This Week's Column

I remember September 17, 2006. It was our second Sunday worshiping at The Water’s Edge. We worshipped at Russell Middle School back then and had about 75 adults and 25 kids present. AJ was a one-man band. Our bulletin was a front and back 8.5 x 11 sheet of paper. We had lots of leftover donuts.

In the last five years we have fed a lot of hungry people, new friendships have been created and existing friendships have been strengthened, children have learned about God, people have been supported though hardship, dozens of babies have been born, people have been baptized, marriages have been strengthened, we have laughed a lot, we have prayed a lot, we have run marathons and raised tens of thousands of dollars for kids in Africa, we have supported missionaries in Africa and Omaha and many places in between, we have worshipped in three different schools, we have been challenged and affirmed, and we have done our best to be God’s people together.

Last week we had over 550 adults and 135 children present in a crowded high school. The stage was full of musicians. The bulletin was 12 pages long. We ran out of donuts before the second worship service started.

We have come a long way and I sense that God is just getting started with us. I know much greater things are still to come.

You are the reason The Water’s Edge exists. The growth, grace, friendships, forgiveness, service, and salvation that I am most concerned about is the growth, grace, friendships, forgiveness, service, and salvation that happens in your life. The Water’s Edge exists to help people grow in their relationship with God and with others and to help us serve our community and world. I hope The Water’s Edge is making a difference in your life and I pray The Water’s Edge continues to make a difference in your life for the next five years and beyond!

I am more excited today about the next five years than I was five years ago about the first five years…and I was pretty excited back then! I know we are just seeing the tip of the iceberg about what God is going to do in us and through us.

Today is an important day for The Water’s Edge and for Faith-Westwood. After the 10:30 worship service we will hold a Church Conference to seek approval for the recommendation for The Water’s Edge to become a United Methodist Church separate from Faith-Westwood. It is my hope this approval is widely supported and embraced by people at both campuses. It is also my hope that no two churches in Omaha work more closely together in the future. I believe this proposal is best for The Water’s Edge and I believe it is best for Faith-Westwood because both churches will have the opportunity to focus externally on ministry (instead of inward on what it means to be one church), implement best ministry practices for their own unique setting, and create and live out their own unique vision of what it means to be the church.

The best is yet to come…

Craig