Baptisms
This past Sunday, we had several baptisms each service. We tried something new this time with sharing a bit of the person's story before they were baptized. I loved it. It was so beautiful to hear their love for Jesus and how He has changed their lives! We will do baptisms again on December 6. Now I can't wait to hear more stories of life change in Christ!
There is an optional baptism class the Sunday prior - I encourage anyone considering baptism or that has questions about it to attend the class. You can sign up here.
Here is our new vision as a church family - Love the One
By 2037, both in word and deed, we will share the love of Jesus to 100,001 people.
We will do this by partnering together to love the one in three areas:
This is a two-year journey on a ten-year path, requiring everyone to participate through serving, getting involved, and giving.
You were once the one. Jesus reached you, and He is restoring you. Now it's our turn to love the one to reach and restore one more.
Last week, we defined the word "love." This week we looked at the question - Who do I really need to love? And for us as a church how do we work together to love the one.
After quoting the Old Testament command to "love your neighbor as yourself", an expert in the law asked Jesus, "who is my neighbor?" In other words, who do I actually need to love? Jesus responded with the story of the Good Samaritan (you can read it in Luke 10:25-37).
The Good Samaritan takes 3 key steps to love the one:
Greed is the sin we don’t call a sin. Underneath greed is control and comfort, and under those are pride and fear. God’s solution is to trust Him. Giving is about transformation – not a transaction. As followers of Christ, we are called to give God 10% of our income. Scripture sets it as a percentage and not an amount because it’s not about how much you give. Giving is equal sacrifice not equal giving. It’s about stewardship and not letting greed run your life. Give God your first and best. God can do more with 90 than you can with 100.
This past Sunday, we had several baptisms each service. We tried something new this time with sharing a bit of the person's story before they were baptized. I loved it. It was so beautiful to hear their love for Jesus and how He has changed their lives! We will do baptisms again on December 6. Now I can't wait to hear more stories of life change in Christ!
There is an optional baptism class the Sunday prior - I encourage anyone considering baptism or that has questions about it to attend the class. You can sign up here.
Here is our new vision as a church family - Love the One
By 2037, both in word and deed, we will share the love of Jesus to 100,001 people.
We will do this by partnering together to love the one in three areas:
- HERE: Spiritual Formation
- NEAR: Hope Movement
- THERE: Global Impact Ministries
This is a two-year journey on a ten-year path, requiring everyone to participate through serving, getting involved, and giving.
You were once the one. Jesus reached you, and He is restoring you. Now it's our turn to love the one to reach and restore one more.
Last week, we defined the word "love." This week we looked at the question - Who do I really need to love? And for us as a church how do we work together to love the one.
After quoting the Old Testament command to "love your neighbor as yourself", an expert in the law asked Jesus, "who is my neighbor?" In other words, who do I actually need to love? Jesus responded with the story of the Good Samaritan (you can read it in Luke 10:25-37).
The Good Samaritan takes 3 key steps to love the one:
- He got involved. He sees the need and does something about it.
- He served. He bandaged his wounds, brought him to an inn and took care of him.
- He financially gave. He paid for the initial stay and promised to come back and pay for any extra expenses.
Greed is the sin we don’t call a sin. Underneath greed is control and comfort, and under those are pride and fear. God’s solution is to trust Him. Giving is about transformation – not a transaction. As followers of Christ, we are called to give God 10% of our income. Scripture sets it as a percentage and not an amount because it’s not about how much you give. Giving is equal sacrifice not equal giving. It’s about stewardship and not letting greed run your life. Give God your first and best. God can do more with 90 than you can with 100.
How we will Love the One NEAR
There are three main areas to this Love the One vision. Last week we described the HERE area. This week we discussed the NEAR.
As a church family setting out to Love the One, we have concrete ways to Love the One NEAR through programs and projects.
Many people are drowning in their pain. We have the hope and healing they need – we just need to love them. Here are the ways we will reach people with the love of Christ and bring them hope for what God can do in their life.
Here are all the programs and projects in the Love the One NEAR:
There are three main areas to this Love the One vision. Last week we described the HERE area. This week we discussed the NEAR.
As a church family setting out to Love the One, we have concrete ways to Love the One NEAR through programs and projects.
Many people are drowning in their pain. We have the hope and healing they need – we just need to love them. Here are the ways we will reach people with the love of Christ and bring them hope for what God can do in their life.
Here are all the programs and projects in the Love the One NEAR:
- GriefShare – encouragement, help, and community after the death of a loved one
- DivorceCare – caring place to find healing from the pain of divorce.
- Celebrate Recovery – 12 step recovery program for any hurt, hang-up, or bad habit.
- Freshwater Academy – Christ-centered child care for local families
- Marriage Mentoring – premarital counseling and marriage crisis help
- Love in Action – providing a financial hand up to those in need
- Resource Drives – gathering needed materials (food, blood, winter clothing)
- Serve Day – service projects around our community
- Practical Seminars – mental health, finances, marriage, parenting, and life skills
- Support local partners – food shelves and other Christian nonprofits.
- Launch the Hope Movement Center – remodel the main level of the house on Freshwater’s land to become center for all Hope Movement programs, including spaces for Christian counseling.
- We will finish the attached garage and remove some walls in the middle of the house to create two large meeting spaces.
- There will be several smaller rooms for the counseling offices and small groups to use.
- And yes, in case the county is reading this: We will get the building permits and work with the county to adjust our zoning permit as needed. :)
Resource Drives
Starting now, we're going to love the one NEAR by partnering together in these important resource drives:
Starting now, we're going to love the one NEAR by partnering together in these important resource drives:
- Blood Drive
- November 23
- Toy Drive
- Drop off before December 2
- New and unopened
- This is a community wide event organized by another organization. We open our building to host this. Last 430 kids got Christmas presents from this!
- Coat Drive
- Drop off before Nov 20
- New or lightly used
- We are partnering with 3,000 Acts of Kindness - a one day serving event that will help 3,000 individuals facing homelessness in the Twin Cities. Our staff is serving there, and we will share more information how you can be part of this in the coming weeks.
Events, Membership, Baptism, and more!
I encourage you to check out our events page to see upcoming events, as well as opportunities to take the next steps in your faith like membership and baptism.
I encourage you to check out our events page to see upcoming events, as well as opportunities to take the next steps in your faith like membership and baptism.
Financial Update - September
Everything you give goes to everything we do. You give to love the one!
Giving in September was 95% of our monthly expenses. As we pay our final invoices for the building and fully take on all our ongoing expenses, our cash on hand is greatly reduced. Thus, it is even more important our ongoing income covers our expenses. The elders and our staff have been working hard to reduce our expenses as much as possible to match our current income level. The cost-saving steps being taken now will show up in our next month end report.
September
Giving: $138,985.26
Expenses: $145,056.36
Net: -$6,071.10
Fiscal Year to Date (Q1)
Total Income: $431,301.97
Total Expenses: $439,496.16
Net: -$8,194.19
Budgeted Expenses: $474,999.96
We ask you to partner with Freshwater to fund everything we do as a church family to reach and restore one more.
You give to love the one!
Everything you give goes to everything we do. You give to love the one!
Giving in September was 95% of our monthly expenses. As we pay our final invoices for the building and fully take on all our ongoing expenses, our cash on hand is greatly reduced. Thus, it is even more important our ongoing income covers our expenses. The elders and our staff have been working hard to reduce our expenses as much as possible to match our current income level. The cost-saving steps being taken now will show up in our next month end report.
September
Giving: $138,985.26
Expenses: $145,056.36
Net: -$6,071.10
Fiscal Year to Date (Q1)
Total Income: $431,301.97
Total Expenses: $439,496.16
Net: -$8,194.19
Budgeted Expenses: $474,999.96
We ask you to partner with Freshwater to fund everything we do as a church family to reach and restore one more.
You give to love the one!
Annual Budget
You can use the button below to view our annual budget that the congregation voted to approve at our annual meeting for our current fiscal year July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027.
Every year, the staff define their budgetary needs, the elders approve or adjust the budget based on giving and projected costs, and then the congregation votes on the budget.
If you ever have any questions on our budget or your giving, please contact our Finance Manager.
You can use the button below to view our annual budget that the congregation voted to approve at our annual meeting for our current fiscal year July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027.
Every year, the staff define their budgetary needs, the elders approve or adjust the budget based on giving and projected costs, and then the congregation votes on the budget.
If you ever have any questions on our budget or your giving, please contact our Finance Manager.
I'll see you Sunday!
-Zach
Sunday Service Times: 8am, 9:30am, & 11am
-Zach
Sunday Service Times: 8am, 9:30am, & 11am