WE Commit - Column

Commitment. It’s about as misunderstood as often as it is misspelled. Many are afraid of commitment. Others deduct commitment limits choices and therefore limits life. And others are afraid of failing—so we think that not committing reduces our chances of failing. 

Commitment isn’t the opposite of freedom. Commitment is the beginning of freedom. Freedom isn’t the ability to choose between many things or people or situations. That is chaos. And chaos isn’t freedom.

The sun setting over The Water's Edge property at 195th and Harrison

Freedom is simply the ability to truly be oneself. Nothing more and nothing less. And that is where commitment comes in. Jesus says that true freedom is achieved when we are committed to God, to others, and have an appropriate level of commitment to ourselves. 

The Water’s Edge is about commitment. We exist to help people commit to God. We exist to connect people to each other and allow people to commit to one another: families, friendships, small groups, and teams. We exist to commit to helping each other raise our children together. And we exist to commit to helping the hurting, poor, marginalized, and oppressed—right here in Omaha and all over the world. 

WE decided, from day one, WE weren’t going to just be consumers of a religious product, but participants in the Kingdom of God. Religion isn’t just part of our lives; Christianity is the relationship which drives all other areas of our lives. The Water’s Edge isn’t about what God can do for us; The Water’s Edge is about what God does in us and through us. 

Today is the last day of our WE imagine Capital Campaign. It’s been a journey. I have served churches much of my adult life. I have been blessed to serve with committed people in all these congregations. However, the WE imagine Leadership Team, specifically, and the church leadership, in general, have redefined and set a new standard of excellence for demonstrating what it means to be committed to God, each other, and the community. The time, the effort, the prayers, the sacrifice, the commitment—they all inspire the pastor. To date, 47 families have committed over $800,000 toward the purchase of land. That is over $17,000 per family! That is also commitment. Reaching our $1,200,000 goal to own the 23.3 acres of land on Harrison Street and the Ministry Center at 180th and Center and to be completely debt free in three years isn’t going to be easy. But nothing in life worthwhile is ever easy. People are going to have to give at levels we haven’t given before. But the people of The Water’s Edge have risen, responded, met, and surpassed every challenge and obstacle WE have ever faced. This challenge will be no different. 

Tomorrow is also the first day of the rest of our lives together. WE will keep loving and serving God, each other, our city, and the world. WE will follow wherever God leads us as WE remain committed to God, each other, and the world. 

The best it yet to come… 

Craig