Inministrywork,encouragementisn’toptional—it’sessential.Thechallengeswefacecanbedemanding, andwithoutsupport,it’seasytofeeldiscouragedorworndown.Takingamomenttoupliftoneanother strengthensourresilience,deepensoursenseofpurpose,andremindsusthatwe’renotaloneinthework Encouragementalsoplaysaroleinourrestorationstories.Akindwordorthoughtfulrecognitioncan renewenergy,rebuildconfidence,andhelprestoreourpassionandfocus.Whenwesupportoneother, wecreateaculturewhereeveryonecanthrive andcontinuemakingameaningfulimpacttogether.
"Andletusconsider[thoughtfully]howwemay encourageoneanothertoloveandtodogooddeeds..." Hebrews10:24(AMP)
ood Prep. Diapers Changed. Food Donations Sorted. Temperatures Taken. Guests Checked In. Gym Teachers. Art Teache Music Teachers. Donation Truck Drivers. Clothing Sorted. Summer Camp. Teen Programs. Elementary Programs. Middle hool Programs. Thanksgiving Day Meals. Christmas Day Meals. Breakfast. Lunch. Dinner. Smile-Makers. Receiving Donati on the Dock. Businesses. Churches. Friend Groups. Leading Art Workshops. BINGO. Bible Studies. Care. Compassion. See leaning floors. Sweeping Stairwells. Dishes Washed. Sandwiches Made. God’s Love Tangibly Expressed. Food Prep. Diape Changed. Food Donations Sorted. Temperatures Taken. Guests Checked In. Gym Teachers. Art Teachers. Music Teachers
Donation Truck Drivers. Clothing Sorted. Summer Camp. Teen Programs. Elementary Programs. Middle School Programs
AprilisNationalVolunteerAppreciationMonth,andthere’sno bettertimetocelebratetheincrediblepeoplewhopowerWater StreetMission.Mealsserved,wallspainted,donationsprocessed, temperatureschecked,childrenlearning...allmadepossiblein partbyvolunteerswhoshowupwithcompassionandpurpose.
Thanksgiving Day Meals. Christmas Day Meals. Breakfast. Lunch. Dinner. Smile-Makers. Receiving Donations on the Dock Businesses. Churches. Friend Groups. Leading Art Workshops. BINGO. Bible Studies. Care. Compassion. Seen. Dental. Expressed. Food Prep. Diape Art Teachers. Music Teachers ms. Middle School Programs eiving Donations on the Dock
justsupportthework—theyarethework,bringing impactdoesn’thappenwithoutthem.Volunteers Theyaretheheartofourmission—givingtheirtime,talents, andcaretoneighborsinneed.Thismonth,werecognizethat our don’t dignity,connection,andtransformationtoour communityeverysingleday.
BRAG TABLE Whohaveyouwitnessedmodelingthemission,vision orcorevaluesofWSM?Whatdidtheydothat caughtyourattention?
Whoonourteamistakingsmallstepstomakethings better,improveprocesses,orhelpingpeoplegrow?
Whoonourteamhashelpedyouinyourministryworkover thepastmonth?Whatdidtheyhelpyouaccomplish?
WhatteamareyougratefulforhereatWSM? Whyareyougratefulforthem?
OurITdepartment…theydosomuchbehindthescenestokeepthingsrunningsmoothlysowecan alldoourjobanddoitsafely!
HadasShovlinjustledusthroughourlargestever capitalcampaignasanorganizationwhilealso providingadditionalsupporttoallaspectsofthe Advancementteam,particularlyinthearea ofevents.Mostrecentlyshecoordinatedthe EverydayWaystoSharetheGospelphotoexhibit intheWareCenter.Itwouldnothavebeenpossible topulloffthecampaign,theannualfundandallthe eventsassociatedwiththesetwothingswereitnotfor Hadas'remarkablework.
Bobisagreatleaderwholeadsbyexample Hewears100000differenthatsinhislifebut alwaysshowsupfortheAdvancementteam, eventextingencouragingtextsoffhoursto brightenmyday!
IamconsistentlyimpressedbytheabilityofourFoodServicesteamtoprovide incrediblemealstoourguestswhileextendinghospitalitytoourstaffandvolunteers.
Ourmaintenanceandfacilities teams.Bothdososomuchthat don’talwaysgetseenandare undertheradarbutaresoessential totheoperationsofWSM!
LaurenChristiejustpulledoffanincrediblecommunityevent (Changemakers)whilesayinggoodbyetoandsteppinginto theleadershiproleleftbyhermentor.Evenindoingthisshe iscontinuingtoeffectivelycarryherdayin/dayoutroleof buildingrelationshipswithcommunitypartners,growing theirheartsfortheworkWaterStreetdoes.Consistentlywe hearfrombusinesspartnersabouthowimpressedtheyare withhowLaurencarriesthevisionofWaterStreet.
Kellihasconsistentlyhelpedtostrengthencollaboration withthePeopleandTalentteambypartneringwithJimto taketeaminefficienciesanddevelopclearprocessesthat betterserveourstaffteam.
AllisonLatshawisanincrediblebridgeforso manyofourdonors!Ifyouaren’taware, Allisondirectlythanksasurprisinglylarge numberofdonors,spendingthetimeonthe phonetolearnmoreaboutthem,whythey supportWaterStreetMission,andeven prayingfortheminthemoment.Shesetsa wonderfulexampleofministeringtothose thatareenablingtherestofustominister.
I’mgratefulfortheteamsthatworkthe oddhours;DiningServices,2 and3 shift teams,NextGen,Facilities,Warehouseand I’msurethereareothersImissed.Thereis somuchbeautifulministrytakingplace duringtheseoursthatnooneelsesee,but aresokeytoservingourguestswell, meetingourguestsneeds,andensuringa safeenvironmentforourguests.
Kitchenstaff--Iamgratefulforthe caretheyputintothefoodandlove theyhaveforourguests!Ipraythat theyfeelseenandvalued.
Jackleadssohumblyandwithsuch grace.Atrueleaderwhoisshowingby examplefromthetop.Hetreatseveryone withsuchkindnessfromtopdonorsallthe waytoeachofourguestsandstaff.
OurTeenHavenSeniorprogramManagers (GenesisandMark)areinanewpositionof leadershipatTeenHaven/WSMandhelpingto leadtheirareaofministryandthepeople leadingintheirarea!
Gary-providinghisGod givengiftsandtalentsto stewardtheMissionwell.
JoeLarkinisgreatat breakingdownsilos betweendepartments.
IthasbeenspecialtoseeEmily courageouslytakeonleadershipof IntentionalCommunitiesandcontinue topartnerwithinternalteamsand externalpartnerstocreateaspaceand processthatiswelcomingtoguests.
AG BLE NextGenMinistries:trulylovetheworkthey doandthepeopletheyserve.Servingwith theheartofChristtochildren,families, youth,teensandyoungadultstosupport, educate,engage,equipandshareand modelthegospel.
Whenitcomestoteamsthataremakingthingsbetterand constantlyimprovingprocess,aswellashelpingpeople grow,thisgroupwillhavetheirdayinlessthantwo weeks(April22)!Iamtalkingaboutourperfect (7)administrativeassistants.Ihaveseenthis groupcollectivelyandseparatelyworktosolve problemsothersmaynotevennotice.Through committeework,intimesofrapidchangeand ineverydaycelebrationstheyareworkingtobring usupinthemostgentle,thoughtfulways.Ialsosee themhelpingpeoplegrowbywalkingalongsidethem, gettingandgivingfeedbackandbeingdirect,yetcaring.
JimMetzlerisquicktoreply toquestionsinawaythat’s relevant,thorough,and easytounderstand.
Iamgrateful forourdiningstaff.Ithas beenablessingwatchingGodprovide staffandgrowthandtheywearelooking forwardtothemhavinganewmanagerinHis time Althoughtheydon'thavethisleadership,they seemtoworktogetherlikeawelloiledmachine providingwonderfulfoodwithasmileandmaking ourvolunteersandguesthelpersfeelvaluedas well.Ithasbeentoseeincreasedcapacitywith ourdockassistancesandwenowhave roomforupto4ofthese volunteersaweek!
IamgratefulfortheGuestEd team&otherswhomakethe CoffeeHouseeventshappen! Whatatremendousgiftitisto see&hearfromGuests&Staff!
Carol-forsteppingintoaneedwithher giftednessandfollowingthroughwith processcreation,systemsimprovement, anddetailmanagement!Itwastedious, long-sufferingworkthatrequiredstrong investmentandstrategicnextsteps.
Inthepastmonth,BradChivingtonhasjumped withbothfeettohelp.Hisexperience,wisdom andwillingnesstocomeupwithcreative solutionshasledtoahugeincreaseinour CentralSupplyvolunteersand,Lordwilling,will dothesamewithourtruckassistants.Wehave beenabletofulfilltheneedofsortingwhileat thesametimegivinggroupssomething meaningfultodothathelpsthe donation/receivingprocesstremendously.
Mike-Thankyouforkeepingthisconversationgoing aftertheALLSTAFF!Iwouldliketobragonyoufor makingadifferencebywalkinginyourpurpose hereatWSM.Everyrippleyoumakeinthis environmenthasalastingimpactingeffect.
Iappreciatetheopportunitytostepintothe troubledwatersgiventhestirringsyouare makinghereatWSM(John5:4).Keepdoingyou!
IwanttomentionRickyPrado:despite beingabrilliant,encyclopedicmind,hedaily wranglesaconstantlychangingbeastofa databaseinVirtuous,findingtheinformation weneedinsurprisinglyshortamountsoftime, andgenerallyassistingthewhole Advancementteamwithgoodhumor.Ricky istrulyaservanttothisorganization.
Marjdoessomuchbehindthescenes andneverhasaproblembeing flexibleandsteppingintohelp whereverherteamneedsher!
IsaacScotthasshownacleardesiretoserve hisstaffbyensuringthateachonehas everythingtheyneedtocarryoutWSM's mission.Through1on1sessions,stafftraining andtroubleshootingthroughavarietyof issues,hehasforgedawell-bondedteamthat respectandlovehisleadership.
Paul-leadingbymodelingbest practice,carryingcuriosity,and caringforteammembersduring atimeofsignificanttransition.
Melissaworkstirelesslytocareforthosewho supportWaterStreetandengagewithus digitally,whetherthatmeansreplyingtoemails, texts,andsocialmessagesordiggingintoour websitetoensureeverythingworksseamlessly. Sheputsinalotofefforttoensureallourdigital assetsareeasytonavigate,attractive,and simplefordonorstogive.
JackCrowlylivesoutDependenceuponGod, leadingtheSLTinprayerfor6monthsaboutthe strategicplanbeforeevenbeginningtoworkonit.
IwouldhavetosayCassieandreallythe wholefesteam.Theyalwaysdoafantasticjob ofnoticingpeopleandespeciallychildren, makingthemfeelwelcomeandspecial,taking thetimetocreatemeaningfulconnectionsat atimewhenlifefeelsoutofcontrol
AG BLE KennyBowmanmodelsauthenticity inrelationshipsandpartnershipsowell.I appreciatehisopennesstosharingresources andhowthesparkofhisinventiongoesback tohowtomakethingsbetterforpeopleand howtoconnectbetterwithpeople.
Rocontinuestopushthe envelopeonthequalityof designforWaterStreet, ensuringthatnotonlyour communicationstoour donorslookgreat,but alsoourcampus.
Allisonputssomuchattentiontodetailinto herworkwithourmid-level,mid-major,and monthlydonors.Shemakessuretheyfeelcared forandseenthroughsomanycards,texts,calls, andemails.Manyofourdonorshaveincreased theirgivinginlargepartduetoherwork.
Ihavesomuchrespect andgratitudeforourAC team.Theirinteractions withguests and neighborsshowdeep care,respect,and kindness.
Justshoutingoutafter30yearsof nursing,afemaledominatedprofession,I wanttocalloutmymalelifecoachesonallthree shiftsasIfeelthosemenhaveespeciallymademe wanttobeabettercoach.Ron,Peter,Matthew,Isaac, Luis,TedEvanIvan..Ireallyappreciatethemand thedevotionandpassiontheyservetocaring andmakingsafespacesforourguests.
JaniceLappconsistentlymodelsallofthe abovetoourguestandstaff.Whethersheis strollingacrosscampus,sittingindiningor whereversheis,hergenuinecareandsmileare readytoshareJesuswithanyoneshemaycome across.Janislikesomeofmyfavoritefamilyand neighborsovertheyears,willingtotaketimefor othersandmeetthemintheirtimeofneed.She istrulyajoyandmodelswhatandhowwe shouldbeconsistentlyeachdaytoallofus.
Asanurse,Melanniebringsnotonlyskillandprofessionalism, butalevelofcompassionthattrulysetsherapart.She noticeswhatothersmightmiss,stepsinwherever helpisneeded,andgiveshertimeandenergyso generously.Whetherit’sstayingalittlelater, offeringacomfortingword,ormakingsure eachpatientfeelsseen,heard,andcaredfor, shedoesitallwithgraceandhumility.What makesitevenmoremeaningfulisthat Melannieneverlooksforrecognition.Shesimply servesbecauseshegenuinelycares.Thatkindof heartleavesalastingimpact—notonlyonour patients,butoneveryoneluckyenoughtoworkalongsideher.
