MORE THAN A SUMMER CAMP
Most people think of Falls Creek as a place for teens to hear about Jesus during the dog days of summer. But did you know your giving allows Falls Creek to change lives with the Gospel all year long?
A Word From Our Leadership
1 A YEAR OF IMPACT
year.
Numbers are extremely important in my line of work. As a Christian finance organization, numbers represent impact, lives, and eternities changed by the Gospel. We are often running so fast toward the next big thing, we rarely take time to reflect on how we’ve managed what the Lord has entrusted to us or, more importantly, the work the Lord has done in and through us. I want to share three numbers that represent significant Kingdom impact over this past year that many of you have been a part of.
55. 15. 41,000,000.
In the past year, WatersEdge has made loans to 55 different ministries in 15 states totaling $41 million in approved funds! How was this even possible?
our loans, leading to the highest demand for loan dollars to fund ministry growth in our 78-year history!
In this issue, you’ll read about Covenant Church in Grove City, Ohio, who found themselves in a unique situation. After being denied lending opportunities locally, they partnered with WatersEdge in a creative solution for their lending needs that involved some of their members participating in Kingdom Investments. I won’t spoil the story, but
What we discovered weren’t just believers looking for the best return possible on what God has blessed them with, but rather individuals who wanted to invest in something with an eternal impact.
The Kingdom work represented in these numbers was made possible by people like you — generous individuals who share a heart and a passion for seeing lives transformed by the Gospel. In June 2023, we launched something new at WatersEdge called “Kingdom Investments.”
We’ve had a long history of providing cash-growth investment opportunities for churches. Last year, however, we opened these opportunities to individuals. What we discovered weren’t just believers looking for the best return possible on what God has blessed them with, but rather individuals who wanted to invest in something with an eternal impact.
The 55 ministries mentioned earlier have experienced firsthand the faithfulness of individuals who want to see more churches grow and reach their communities with the Gospel. And many churches have seen and heard about
this is one example of many we could tell you of churches that have been blessed by individual investors who share a heart for the local church and Kingdom work.
That’s why we continue to push forward and seek out churches and individuals who will join us in providing resources to fund ministry growth. We will endeavor to set aggressive loan rates for churches while seeking to pay our investors a competitive rate for their dollars. Celebrate with us this oneyear milestone of Kingdom Investments and consider partnering with us in the mission to help more churches grow.
President, WatersEdge Ministry Services
RAISED TO WALK IN NEWNESS OF LIFE
Baptisms like this one during Indian Falls Creek represent the thousands of lives changed each year at Falls Creek across dozens of different events. The entry pool at the campgrounds has seen many men, women, and children of all ages symbolically burying their old life in the water and beginning a new life in Christ. PG. 14
SMART GIVING: DONOR ADVISED FUND
Donor advised funds are a tried-and-true way to keep your giving headache free. Give, see your gift grow, and impact the ministries you love. PG. 12
WHY I GIVE: CAROLYN TATE
With the firm belief they can’t outgive God, Carolyn Tate and her late husband, Dennis, have given generously out of their humble means for years. PG. 22
THE GOSPEL AT THE GAMES
Learn how the International Mission Board prepared to reach the ends of the earth with the Gospel during the Summer 2024 Paris Olympics.
PG. 24
CREATIVE KINGDOM INVESTMENTS
Covenant Church in Grove City, Ohio, faced one barrier after another when it came to constructing a space for their growing congregation. Read about their creative financing solution. PG. 6
ON THE COVER College students gather in prayer during Falls Creek’s Collegiate Week.
Generosity Fall 2024
Generosity is published by WatersEdge. To subscribe for free, request a copy, or update mailing information, please call 800-949-9988 or email info@WatersEdge.com
Copyright 2024. All rights reserved.
WEATHERING THE STORM TOGETHER
First Baptist Church, Marietta, stepped up to serve after facing a devastating tornado this spring. Learn how WatersEdge Ministry Accounting Services brought relief and instilled confidence in a time of great need. PG. 28
Contributors
Harve Allen
Nathan J. Fish
Bobby Hart
Kedrick Nettleton
Kristen Sosebee
Production
Adam Covington Editor-in-Chief
Anna Dellinger Managing Editor
Marissa Crowson Visual Editor
Marcus Wehmuller Lead Photographer
Jacob Blaze Design
Photo by Nathan J. Fish,
Courtesy of The Oklahoman
#BECAUSEYOUGIVE
BRIGHT BLOOMS & SMILES
Baptist Village Community (BVC) residents have been seeing a lot more color these days thanks to a gift left by a former resident who died in 2005. Through Ruth’s Flower Fund, BVC residents receive free flowers annually to spruce up their homes and the BVC campus. Ruth’s Flower Fund, an endowment established in 2011 through WatersEdge, is named after a woman who loved flowers and wanted others to be able to enjoy them after she was gone. Prior to 2024, only residents at the BVC facility in Oklahoma City received free flowers. #BecauseYouGive, the fund has grown, and BVC can expand the program to other campuses in Enid, Owasso, and Broken Arrow. Support BVC today by visiting WatersEdge.com/give. Are you interested in creating a longlasting gift like this endowment? Contact a WatersEdge giving expert at 800-949-9988 or give@WatersEdge.com
Photo by Marcus Wehmuller
WORSHIP WITHOUT WALLS – Covenant Church gathers in their unfinished sanctuary, celebrating God’s presence amidst construction. Their new home represents hope, community, and an opportunity to transform more lives with the Gospel.
T FINALLY, A “YES”
COVENANT CHURCH GETS CREATIVE TO FUND NEW BUILD
By Kedrick Nettleton
Photos provided by Covenant Church
he year 2023 wasn’t supposed to go smoothly for Covenant Church.
This Southern Baptist congregation in Grove City, Ohio, faced its first leadership change at the end of 2022. Travis Davenport, who had been Covenant’s lead pastor since the church was planted in 2010, was stepping away, and David Palmer was moving into the role. The change came with a certain level of continuity, as Palmer had served on the plant team and played a key role in the church’s growth, but it still presented a level of tension that Covenant hadn’t felt before.
“It was a time of real transition,” Palmer remembered. “There was a lot of fear and nervousness around what would happen.”
That unease wasn’t just about the leadership transition, either. For more than two years, the church had been embroiled in a financing issue. They’d received a pledge loan in early 2020 to start construction on the congregation’s first-ever permanent location — before that, they’d been meeting in an AMC movie theater each Sunday. Covenant was set to break ground that spring when the COVID-19 pandemic hit, putting their plans on an indefinite hold.
ALL HANDS ON DECK – Not everyone can give financially to a capital campaign, but when people give of their time, it can make a significant difference in labor cost for construction projects like a new church building. Covenant Church members volunteer during a serve day, demonstrating their commitment to being a part of the process.
“For us, as a portable church, the pandemic meant we had no location,” Palmer said. “Movie theaters shut down. We had no place to meet.”
For the first several months of the pandemic, the church met online via video. Eventually, they were able to rent out a gym that had closed. After a year of this scrambling, stop-andstart process, the church began to look into restarting their previous build, only to find the construction landscape had drastically changed.
“Record levels of inflation in construction had taken what was going to be a $3 million build and turned it into a $5 million build,” Palmer said. “Every month we saved money toward this building, and then the building cost inflated beyond what we could have saved. We were spinning our wheels.”
Add rising interest rates into the mix, and the new building began
to seem like it might be forever out of reach.
“We couldn’t find a finance partner who understood the challenges that we were facing or that could understand the miraculous ways in which God was working in our church,” Palmer said.
Casting a vision to lenders in a tumultuous, risk-averse financial landscape proved challenging, and the church remained frustrated — convinced that the Lord was behind their plan, but unable to put it into action.
“We felt like we had the project management team, we had the build team, we had the architectural team, we had the design and the AVL team — the only thing we lacked was a financial partner who understood the unique ways in which churches operate and receive income,” Palmer said. “A financial
partner who believed in us, believed enough in what God was doing here to really start that conversation.”
“GOD WANTS THIS TO HAPPEN”
Following the leadership transition at Covenant, a mutual friend at the Ohio Baptist Foundation connected Palmer with WatersEdge. What he found upon his initial introduction was a different approach to building loans — one based not just on financial outcomes, but on support for churches and a passion to see the Kingdom grow.
“These weren’t people who were predominantly interested in the financial strength and health of a church,” Palmer recalled. “They understood how church finances work and were willing to look beyond the numbers and see what God was doing here. They were saying, ‘We want to make this work. We don’t know how this can work, but we think God wants this to happen.’”
Palmer began sharing information about these conversations with his congregation each Sunday: what building timelines might look like, where the church was short financially, and what they would need to do to get the ball rolling. After one of these weekly updates, a curious member of the church looked into how he could personally help the process along.
“A person within our congregation went to WatersEdge, started studying up, and found out about Kingdom Investments for individuals,” Palmer said. “He came up with this creative idea to use Kingdom Investments as collateral towards a loan — which would allow us to build two years earlier than we
could raise a million dollars through Kingdom Investments as collateral, those funds would be held on reserve, allowing the church to qualify for the loan, and construction could finally begin. The congregants who invested receive the benefit of earning interest on their deposited funds through Kingdom Investments.
For Jerry Vaughan, WatersEdge chief lending officer, the arrangement made sense because of the structure Covenant had in place.
“They had a clear vision of where God was leading them and a great team working together to make it a reality,” Vaughan said. “When I was approached
“Every month we saved money toward this building, and then the building cost inflated beyond what we could have saved. We were spinning our wheels.”
would have been able to if we had just continued to save as a church.”
That timeline was key, as the church was running into a discouraging problem: They simply had no more space. The need for a permanent location had never been greater.
“We were maxed out,” Palmer said. “So, to have WatersEdge say during this process, ‘We believe in you. We’re willing to get creative.’ It felt like a door opened.”
The creative solution was this: If the congregation of Covenant Church
by an individual in the church with an idea to help solve this issue by pledging Kingdom Investments as collateral for the loan, I immediately saw an obstacle turn into an opportunity. This was truly a win-win answer. Not only did this complete the financing package needed for the church, but it provided Kingdom-minded investments for the people in the church who participated.”
The response from the congregation was quick and enthusiastic: The money was raised, and the entire process went faster than it could have through a traditional lender, cutting
A WORK IN PROGRESS
Since February 2024, Senior Pastor David Palmer has provided Covenant Church with weekly updates on the construction project posted on the church’s website and Facebook page. The congregation is encouraged with real-time progress, from clearing the land, to framing, to electricians running wiring.
As of September 2024, the church has a parking lot and a sign. Palmer said putting the sign up is, “Staking a claim on what God has done and what He will continue to do on these 14 acres in the future … I can’t wait for when it finally gets lit up and everyone can see down the road that we’re here.”
The church body has participated over the months through prayer, continued giving to the capital campaign, and occasional volunteer workdays. They were able to go into the building for the first time in August, when they worshiped, prayed, and toured the space.
“The finish line is the starting line,” Palmer said in reference to the building project. When the construction is complete, the real work of growing the Kingdom can begin.
what would have been a multi-year fundraising effort in half.
“We’re going to be breaking ground on our permanent location in the spring now, instead of waiting years,” Palmer said.
The WatersEdge loan was the cap to three years of trial. COVID, rising costs, inflation, and staff changes had tested the congregation’s mettle. Finally — finally — a “Yes” had materialized.
A BANNER YEAR
So, no. 2023 wasn’t supposed to be easy for Covenant Church. There were supposed to be speedbumps as Palmer took over leadership. There were supposed to be growing pains, spiritually and physically, as their space in the AMC theater was squeezed to capacity. There was supposed to be fear, uncertainty, and doubt.
As it turns out, that didn’t happen. At all.
Throughout the year, church attendance grew steadily every week. Small group attendance jumped from 285 people the year before to over 400 — on some Sundays, small group attendance was even higher than the main service. Giving increased and new
staff members were hired; the church expanded its footprint through revitalized student and volunteer ministries. People in the church grew in their faith and stepped into positions of spiritual leadership. There were baby dedications and baptisms. By almost any metric you can use to measure a church’s ministry, 2023 was a banner year.
“It was really a year of change, and I feel like God was preparing us for what He wanted to do in 2024,”
“The fact that [Kingdom Investments] can utilize my savings ... in order to further the Kingdom, and then still be competitive in the interest that they pay back — to me, it’s the sort of thing that’s a God-sized idea.”
Palmer said. “It’s been a testament to God’s faithfulness when you consider all the fears that we went into 2023 with, all the changes. God made those changes good; He’s taken all our fears and He’s given us abundance out of it.”
Palmer is quick to point out his congregation isn’t growing because of the simple promise of a building — a goal for which to push and then stagnate after construction is completed. The building is only one exciting step in a journey that will extend far beyond it.
“Our congregation isn’t wanting to get into a building so that we can rest or finally avoid teardown and setup every week. We have people that see this as an asset to ministry, a platform from which we’ll be able to do more than we’ve ever been able to do,” he said.
Opposite page: A SEASON OF RENEWAL – David Palmer began as Covenant’s head pastor at the end of 2022. He has led the church through a season of growth, fundraising, and change over the past two years. This page, top: BAPTISM WITH A SIDE OF POPCORN – With Sunday services held in a rented AMC movie theater, the best place for baptisms at Covenant Church is in a makeshift baptistery onstage in front of the movie screen. This page, bottom: DISCIPLESHIP CIRCLES – Covenant Church’s small group ministry has expanded from 285 to more than 400 weekly participants, fueling the growth of the church.
“I don’t think our church is excited about a building as much as they’re excited about how this building will help us pursue the mission God’s called us to: to seek and save the lost here in central Ohio.”
The fact that the building project was funded through Kingdom Investments is another bonus, as the funds from these investments go to fund not just Covenant’s build, but other churches across the country — churches in similar situations to Covenant, needing space to grow and accomplish their mission.
“Even if we weren’t building with WatersEdge, if they weren’t loaning our church money, we’d still think that Kingdom Investments are an incredible idea,” Palmer said. “The fact that they can utilize my savings, my investment, in order to further the Kingdom, and then still be competitive in the interest that they pay back — to me, it’s the sort of thing that’s a God-sized idea.”
Construction began in February 2024 after the cold weather lifted, and Covenant is eagerly anticipating the day they can move in. New
ministry opportunities await that can only be run out of a church’s own building, like food pantries and assistance programs for needy families — but that’s not what’s most exciting to Palmer. What’s most exciting about the promise of a permanent location is its use as a monument to the Lord: like Samuel raising an Ebenezer at Mizpah, it will serve as a physical reminder of God’s faithful care through troubled times.
“I love the fact that we’re going to be able to tell these stories of God’s faithfulness to our children,” he said. “We’re going to be able to look at our kids and tell them: Covenant Church was an idea in a basement once. Now look at what God has accomplished with regular people who are faithful to serve and follow and be on a mission to reach people. We’re going to be able to leave a legacy that will last far beyond any of us who are here now, waiting for those 15 acres of land on Borror Road in Grove City.”
WatersEdge securities are subject to certain risk factors as described in our Offering Circular and are not FDIC or SIPC insured. This is not an offer to sell or solicit securities. WatersEdge offers and sells securities only where authorized; this offering is made solely by our Offering Circular.
Invest in More Churches
When you invest your funds with WatersEdge Kingdom Investments, you’re not just getting a great rate. You’re providing Gospel-centered loans to churches all over the country so they can continue to change lives with the Good News of Jesus Christ. invest@WatersEdge.com | 800-949-9988 | WatersEdge.com/invest
Thinking Outside the Box
USING A DONOR ADVISED FUND CAN SIMPLIFY AND MULTIPLY YOUR GIVING
By Staff
Have you ever found yourself doing the receipt shuffle during tax season? You were certain you’d kept all your donation receipts in one place, but now you’re scratching your head, unsure if something ended up in the recycling box that wasn’t supposed to go there.
If you’re tired of digging through the papers on your desk to guarantee you receive all your charitable tax deductions, a donor advised fund (DAF) might be the solution you’re looking for.
You receive a charitable tax deduction for the tax year you actively place the funds into the DAF (not the year the grant is distributed to the ministry). You may wait to grant money to allow the fund to grow or until you decide where
Your donor advised fund ... will save you time, simplify your giving, maximize your tax advantages, and multiply your impact.
A DAF is a popular giving tool used by both individuals and businesses to make donations to a ministry or ministries and keep giving records in one place.
HOW IT WORKS
First, fund your DAF with a minimum of $1,000. Nearly any form of asset, whether cash, securities such as publicly traded stocks and bonds, mutual funds, gold, real estate, or other investments, can be gifted into a DAF. WatersEdge will then distribute (or “grant”) those funds to the ministry upon your request. The distribution can be made immediately or at a later date.
to give. The assets placed in a DAF can remain in the account indefinitely and can be invested a variety of ways, allowing the fund to grow over time.
Some other benefits associated with DAFs include:
• Flexibility and convenience.
• Online account access.
• Tax advantages.
• Simplified giving process.
• Reduced or no management fees.
• Option to give anonymously.
DID YOU KNOW?
Many nonprofits offer donor advised funds as charitable giving tools, but not all are Kingdom minded. WatersEdge implements social screens before investing your DAF assets for growth, i.e. WatersEdge will not invest in funds that promote things such as such as abortion and embryonic stem cell research, cannabis, gaming, alcohol and tobacco use, pornography, forced child labor, human trafficking, and payday loan practices.
• An opportunity to contribute appreciated assets.
• The ability to foster a tradition of giving with future generations
HOW ARE DAFS USED?
Because DAFs easily consolidate and track all your charitable contributions in one place, they are ideal for donors who love to give to multiple ministries. Some traditional ways to use a DAF include giving monthly tithes and offerings, supporting missionaries annually, or contributing to church building campaigns.
Fund Your DAF
A DAF may also help you overcome barriers in giving to ministries you love. For example, a company might match employee charitable contributions but not allow the employee’s company match to go to certain religious organizations such as churches. Instead, the employee can request that the company send their matching contribution to WatersEdge and into their DAF. WatersEdge can then grant that money to the employee-recommended church or ministry.
Another creative way people have used DAFs includes donating rental property into their DAF and having the rental income from that property distributed out to a charity.
And as a way to instill a spirit of generosity in successive generations, some parents even include their children and grandchildren in the decision-making process of which ministries to support through their DAF. The family
DAF Grows Through Investment Make Gifts To Ministry
convenes and agrees on how they want to distribute those funds and impact the Kingdom together.
No matter how you choose to use your donor advised fund, you can be sure it will save you time, simplify your giving, maximize your tax advantages, and multiply your impact.
Create a DAF today! The simple online process usually takes about 10 minutes to complete. Visit our website or contact one of our giving solutions experts to learn more.
give@WatersEdge.com 800-949-9988 WatersEdge.com/DAF
More than a SuMMer CaMp
By
FALLS CREEK SERVES AS A SPIRITUAL HAVEN AND SENDING PLATFORM ALL YEAR LONG.
Harve Allen • Photos Provided by Oklahoma Baptists and WatersEdge
Ziplines, sermons, volleyball, swimming, pin trading, and the infamous icees are all hallmarks of Falls Creek Conference Centers. Widely known as the largest summer youth encampment in the world, Falls Creek was founded in 1917 in Davis, Oklahoma and hosts up to 7,500 campers each week in June and July. Less well known is that Falls Creek is bustling with activity and changing lives the other ten months of the year as well.
Jacob Boss has experienced firsthand how Falls Creek is impacting ministry and changing lives with the Gospel. As affinity leader for the European peoples with the International Mission Board (IMB), Boss works with approximately 550 IMB missionaries stationed throughout Europe, as well as Canada and Australia, to engage peoples with the Gospel. He was one of an estimated 1,700 people who attended Collegiate Week August 4-8 at Falls Creek.
“It’s a unique opportunity for us to learn from the collegiate workers and what they are seeing amongst young people and how they are engaging campuses, as well to cast a vision and mobilize this generation to the ends of
This page: BONDS OF UNITY – Students take a break from activities for a quick photo op as part of a recent Collegiate Week gathering at Falls Creek. Opposite page, top: BIRD’S-EYE VIEW – Falls Creek boasts 360 acres of conference centers, church-owned cabins, various water features and recreational areas, and more. Opposite page, bottom: SANDWICHES & SMILES – A group of ladies enjoy their lunch together outside the R.A. Young Tabernacle at Falls Creek during a women’s conference held by Oklahoma Baptists.
the earth,” Boss said. “They’re here and they’re focused, and not distracted with a bunch of other things.”
Collegiate Week is held soon after the final week of Falls Creek’s summer youth camp. It attracts college students and collegiate ministers from across the United States, including places as distant as Hawaii and Wyoming. It is also a time for Boss and his fellow IMB staff and missionaries to connect with students and answer questions about what it means and what it takes to serve as IMB missionaries.
Nathan Liebert and Ben LeBoeuf can also attest to Falls Creek’s impact on their lives during Collegiate Week. Both are college students from Louisiana — Liebert from the University of Louisiana-Lafayette and LeBoeuf from Louisiana State University. They said they enjoyed their time so much that they’re already looking forward to next year.
“A lot of people are trying to grow their faith,” Liebert said. “They’re not trying
to be lukewarm Christians. They’re here and want fellowship. I love it.”
“The worship time has been heartfelt, and a lot of people have come to Christ,” LeBoeuf said. “I’m learning, and I think other people are learning. And we’re worshiping God in a way that is acceptable and good to Him. It just brings joy to my life.”
HOLY GROUNDS
Falls Creek has long been a place where people of all ages can escape the fast-paced hustle and bustle of everyday life to commune with God and fellowship with other believers. Out of the nearly 2.1 million people who have attended Falls Creek since 1957, more than 260,000 have made life-changing commitments to follow the Lord either through professions of faith or answering the call to ministry. (Record keeping for commitments was sporadic prior to 1957.)
In “100 Years of Falls Creek: A Legacy of Faith,” published by Oklahoma Baptists in 2016 to chronicle Falls
Creek’s history and global impact, former IMB president Jerry Rankin stated, “I’m convinced we would not be the largest mission-sending organization in the world if it were not for Falls Creek.”
Brian Hobbs, director of communications for Oklahoma Baptists, echoed those same sentiments about Falls Creek and its direct impact of sending missionaries abroad.
“When you say the words ‘Falls Creek,’ you will see many people smile or get tears in their eyes, thinking of a life-changing moment they had, [especially] in people who were called to ministry. And IMB can attest to this. A lot of missionaries now in the field or who were in the field were called at Falls Creek,” Hobbs said.
LEADERSHIP ROOTED IN FAITH
The enduring success of Falls Creek stems from the leadership’s unwaver-
Todd Sanders, program director of Falls Creek Youth Camp and youth ministry partner for Oklahoma Baptists, reflected on the impact of leaders who have left their mark on the camp. These include former Oklahoma Baptists executive director-treasurers, Anthony Jordan and Hance Dilbeck; current executive director-treasurer, Todd Fisher; and U.S. Sen. James Lankford of Oklahoma, who once served as the director for Falls Creek Youth Camp.
“Having that common vision … brings people together around a cause. Oklahoma Baptists understand the cause that’s at the heart of Falls Creek as a whole: advancing the Gospel,” Sanders said. “[If the commitment to Falls Creek] doesn’t come from the top levels of leadership, not just our executive directors, [Falls Creek] would not have the staying power that it’s had over the years.”
The mission of Falls Creek continues to be an essential part of Oklahoma
“a lot of people are trying to grow their faith. t hey’re not trying to be lukewar M Chri S tian S . t hey’re here and want fellow S hip. i love it.”
ing dedication to the mission. Since its founding in 1917 by W.D. Moorer and J.B. Rounds, the campgrounds have been blessed with the guidance of leaders passionate about evangelism and discipleship.
Baptists’ efforts to spread the Gospel. Todd Fisher said he is grateful the Lord is using Oklahoma Baptists “in amazing ways” to bring light to a spiritually dark world, especially through events at Falls Creek. This year’s youth
A MESSAGE OF HOPE – Attendees of various events held at Falls Creek throughout the year hear inspirational messages from many dynamic speakers.
camp alone saw nearly 2,700 students make decisions to follow Christ and more than 550 respond to the call to ministry.
“Numbers certainly aren’t everything, and Baptists throughout the state should commit themselves to praying for students who made a decision to follow through in [their spiritual walk] and to be active in a local church. But these numbers reveal the amazing work of God in the lives of students,” Fisher said.
Sanders shared the same sentiment, crediting God for the many thousands of lives transformed at Falls Creek over the years. He also recognized the countless number of people who have invested their time and resources into Falls Creek.
“That spiritual result requires spiritual work, and that only comes through the Holy Spirit. But all those things considered, it shows a commitment to advance the Gospel with the next generation, whatever that generation is. And we’ve seen several generations impacted by the ministry of Falls Creek Youth Camp and Falls Creek Conference Centers as a whole,” Sanders said.
YEAR-ROUND MINISTRY
Outside of the summer months, Falls Creek Conference Centers host a variety of events that serve people of all ages and provide opportunities for spiritual growth and fellowship.
In 2023, Falls Creek hosted 39 unique events, and the list of events — both big and small — keeps growing.
One of Falls Creek’s most significant events is Indian Falls Creek (IFC), a family camp falling between Falls Creek Youth Camp and Collegiate Week. IFC has been meeting at Falls Creek for the past 77 years and is the largest gathering of Christian Native Americans in the nation.
Emerson Falls, Oklahoma Baptists
Native American Ministry Partner, has been involved in the camp for decades. He serves as the liaison between the Indian Falls Creek Board and Oklahoma Baptists.
“We are grateful that God moves among our churches and our people
in a special way,” Falls said. “We always see decisions and baptisms as a result of the camp, and we always have people that surrender to ministry at Falls Creek. We don’t have enough pastors for our churches, so that is really important. We rejoice in the camp.”
One of those that responded to the call to ministry at IFC is Ben Little, co-pastor at Circle of Life OKC. He and his wife have been going to the camp together for over 25 years.
“That’s where I received my call to ministry at Falls Creek in 2007,” Little said. “It’s a special place for us to go. My wife and I have both been blessed to teach during the camp. We’ve taken our kids there. We see the impact of IFC, because it’s a family camp —
lives changed from babies all the way to elders. God does a mighty work on that mountain.”
Attendees represent more than 50 tribal nations and over 250 churches from as far away as Florida and North Dakota. Registration sometimes reaches more than 3,000 campers from pre-school age to senior adults.
“We’re unique, even though it’s a nationwide event, in that we know each other,” Falls said. “It’s like a family reunion, revival-type atmosphere. A time to reconnect with other churches, a camaraderie that is facilitated because of Indian Falls Creek.”
Falls Creek also hosts the youth Fall Back weekend, men’s and women’s conferences, as well as various
Clockwise from top left: PREPARING TOMORROW’S LEADERS – Todd Sanders shares God’s Word with thousands of campers during a Falls Creek Youth Camp. “ZIP”-ADEE-DOO-DAH – The zipline at Falls Creek runs above Baptist Lake and is one of the most popular activities each summer. FAITH BOOSTER – During Collegiate Week, thousands of leaders and students from the US and Canada gather for five days to kick-start their school year with encouragement. RISING FROM THE SPLASHES – Getting baptized is a treasured memory for many who have attended Falls Creek events.
marriage retreats and Oklahoma youth ministry trainings throughout the year. And, with more than 110 cabins scattered throughout the campgrounds — the majority of which are owned by churches — a cabin owner can host their own separate event on any given day of the week, said Falls Creek Conference Centers Director Chad Fielding. His role is to oversee all events taking place on the Falls Creek grounds.
“You don’t own a cabin at Falls Creek to make money for your church. You own a cabin because you believe in the investment in the next generation and the advancement of the Gospel,” Fielding said.
A LONGTIME PARTNER
For decades, WatersEdge — formerly The Baptist Foundation of Oklahoma — has managed Oklahoma Baptists’ investment portfolio so they can focus on the mission of transforming lives with the Gospel. Those investments
include giving solutions like the $1.7 million Falls Creek Endowment fund, established in 1968.
Endowments invest gifts for longterm growth while making payments to charitable causes annually. The principal grows over time, so a
distribution rate of 4.7% helps ensure facilities at the campgrounds are maintained and its programs continue to flourish well into the future. In 2024, the endowment will distribute approximately $71K.
As Falls Creek continues to thrive, its mission remains steadfast. Rooted in spreading the Gospel and equipping the next generation, the camp is poised to impact many more lives in the years to come.
“As long as we keep the Gospel at the center and keep the health of
r ooted in S preading the g o S pel and equipping the next generation, the C a M p i S poi S ed to i M pa C t M any M ore live S in the year S to C o M e.
donor’s gift multiplies through the years. As a pooled endowment, the Falls Creek Endowment fund has received donations from many donors over the decades. The current annual
the church in mind, which involves strengthening believers, those are the things we should be about and will continue to be about as Oklahoma Baptists,” Sanders said.
Changing Lives All Year Long
You can give to the Falls Creek Endowment fund to provide long-term financial stability and ensure the future of this ministry for years to come. Endowments are a great way to support Kingdom ministries in this life and beyond. To maximize your generosity and create lasting Kingdom impact, start a conversation with a WatersEdge giving professional today. give@WatersEdge.com | 800-949-9988 | WatersEdge.com/give
WHY I GIVE
CAROLYN TATE
By Anna Dellinger • Photo by Marcus Wehmuller
Carolyn Tate and her late husband, Dennis, have never allowed their humble means to prevent them from expressing their faith through generosity. Living on one income, Dennis pastored for 36 years at small Oklahoma churches while Carolyn stayed home to raise their six children. From playing the piano to organizing youth activities, Carolyn loved serving alongside her husband.
After years of giving faithfully to their church, Dennis and Carolyn wanted to do more. In 2006, they began giving through WatersEdge using a charitable gift annuity (CGA). In the past 17 years, the Tates have created multiple CGAs totaling more than $60,000. They wanted to be good stewards by considering the future and investing in the Kingdom.
The Tates chose to give to Baptist Village Communities (BVC) in Ada, Oklahoma, which was meeting a unique need. BVC Ada featured different preachers every week, and it was a refreshing time for the couple to hear someone else share God’s Word.
“It was an opportunity for me to hear different pastors in the association, because, as a preacher’s wife, I’m not going anywhere except our church,” Carolyn said.
“This gift will never end. ... It keeps giving until Christ comes.”
“I thought, ‘This is a good investment,’” Carolyn remembered. “I liked knowing that once we’re expired, it goes to charity.”
Carolyn also loved the unique way charitable gift annuities work with WatersEdge. With a traditional CGA, a donor receives a fixed payment for life and then the ministry receives a lump sum of the remaining annuity balance after the donor’s death. WatersEdge, however, pours the remainder of the annuity into an endowment for the ministry. This allows the gift to be added to a large sum that distributes a percentage to the ministry year after year.
“This gift will never end,” Carolyn said. “That way, somebody can’t go and make a big to-do, spend their money like crazy, and then have nothing left. It keeps giving until Christ comes.”
Dennis died in 2023, but Carolyn continued to give faithfully. She even funded a CGA for another ministry, Mission:Dignity, which provides retirement-aged Southern Baptist ministry employees, clergy, and their widows with extra money for housing, food, and medication.
“[These pastors are] more interested in serving the Lord than they are in income, and I wanted to [support] that mission.”
Today, Carolyn joins several local pastors to lead a weekly church service at an assisted living facility in Ada called Featherstone. Through every season of life, Carolyn’s commitment to giving has only deepened, reflecting her trust in God’s provision and desire to live as a faithful follower of Christ.
“You can’t outgive God,” Carolyn said.
Disclaimer:
Gospel at the Games
IMB MISSIONARIES PARTNER WITH VOLUNTEERS TO SPREAD THE GOOD NEWS AT THE OLYMPICS.
By Kristen Sosebee • Photos provided by IMB
“We can’t control the results, but we can measure our faithfulness,” said Jason Harris, team leader for the International Mission Board’s Paris team, explaining their strategy for Gospel outreach during the 2024 Summer Olympic Games.
Part of that strategy includes facilitating and mobilizing more than 300 short-term volunteers to hit the streets of Paris sharing the Gospel.
The team Harris leads in Paris is young and growing. No team members have been there longer than a few years. They are united around a common vision to make Christ known among Europeans and a longterm goal to plant five churches in Paris over the next five years.
Harris explained that short-term volunteers are vital to sharing the Gospel broadly and making connections that will catalyze their local church-planting strategy and lead to longevity.
have invited local French churches to work alongside them.
“My prayer has been that the outreach for the Olympics would be a launching
“My prayer has been that the outreach for the Olympics would be a launching point for church planting in the city.”
Each week of Olympics outreach, volunteers were focused on sharing the Gospel within specific geographical and cultural segments of Paris. They used a number of creative strategies as entry points for evangelism and
Top : PINNING HOPE IN PARIS – Keith Slagle, volunteer from Johnson Ferry Baptist Church in Marietta, GA., shares the Gospel using a Christian Olympic pin in the streets of Paris. Bottom : TRAINING FOR THE TASK – Hundreds of volunteers from the US traveled to Paris for the 2024 Olympics to reach the lost.
point for church planting in the city,” Harris said.
Ultimately, the harvest is in God’s hands. They have already witnessed God drawing people to Himself through volunteer efforts this summer.
Zach Beasley, campus minister at Alabama State University and Tuskegee University, led a team of six
students to join a week of pre-Olympic outreach to Paris in May.
One thing the students didn’t expect was the spiritual darkness they felt almost immediately on arrival in the “City of Light.” Beasley said this trip has motivated them to pray for missionaries and their long-term presence on the mission field.
“We realized to really make a lasting impact, you have to be there for years,” Beasley explained. “It takes years for boundaries to be broken down and relationships built.”
The team from Alabama spent eight days passing out water bottles, prayer walking, distributing flyers, and doing spiritual surveys.
“The work we did with the local church was very familiar to our students. It’s the same thing we do on campus — going out and sharing the Gospel,” Beasley said. “We collaborate and build the local church, and I loved seeing that reiterated here for our students.”
IMB missionary Diane In came to Paris from a nearby country where she lives to help with the Olympic outreach. She joined a group of 90 volunteers partnering with local Chinese-French churches. On their first day, they handed out more than 1,000 portions of Scripture in French, had 300 Gospel conversations, and saw several professions of faith.
The missionary shared how she has seen God provide divine appointments for the Gospel. At the end of
Top: MOBILIZED IN MISSION – Many Southern Baptist volunteers arrived in Paris a few weeks before the Olympics to initiate gospel conversations with people in France. Middle : HOPE FOR THE HEART – Marjorie, a national partner, and Jared Long, an International Service Corp Paris team member, give out a New Testament on the streets of Paris to visitors who came to watch the Olympic games. Bottom : A GLOBAL GATHERING – Over 200 National Olympic Committees participated in the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris. Flags flying above one of the venues symbolize this incredible global gathering, a visual reminder for Christians of the vast number of people from around the world, many of whom may have never heard the Gospel.
one day, In and one volunteer — a Chinese pastor from the U.S. — sat next to some members of the Chinese press on their way back to the hotel. The pastor gave one of the men a custom-designed pin and shared the Gospel with him. On their way out of the station, they ran into two
they had given flyers to show up for an outreach event at a local church.
“We were praying they would come, and they actually did,” Beasley said.
Brant Bauman, a digital engagement strategist for the IMB, gave an exciting
Beasley and his team were excited to see many people they had given flyers to show up for an outreach event at a local church.
more members of the Chinese press — a man and a woman — who were lost and asked for directions. As the pastor gave directions to the woman, In pulled out another pin and shared the Gospel with the man.
At the end of the week, Beasley and his team were excited to see many people
update on the first round of virtual volunteers and their strategy to extend on-the-ground evangelism.
Bauman said digital responders around the world are getting exactly the kind of interaction they have been hoping and praying for. Volunteers served on a weeklong virtual
mission trip where they were on call to answer chat requests.
“It’s a strange thing to say, but the volume on my computer is turned up and there is a little chime that goes off roughly every 30 seconds,” Bauman said. “Normally, that would drive anyone mad, but not tonight, because that is the sound of new people responding to our online ads and reaching out to us. Better yet, it’s the sound of doors being opened and the Gospel being proclaimed by so many digital responders scattered all over the world.”
Bauman added that despite challenging discussions, team members are excited and bold in their interactions. “We have already seen countless prayers responded to, quite a few spiritual conversations and Gospel shares, and some that have expressed a desire to meet up face-to-face and find a church.”
Harris asked for prayer as their team begins to follow up with new contacts in Paris.
“The number of connections made could be really challenging to follow up with effectively,” he said. “Pray that, ultimately, people become disciples of Jesus and don’t just hear the Gospel once.”
From Gold Medals To Gates Of Gold
Your gifts to IMB allow career missionaries like Jason Harris to partner with short-term volunteers and maximize Gospel impact. Multiply your gifts to IMB when you give through WatersEdge. Talk to a giving solutions expert today. give@WatersEdge.com | 800-949-9988 | WatersEdge.com/give
Weathering the Storm Together
Left: DEVASTATION HITS HOME
–
An aerial view shows the destruction of Homeland, Marietta’s only grocery store, after an EF-4 tornado ripped through southern Oklahoma on April 27, 2024. Right: STANDING STRONG –First Baptist Church, Marietta, remains unscathed after the storm, serving as a beacon of hope for the community amidst the wreckage and providing aid to those affected by the tornado.
By Harve Allen
Tree limbs and power lines were scattered like leaves. Semi-trucks were crumpled and roofs torn to shreds. The natural disaster was unmatched in Marietta’s history when an EF-4 tornado ripped through the southern Oklahoma community April 27, 2024.
Most of the destruction was limited to the west side of town along the Interstate 35 corridor. Marietta’s largest employer, the Dollar Tree Distribution Center, sustained heavy damage, as did other businesses, including a nursing
home, the hospital, and Homeland, the city’s lone grocery store.
Once word got out about the tornado and its aftermath, Brandon Twyford, senior pastor at First Baptist Church, Marietta, and his congregation sprang into action to provide aid to the community. FBC Marietta was untouched in its downtown location, far enough away from the storm’s destructive path. Just a handful of church members were directly impacted by the tornado, which
left FBC Marietta more time and resources to ministers to others outside the church.
“It’s strange because we did not have any members who were employed at Dollar Tree. We had one at Homeland and several at the hospital. We also had three or four of our members’ homes that were impacted,” Twyford said.
One way the church served their community following the tornado was by supplying food to some of the elderly who relied on Homeland for their groceries. The closest grocery stores are about a 25-minute drive to either Ardmore, Oklahoma, or Gainesville, Texas.
Through a partnership with WatersEdge Accounting Services, FBC Marietta was able to care for the most vulnerable after a natural disaster.
FBC Marietta’s two-year partnership with WatersEdge has allowed Twyford to focus more of his attention on sharing God’s Word, praying, and doing ministry work, especially during seasons of great need in the community. Despite his extensive knowledge and experience in the banking industry, Twyford knew spending the majority of his time on administration
FBC MARIETTA AND WATERSEDGE BRING HOPE AND RELIEF AFTER DISASTER STRIKES.
Photo by Nathan J. Fish, Courtesy of The Oklahoman
and finances was not what God or FBC Marietta called him to do when he accepted the senior pastor position in August 2021.
“It’s about being able to do whatever I am supposed to be doing,” he said. “So, you’ve got to do both [ministry and administration]. You have to have your hand in it as the pastor to know what’s going on. However, you don’t want it to dominate your time.”
And that’s where WatersEdge can help.
Twyford had first heard about WatersEdge ministry accounting services when he was pastoring a smaller church near Marietta. Unfortunately, he said when he first arrived at FBC Marietta, the church’s finances were a mess. He rearranged staff by cutting two secretarial positions and adding another shortly after his arrival. His next move was contacting WatersEdge and signing up for their accounting services.
After April’s tornado, the church began receiving donations earmarked for residents and church members recovering from the tornado’s onslaught. One church member
“That’s the peace of mind WatersEdge brings us — that we aren’t left alone to figure things out.”
in particular had lost her job simply because her employer was one of the businesses destroyed in the storm. The church was able to provide her with a paycheck every two weeks through WatersEdge from those donations.
“She’s a single mom of three, and [the paychecks have] helped her stay afloat and not have to worry. And that’s all because we can easily keep up with [the donations] through WatersEdge,” Twyford explained.
“It was good to save us money, but more than that, it’s the trust of it being done correctly and helping us stay in compliance without having to worry about keeping up with everybody’s
donations properly. We know it’s being done correctly.”
In fact, Twyford has been so pleased with the entire experience with WatersEdge, he has even recommended it to other churches in the area, some of whom have already jumped on board.
“The biggest benefit [of partnering with WatersEdge] has been freeing up time and having the help and support there for our office administrator, and for the church to know there is someone waiting in the wings to help us. That’s the peace of mind WatersEdge brings us — that we aren’t left alone to figure things out.”
We’ll Do The Accounting So You Can Focus On What Really Counts
When FBC Marietta saw a need, they had more opportunities to serve because of their partnership with WatersEdge. Visit our website to learn more about our Ministry Accounting Services or to get a free estimate for your church.
accounting@WatersEdge.com | 800-949-9988 WatersEdge.com/accounting
NEW MINISTRY HQ NEW MINISTRY HQ
FROM DOWNTOWN OKC TO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH
By Staff
Aplace formerly known for tater tots and shakes will now house a bigger mission: spreading the Gospel across Oklahoma and beyond.
“We are excited to move into our new home in Bricktown soon,” WatersEdge
CEO Robert Kellogg said about the organization’s purchase of the Sonic Building in Bricktown, located in downtown Oklahoma City.
“We have operated in Oklahoma City since our founding in 1946, and we see this move not merely as a change of
address. It’s an opportunity to multiply the impact of what we do.”
Growth in all areas of service at WatersEdge prompted the search for a new headquarters in Oklahoma City. The decision accommodates not only this growth but also provides an
Opposite page: ENCOURAGING WORDS –WatersEdge Board Chair Scott Craddick shares some thoughts during the Sonic Building dedication ceremony April 19 in Bricktown. This page, top: A NEW LOOK – WatersEdge COO Kristen Karr, in blue, leads board members on a tour of the Sonic Building. This page, bottom: HOME SWEET HOME – The south side of the Sonic Building overlooks the Bricktown Canal.
opportunity for Oklahoma Baptists and their affiliates to enter into longterm lease agreements. Oklahoma Baptists, Oklahoma Baptist Homes for Children, and Baptist Village Communities staffs will all move into the building.
Following the April 19 meeting of the WatersEdge board of directors, board members and advisors toured the building, ending the day with a dedication ceremony on the fourth floor.
Board Chair Scott Craddick shared verses from Psalm 127 and Ecclesiastes 1-2, noting how the acquisition of the building was a blessing from God.
“This is just a tool, a blessing from God to be used to expand His Kingdom,” said Craddick.
Oklahoma Baptists Executive Director-Treasurer Todd Fisher said relocating to the building will be a “tremendous opportunity” to solidify their financial stability and provide enough space so they and all their affiliates can finally be under one roof.
“This building was a huge opportunity and blessing for our affiliates to stay together,” Fisher said. “We’re
hopeful to see increased unity amongst our affiliates. I strongly believe we can do that, and that is going to project strength and trust to our constituency.”
In a closing prayer of dedication, Alton Fannin, senior pastor at First Baptist Church, Ardmore, asked the
Lord to guide those who would fill the building.
“We pray it would be known as something far beyond a corporate headquarters; it will be a cooperative headquarters for the work of the Kingdom that goes all over the world out of this place.”
NEW STAFF
Parker Denton
Senior Lending Officer
pdenton@WatersEdge.com
Parker Denton recently joined WatersEdge as its new senior lending officer with the Ministry Services team. He will eventually fill the shoes left by Chief Lending Officer Jerry Vaughan following Vaughan’s retirement from WatersEdge at the end of 2024. Denton previously served as lending officer for Liberty National Bank in Chickasha, Oklahoma. He and his wife, Lyndsie, tied the knot this summer and currently reside in Chickasha where they attend First Baptist Church. Lyndsie is a 10 th grade English teacher for Mustang Public Schools. Denton earned his master’s degree at University of Oklahoma and his bachelor’s degree at Oklahoma Baptist University.
Scott Copeland
Business Development Officer
scopeland@WatersEdge.com
Following a one-year stint as retirement community outreach director at South Tulsa Baptist Church, Scott Copeland began his duties with WatersEdge July 29 as business development officer. He works closely with the Advancement, Ministry Accounting Services, and Ministry Services (loans and investments) teams to help develop new business relationships and generate leads. A graduate of Howard Payne University in Brownwood, Texas, Copeland has also held similar positions with other organizations, including the Boy Scouts of America where he was employed for nearly 17 years. He and his wife, Marnie, an Oklahoma Baptist University graduate, reside in Tulsa and are church members at South Tulsa. They have one child, Zac, 9, who they adopted as a baby.
PROFESSIONAL DISTINCTION
Morgan Hymel
Director of Trust Operations
mhymel@WatersEdge.com
Morgan Hymel, director of trust operations at WatersEdge, recently passed her CPA exam with flying colors. In her day-to-day work, she handles accounting for investments and trust accounts. To become a licensed CPA, Hymel was required to pass four separate 4-hour exam sections: tax, regulation, financial, and auditing. She says her CPA certification will help bridge the gap between the trust team and the finance team, ensuring more efficient financial reporting and transaction posting. Now that Hymel is done studying for the test, she can focus on spending more time with her husband, Jeremy, who is a teacher and soccer coach at Westmoore High School, and daughter, Kyli, 11, who attends Christian Heritage Academy. They currently live in Newalla, Oklahoma, and attend Choctaw Road Baptist Church.
NEW STAFF
remembering Ron Fannin
Role model. Encourager. Load lifter. Problem solver. Pastor. Friend. The Car Guy.
These descriptors might be mentioned when you ask someone to describe Ron Fannin. At WatersEdge, he was all these things, but so much more.
“Ron Fannin was an intelligent, industrious, high-energy, high-capacity individual who succeeded in every venture he embraced,” said WatersEdge CEO Robert Kellogg. “He was a model of consistency, a wise Christian gentleman whose ‘yes was yes’, and ‘no was no.’”
Originally brought on to serve as vice president for church building loans at The Baptist Foundation of Oklahoma
(now WatersEdge) in 1988, Fannin subsequently served until 2000 as senior vice president. He traveled more than 40,000 miles a year to assist Oklahoma churches. The miles he logged after his retirement from Oklahoma Baptists in 2014 may have even exceeded those from when he was employed by WatersEdge.
WatersEdge Vice President for Trust Administration and Corporate Counsel Kyndal Kliewer worked closely with Fannin on special projects over the past five years. He was one of the first people she met when she started working for the organization.
“Anytime I called, he immediately took action,” Kliewer said. “He could run circles around me.”
His boundless energy and calm demeanor made him a pastor wherever he went. Kliewer recalled countless times when Fannin shared the Good News with anyone they came across — from someone showing up to help jumpstart a dead vehicle to another trying to negotiate the price of a car Fannin was purchasing for the ministry.
“He ministered to people and shared the Gospel any time he got the opportunity to,” she said. “He didn’t make it awkward; he just made it a natural part of the conversation.”
Consistent in his witness, Fannin even shared the Gospel through a pre-recorded video at his own funeral service this January. Speaking about the day when he was baptized, Fannin said, “That baptism meant that I, Ronnie Fannin, died to an old life in which I was the boss, and I was raised to a new life in which Jesus is the boss. So, I encourage you in making the decision because it’s the most important decision in life.”
He longed to point others to the Savior who had changed his life.
“Ron’s love and support for WatersEdge and Oklahoma Baptists was undeniable,” Kellogg said. “His impact on these ministries is indelible. I miss my friend, Ron Fannin, but I am thankful for his life and legacy.”
