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Our History

Sharing Hope—the hope that Jesus Christ

brings to all the world. The desire to share

the hope of Christ is what lead a band of

devoted Christians in 1863 to build a

house of worship in the sleepy lake-side

town of New Buffalo. They gave of their

time, talents, and treasure, never knowing

that the modest wooden structure they

were building would last into the twenty-

first century, steadfastly providing a place

of sharing and hope for the community.

The world has turned over many times

since Water’s Edge United Methodist

Church began, and now, we, the ones who

call Water’s Edge our home, have begun

the task of replacing the historic, but aged,

building. Our goal is to continue what the

long line of believers before us have

done—to have a building that is not only

used for worship, but one that reaches out

into the community. The need is strong,

the task is great, but the hand of God has

put the pieces in place for the new

building to become a reality.

Our Building Program

In 2012, a large piece of property on

Harbor Country Drive became available

and was purchased, with five acres being

dedicated for the construction of a new

church for Water’s Edge. In the early part

of 2013, one of our church families made

a significant financial commitment to

Water’s Edge of $620,000. We created a

building committee, began defining the

ministries of our church, and constructed

a needs analysis that would be used to

design a building to best help us carry out

those ministries. We interviewed

architects, and by fall contracted with

Building God’s Way and its business

partner, FED Corporation, to design and

build the new facility. As 2013 came to a

close, we positioned ourselves to begin

construction in the spring of 2014, and

move into the new facility in the fall. It

has been an ambitious undertaking, with a

significant amount of hard work by our

people.

Our New Building

The proposed building is a 10,000 square

foot structure on a single level for

maximum accessibility. The sanctuary or

worship center seats one hundred and

seventy one people, with chair seating

Current Building

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that can be positioned in a number of

configurations. It has state of the art

audio/visual technology, and is flexible

enough to provide maximum impact for

both of our services.

There is a very large foyer also called the

“third place,” which is similar to a great

room in a home. It can be used for casual

sitting or formal dining, and has many

windows that allow for an unobstructed

view of the back woods and meadow.

This provides a beautiful space to connect

with God, people, and nature. It is the

first point of entry for people, and the hub

of the building.

There are adequate restroom facilities and

offices for the secretary and three staff

members. There are four classrooms

designed for the children's ministry.

Children will have a fun and friendly

place to grow in their faith. Two of the

classrooms meet the standards for child

daycare. There is a full, commercial-

grade kitchen, along with a café area, and

adequate storage for the Blessings in a

Backpack ministry. The nursery/play

area will be just off the great room.

Externally, the building is low-

maintenance, with attractive materials for

siding. There is a butterfly garden in the

front of the building, and a community

garden area in back of the building. The

immediate area out the back door of the

great room is a large patio with seating.

The building and grounds will both be

environmental-friendly. The building will

sit one hundred and fifty-six feet off from

Harbor Country Drive. Care has been

made to create the building in such a way

that it can be expanded in the future.

New Building Site

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Arc

hitect’s R

enderin

g o

f N

ew

Build

ing

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Our Financial Plan

There is a plan in place to finance the new

building. The contract for the new

building is one million six hundred

seventy two thousand one hundred twenty

five dollars. Six hundred and twenty

thousand dollars, given by one of our

families, will reduce the cost to a

manageable amount. This is a significant

gift, because it provides the down

payment for our mortgage, and reduces

our overall debt. The current building, the

Wesley House, and the vacant lot have

been appraised at three hundred thousand

dollars.

We are expecting the capital campaign to

raise three hundred and eighty thousand

dollars, with one hundred ninety thousand

dollars coming up front, and another one

hundred ninety thousand dollars coming

in over the next three years. The amount

given up front will result in a lower

mortgage and less burden upon the

churches finances.

Projected Cost: 1,672,125$

Sale of Existing Property: (300,000)$

Significant Gift from a

Church Family: (620,000)$

Net Before Campaign: 752,125$

Capital Campaign Cash

Contributions at Beginning:(190,000)$

Amount to Finance: 562,125$

Monthly Payment: 5,891$

Remainder of Campaign

Contributions Over Three

Years:

(190,000)$

Amount per Month from

Campaign: 5,278$

Campaign to Raise: $380,000

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How Can You Help Give?

We all remember the story of the

“widow’s mite” from scripture. Christ

taught us that it isn’t an equal amount that

is asked by him, but an equal amount of

commitment. The amount that a person

gives to the project is between that person

and God. No one will put pressure on

anyone to give, but everyone should sit

down with their family and decide how

they can give. Some will be able to give

from their assets, such as stocks, bonds, or

other savings. Others will need to make a

“sacrificial” gift, where they give up an

item in their budget, and give the funds to

the project that would have gone to this

item. Yet others may wish to give by

donating items to the online resale store

that one of our members is managing.

These types of giving are not mutually

exclusive—giving can be done by many

different methods.

Some folks have already stepped up and

have told their story of how they plan to

give. One family has decided to drive

their car three years longer than what they

would have, and donate the amount that

they would have made in car payments. A

single mom, who receives a monthly

payment from a rental property she owns,

has decided to give those payments.

Another member has decided that he will

give from his savings, and that will mean

he will have to work six months longer

than he planned before retirement. There

has already been a donation of cash, and

even a donation of real estate. People of

God are rising up and meeting the

challenge in any manner they can.

When giving from assets, it is important

to note that there may be a side benefit to

those who give from capital assets. By

giving these assets, they may not have to

pay capital gains tax on the liquidation.

Attorney Pete Canalia will be hosting a

free seminar to discuss estate planning,

and also the tax implications of charitable

giving to the campaign.

As a guideline for giving, people are

asked to give an amount that is a multiple

of their current giving. So a person will

give up front an amount equal to what

they give to the church for an entire year.

Then they will divide that amount by

thirty six, and the result is what they will

give to the program month by month for

the next three years. On the following

page are some examples:

Blessings in a Backpack Workers

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Twice Annual Giving

Amount Currently

Given per Year

Twice Annual

Giving

Amount Up

Front

Amount

Per Month

2,000$ 4,000$ 2,000$ 56$

4,000$ 8,000$ 4,000$ 111$

6,000$ 12,000$ 6,000$ 167$

8,000$ 16,000$ 8,000$ 222$

Amount Currently

Given per Year

Three Times

Annual Giving

Amount Up

Front

Amount

Per Month

2,000$ 6,000$ 3,000$ 83$

4,000$ 12,000$ 6,000$ 167$

6,000$ 18,000$ 9,000$ 250$

8,000$ 24,000$ 12,000$ 333$

Three Times Annual Giving

Just as you excel in everything-in faith, in

speech, in knowledge, in complete

earnestness and in your love for us—see

that you also excel in this grace of giving.

2 Corinthians 8:7

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A Note from Pastor Brad

We say to our kids, “it’s better to give

than to receive,” and we do our best to

model this in our lives.

If all goes well, the lesson is learned, and

it becomes one of the foundational values

we pass on from generation to generation.

This value, of course, is sharing, and

sharing is the keystone of the church

capital campaign—“Sharing Hope.”

The plan for the campaign is simple. To

meet with you in your home to share a

story. A story about where we are headed

as a congregation, a story about the

ministry possibilities a new building

creates, a story about hope.

Why hope? Well, more than anything

else, the new building is a facility for

sharing, and sharing leads to hope.

Each time we host a community event—

such as an addiction support group—

we’re sharing, and those who participate

in the group have a chance to find hope

that they can overcome. Each time we

start a new ministry geared to our

community—like affordable, quality day

care—we’re sharing, and those who

struggle to make ends meet can find hope

that they cannot just get by, but thrive.

Each time we have high-production

worship, traditional or contemporary,

we’re sharing, and those whose hearts are

warmed or minds are challenged find

hope. You see, each of these is a way to

share the story and life of Jesus Christ

who, as Matthew tells us in his gospel’s

twelfth chapter, is the hope of the world.

Here’s the point: when we share

sacrificially from all the gifts God has

given to us, we’re not just sharing money

or our assets—we’re sharing hope.

So give for a variety of reasons: Give so

New Buffalo’s next generation will have

a thriving church home. Give to build a

house where God is glorified. Give to

further the cause of Jesus Christ, and most

of all, give because you want to be part of

“Sharing Hope.”

Sunday Worship