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

WE Commit - Commitment Sunday

Dear Church Family, 

We had an incredible celebration yesterday during and after worship. We had over 700 people present! We have come a long way in a short time! 

 

Sunday, December 11th, at The Water's Edge

The children singing, the recognition of those who served the church by constructing and finishing the ministry center, the video testimonies of what the church means in people’s lives, and the worship music made yesterday a memorable day. So did the lunch, the children’s activities, and magic show! If you weren’t able be at church yesterday, I hope you will watch the video of the worship experience or look at the pictures online. 

One of the high points of the morning came when we announced that $803,962 has been pledged so far from 47 households for our WE imagine campaign. That is a three-year pledge of over $17,000 per household! The congregation cheered loudly at this good news and they should have. These families have sacrificed and led by example. We are off to a great start! 

Our Challenge Goal for the WE imagine Campaign is $1,200,000. This will pay for the 23.3 acres at 198th and Harrison Street and associated costs. It will also fully pay off our new Ministry Center. If we reach our goal, we will be totally debt free in three years and will be ready to begin building a church campus that will serve God, our people, and our community for generations to come.

Many in our congregatiton have not been asked to give financially up to this point in the WE imagine Campaign. That changes as of right now. The Challenge Goal is reachable, but achieving this goal is going to take additional sacrifice from the remainder of our families. For us to achieve our goal, most households will need to give at levels they haven’t previously given. That is where you come in. 

We have included a pledge card in this mailing. We want all households who call The Water’s Edge their church home to participate in the WE imagine Campaign. At the end of the worship experience, this Sunday, November 18th, we will encourage everyone to bring their commitment cards forward during communion and place them in the offering baskets. If you are unable to worship with us this Sunday, you can use the return envelope to mail in your pledge card. Calls will begin on Monday, November 26th, to those who haven’t turned in their pledge cards. It is important to note that the pledge you will be making is a three-year pledge over and above your current support to the church budget. 

In our short history, the people of The Water’s Edge have demonstrated the resolve and the ability to rise up and collectively respond to every challenge the church has faced. No obstacle has been too big. Your vision, imagination, grace, commitment, and generosity inspire me. I ask you to pray during the next few days. I also encourage you to make a financial sacrifice and help lead the church as we resource God’s vision together.

The best is yet to come… 

Craig Finnestad

WE Celebrate - Sermon

WE celebrated all God has done and is doing at The Water's Edge and took some time to dream about the future. WE also got an update on the WE imagine Campaign. 

Announcement This Sunday on Land Purchase Recommendation

I remember sitting in our living room about five or six years ago. A few of us were dreaming about what a church could become. I don’t know if any of us fully believed these dreams would come true, but we dreamed anyway. We simply dreamed about a church that thought and acted like Jesus.

The Land at Sunset

We searched the Scriptures and discovered Jesus had a special place in his heart for children. We determined from our beginning children would be our priority. Last week I stood in front of the congregation with dozens of adult mentors and presented Bibles to thirty-five third graders. The dream is coming true. 

We learned that Jesus spent much of his time serving people. One of us said that we look most like Jesus when we serve. We dreamt of ways we could love and serve our community and the world. Last month we cancelled our morning worship experiences at Millard West and sent hundreds of men, women, and children into the community to worship God by serving people. It was God’s people being the church and was one of the great days in our short history. The dream is coming true. 

We looked at the early church in the book of Acts and observed that small groups and Christian community was at the center of their lives. We read how Jesus surrounded himself with others. We dreamed of hundreds of small groups that meet in people’s homes: learning, growing, praying, playing, laughing, crying, sharing, and caring. Dozens of small groups kicked-off last week. New friendships will be formed. People will grow in their relationship with God. The dream is coming true. 

An important announcement will be made this morning about more dreams and visions. After two years of prayer, examining thirty-five properties, negotiating with land owners, and some more praying—the Leadership Team and the Land and Building Team is ready to present a property to be evaluated by the congregation. Over the next few weeks, the congregation will have the opportunity to continue to learn, ask questions, and provide feedback to our Leadership Team and our Land and Building Team. 

The purchase of land was not something we dreamed about in the living room that night. The purchase of land is, in small part, because of necessity. The school does require us to have an exit strategy and we know of no other alternatives big enough for us to worship within miles of Millard West. The purchase of land is mostly about dreams and vision. We dream of a place where children can be developed, mentored, and coached. A place where middle and high school students want to come and hang out. A place where we can give food and clothing to those in need. A place for recovery and support groups and Christ-centered counseling. A place that the community feels welcomed and embraced. Simply, this will be a place where people throughout the metro area will worship God, connect with each other, and serve our city and the world. 

The best is yet to come… 

Craig