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Ripple Effects

Stories From the Water's Edge

Generosity Extends the Invitation

1/22/2026

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Every gift to Water’s Edge Ministries tells a story of faith, hope, and community. Donors give because they see the transformative power of this ministry where everyone has the chance to encounter God’s love, grow in faith, and form lifelong friendships. Saying yes to making a gift is more than simply sharing financial support: it’s joining in the mission to create spaces where everyone feels seen, valued, and welcomed.

One longtime supporter shared that they don’t come to the quilt auction because they need another quilt—“thankfully, our closets are already full. We show up because generosity is how we say yes to something bigger than ourselves. This ministry has created spaces where people feel welcomed, known, and invited into faith and community. Giving is our way of helping make sure those doors stay open—for the next family, the next camper, the next story God is still writing.”

Generosity fuels invitation. One invitation leads to another, rippling on wider and farther each time. Generosity prepares cabins for new arrivals, crafts meaningful can’t-be-missed programs, and strengthens staff to share God’s love in tangible ways.

​For donors, giving is personal: a way to live out their faith, express gratitude, and invest in a ministry that shapes hearts and lives.
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At the Water's Edge Campaign Progress

​The At the Water’s Edge Capital Campaign is about creating opportunities for God to work in the lives of everyone who interacts with Water’s Edge Ministries. Every gift strengthens programs, maintains welcoming retreat spaces, and provides unique experiences where faith, community, and God’s love come alive.

Thanks to generous supporters, we are already seeing progress, with over $350,000 raised so far in Phase Two. Each gift is multiplying impact by touching lives, strengthening faith, and building community that lasts. Looking ahead, our vision is bold, and we need your support on this journey. By giving, you’re not just supporting a camp: you’re joining in God’s work, helping it grow and flourish far beyond our walls.
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At Water’s Edge Ministries, events are an opportunity to take action. Each gathering brings together families, volunteers, alumni, and friends to celebrate God’s work in the lives of campers and communities.

At the 2025 Quilt Auction, generosity was on full display. Friends gathered to revisit memories, rekindle friendships, and invest in what comes next, raising more than $128,000—the third-highest total in the event’s history. Through the Fund-A-Need appeal alone, $35,000 was raised to provide camp scholarships, extending the invitation to campers who might not otherwise attend. The energy among those gathered was unmistakable, with 11 quilts selling for more than $1,000 each, well above the historical average and a testament to the community’s shared commitment.

That same spirit carried into the 2025 Dinner Theater, where storytelling, laughter, and generosity came together in record-breaking ways. With the support of 13 local business sponsors, the event raised more than $70,700—the highest total ever, surpassing previous years by at least $10,000. Each ticket purchased and sponsorship given helped ensure that future generations can experience the same beloved moments of camp, faith formation, and community.
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Donating to the Quilt Auction or attending a Dinner Theater performance creates the chance for people to extend a opportunity for the next generation to have the same beloved experiences. Faith, fellowship, and generosity intersect here, reminding us that living out our calling is best done together.
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Generosity In Action

In 2025, Thrivent Action Teams made a powerful impact on Serve Boldly, equipping youth participants and community partners with essential resources that brought hope and care to neighbors across the country. Action Teams supported hands-on projects including tied fleece blankets for unhoused neighbors and shelters, hygiene kits for community organizations, and meals prepared and shared nationwide. Resources also strengthened worship, participant journals, and prayer stations—creating space for reflection and faith conversations alongside service.
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Thrivent members showed up to love their neighbors, unleashing generosity through 20 Action Teams. These projects empowered hundreds of youth to build relationships, share Christ’s love, and serve with purpose.
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WATER'S EDGE MINISTRIES

Green Lake Lutheran Ministries is now Water's Edge Ministries - new name, same mission. Learn more.
Inviting all to experience the life-changing love of Jesus through vibrant settings in community and creation.

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Phone: 320-796-2181
[email protected]

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1411 Camp House Road
Brimson, MN 55602
​Phone: 218-848-2277

green lake bible camp

9916 Lake Ave. S.
Spicer, MN 56288
Phone: 320-796-2181

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19080 16th St. NE
New London, MN 56273
​Phone: 320-354-2961

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A ministry of Water's Edge Ministries
  • Who We Are
    • Water's Edge Ministries
    • Mission
    • Welcome Statement
    • Sites
    • Staff & Board of Directors
    • Alumni
    • Upcoming Events >
      • Programmed Retreats
    • Employment >
      • Year-Round Employment
      • Summer Staff
      • Serve Boldly Staff
      • Seasonal Employment
      • Associates
    • News & Reports >
      • Blog
  • Summer
    • Youth Camp >
      • Grades K-5
      • Grades 6-8
      • Grades 9-12
      • Resource Staff
    • Ordinary Time
    • Family Camp
    • Camp Joy
    • Day Camp
    • Worship at the Lake
    • Summer Staff
    • Promotional Resources
    • One More Around the Campfire
  • Serve Boldly
    • About Serve Boldly
    • Locations
    • Trip Details >
      • Summer Youth Trips
      • Alternative Breaks
    • Promotional Resources >
      • Trip Promotional Resources
      • Employment Promotional Resources
    • Employment >
      • Leader & Guide Info
      • Worship & Music Leader Info
      • Food Service Info
  • Retreats
    • Retreats
    • Corporate Events & Conferences
    • Programmed Retreats >
      • Adult Retreats
      • Youth Retreats
      • Family Retreats
    • Chapel Gatherings
  • Give
    • Donate >
      • Planned Giving
      • Sustainers
      • Thrivent
      • Wish List
    • At The Water's Edge Campaign
    • Events >
      • Dinner Theater
      • Give to the Max Day
      • Quilt Auction
    • Impact 100
    • Volunteer
    • WEM Awards >
      • Advocate of the Year Award
      • Volunteer of the Year Award
    • Share Your Story