churches, and some people seeking a fresh start in life. The next week about seventy people returned and we moved forward with that group of people.

I look back at our volunteers who worked so hard over that first year. Many people served in the kids areas and the set-up and tear-down teams almost every weekend. People learned to invite their friends. People in small groups became friends and the friends became like family. After twelve months, we outgrew Russell Middle School and moved to Millard West High School.

Amber and I had our son David during that first year. He is three and a half now. During that time he has learned how to crawl, stand, walk, and talk. Everyday there is something new. It has been a joy to be a part of the development of The Water's Edge as well. Last week we had over one hundred children fifth grade and under participate in the Frog Pond. Nearly three hundred people serve on various ministry teams. We have collected tons of food for hungry people. Hundreds of people have joined the church.

Beginning September 12^th, the next chapter begins as we launch a new worship experience at 9:00. This will allow us to reach people who want to be done with worship by 10:00 and people who have commitments late Sunday morning and early Sunday afternoon—like sports, dance, and work. It will also create some open space at our 10:30 service so that service can grow again.

I can’t wait to see where God takes us in the next four years!

In Christ,

Craig