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Who is Living Waters
Lutheran Church?
Jesus said, “To the thirsty I will give water as a gift from the
spring of the water of life.” Revelation 21:6
God is at work in our community, preparing the hearts of a people
who will be Living Waters Lutheran Church! We will be a people who
believe:
Jesus is Alive!
Jesus is not just a historical figure who lived years ago and now is
remembered for his teachings. It really makes a difference in our world
that Jesus is alive today! This fact will influence the way we live our
lives.
God has a purpose for you!
We all have gifts given to us by God. We all have a purpose for being. Our
goal is to discover what our God-given gifts are and how they will serve
the work of Jesus Christ.
God has a plan for you!
Life is not just a bunch of random events. God has a plan for our world
and our lives. We seek God’s wisdom to follow where God is leading us.
The world needs Jesus!
We live in a broken world. Jesus was sent by the Father to bring healing,
justice and peace. The Good News of Jesus Christ is Good News for the
world!
Love…
We are to love the Lord our God first and foremost. Secondly, we are to
love our neighbor as ourselves. This simple rule shall lead in all we do.
Who is invited to be a part?
By reading this far, it seems God is at work in you, for even faith itself
is a gift from God. Everyone is welcome! Living Waters Lutheran Church
takes seriously what Paul writes in his letter to the Romans in chapter
10:
"But how are they to call on one in whom they have not believed? And how
are they to believe in one of whom they have never heard? And how are they
to hear without someone to proclaim Him? And how are they to proclaim him
unless they are sent?"
Living Waters Lutheran Church is a congregation which is intentional about
its mission to reach those who have not heard the Good News that Jesus
died for them.
Why a New Church?
As you have probably witnessed and are even a part of, the southwest metro
area of Fargo has seen significant growth in the past decade. With this
growth comes the need for a neighborhood church. The outreach potential of
a new congregation, as compared to an established congregation, is
significant. The uncomfortable feeling of “Will I fit in?” is diminished
by the fact that everyone is new. There are not old members and new
members. Everyone is a new member. As well, you will have the opportunity
to shape the ministry of this new congregation. We invite you to become a
part of God’s future at Living Waters Lutheran Church.
How it all began…
The dream started in the late 1990s, a family from First Lutheran Church,
north Fargo, approached the leadership of the church expressing the need
for a new congregation in the rapidly developing southwest metro area of
Fargo. They were so passionate about the need that they began to
financially support the vision. Over the course of the next several years,
money was placed in an escrow account, reserved for a new congregation to
serve southwest Fargo. In the Fall of 2001, land was acquired from other
members of First Lutheran, part as gift and part as sale, on the corner of
45th St S and 40th Ave S. The potential for the city’s growth was evident.
This new property was a farmer’s field surrounded by vast expanses of
agricultural land. Much development has happened over the past few years.
Gravel roads have become city arterial roads. Neighborhoods have sprung up
across the countryside. As time goes on, the need for a new congregation
grows more and more.
With the purchase of the land this new mission start became a partnership
between First Lutheran Church, a congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran
Church in America, and the Eastern North Dakota Synod of the Evangelical
Lutheran Church in America. This partnership soon expanded to include the
national Evangelical Lutheran Church in America with the Division for
Outreach awarding a substantial grant for the development of this
congregation. The vision for all involved was to launch a healthy new
congregation. The process which has evolved is different from most other
new start congregations. One of the greatest differences is the extent of
the financial backing given this new congregation. Many new congregations
struggle to build a critical mass of people large enough to support the
ministry of the congregation in its early years. With the partnership of
other members of First Lutheran Church, to date over 2.1 million dollars
have been given toward the development of a new healthy Christian
congregation. With this seed money, an initial church building project has
been undertaken. The new 12,000 square foot facility is being built with
the faith that God will provide the people to fill it. Through the gifts
of many, the future members of Living Waters Lutheran Church will be able
to focus on spreading the good news of Jesus Christ to all who have not
heard.
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