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In uncertain times, God calls the church to be the church. COVID-19 has put millions of people in a financial squeeze. Some of our own at Watermark are facing financial challenges and wondering, “How will I provide for my family?”
If you have been at Watermark for a while, you’ve undoubtedly heard Todd say, “If you are a Watermark Member, as long as God enables our body to care for one another, you will never go without food, clothing, and shelter.” For 20 years Watermark has fulfilled this commitment through our ministry called Charis—the Greek word for grace and kindness.
Charis. This ministry seeks to provide grace to Members who find themselves in need and kindness to help a brother or sister in need. And it seeks to be life-giving to all who are involved either in providing or receiving financial resources. From day one of the ministry, this has been the heart behind Charis.
Charis was established to provide basic needs for Members: food, clothing, and shelter.
Any Watermark Member in need. Here is how the Charis process works. It begins with community, and it’s a simple 1, 2, 3 process.
Share your need with your community group and community shepherd. Part of the process will be full financial disclosure: what you own, what you owe, what you earn, and what you spend your money on. You can use the Moneywise/Charis Fact Gathering Template. Many community groups will be able to meet the need, and Charis will not need to be involved in the process. We estimate this happens approximately 75 percent of the time. What a great example of the church being the church!
If your community group is not in a position to meet the financial need, your community shepherd will provide a Charis application for you to submit. It always starts with the same information being shared that is in the Fact Gathering Template linked above.
Based on your application and feedback from your community group, community shepherd, and community staff director, the Charis ministry will meet with you and let you know how we will proceed.
Charis will coordinate with you, your CG leader, CG shepherd, and CG director every month to review and approve any continued funding needs.
Members who want to help. We know that many Watermark Members are looking for ways to share their financial resources. We see the early church meeting the needs of one another in Acts 2:44-47, 4:32-35, 20:35, and 2 Corinthians 8:1-5. If you desire to partner with Charis, you now have an opportunity to do so. You can give online to the Watermark Disaster Relief Fund.
You can also mail a check with the memo indicating “Disaster Relief.” Designated giving in this area will be deployed to meet the needs of Watermark Members. Any funds received in excess of the needs described in this memo will be stewarded more broadly as disaster relief funds as other needs arise.
Let’s turn COVID-19 into one of our greatest moments. Let it be known that Watermark is committed to care for our own, in seasons of abundance and in hard seasons, including this COVID-19 emergency.
Never forget that God is in control, and our trust remains in Him. Let’s go, church.