80 Years Strong: God Brings New Life to Watersedge
By Sharon Mager
DUNDALK, Md. — Watersedge Baptist Church in Dundalk celebrated their 80th anniversary on September 21. The church was filled with past and present members, who had the opportunity to share fond memories and encourage one another. The theme was the faithfulness of God.
Ken Ledwell, Jr., pastor of Watersedge, welcomed current and former members, and guests to the anniversary worship service on Sept. 21. (Photo by Sharon Mager
The anniversary was especially meaningful as the church enters their fifth of a five-year revitalization plan. Like many congregations, Watersedge had dwindled to a small group, and then COVID hit hard. They were struggling.
In answer to their prayers, God called Senior Pastor Ken Ledwell and his wife, Gina, to the church in 2020 to lead a revitalization effort. The church has witnessed God at work in amazing ways, growing the congregation and bringing new energy and life.
Joanne Podzimek sang “The Lighthouse,” telling the church beforehand that she had sung it as a little girl at Watersedge, standing on a stool. (Photo by Sharon Mager)
Ken, who formerly served as associate pastor at First Baptist Church of Beltsville, admitted he had moments of doubt. “I prayed as I came here, ‘Lord, I’m not a church revitalizer, so I don’t know how this is going to go. Little did I know! I don’t have to do it. He does it. I preach His word faithfully, and He does it all.”
At the morning anniversary service, Ken shared from Lamentations 3:22–24:
“Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness. The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “Therefore I hope in Him!”
Praying, Ledwell said, “…this day has been set aside to celebrate Watersedge existing for 80 years, but Heavenly Father, that’s only because of Your faithfulness.”
“I know some of you are well into your senior years, and some of you grew up in this church. I know some of you watched this building being built in 1958 when you were younger, and you were praying, and your parents were praying, about the future of this church.” And God has been faithful in answering those prayers, he said.
The church was full for the anniversary celebration and members sang and praised God for bringing them through the years. (Photo by Sharon Mager)
Several members shared during the service. John Arisita, a former deacon, was the first to speak. “Just to be here today has been wonderful. I moved to Georgetown, Pennsylvania, and I certainly miss this church. We’ve been here 80 years—I think I’ve been here 65 or more of those years—and I am so thankful for the deacons we’ve had over the years who helped me, schooled me, and trained me for the years of service we’ve done here in Watersedge, at the ‘concrete homes’ (homes built for workers at Bethlehem Steel in the 1940s) and in Dundalk and just anywhere we could. I am so thankful to God for helping me be faithful to Him.”
Sharon Mountain smiled at Arisita as she stood to share how “Johnny” knocked on the door at their home to invite them to church. “My mother was a Catholic, and she wasn’t going to any church at that time. And Johnny said, ‘Well, come on down.’ She said, ‘Well, I’ve got five kids.’ And he said, ‘No, come on down. We’re having a spaghetti dinner after church.’ And the rest is history.” Mountain said their family began attending, and they got saved and baptized. Addressing Arisita, she said, “All your witnessing really made a difference in a lot of people’s lives. I’m not saying I didn’t walk away from the church and come back, but once you have the love of God in your heart, it stays with you.”
Several members gather to greet their old friend John Arisita, whose consistent evangelizing through the neighborhood brought many to the church and who were subsequently saved. (Photo by Sharon Mager)
Darla Palmer Evans said she began attending the church in 1954. She was saved in 1956, married in the church, and her husband, Jon, served as music minister for a period of time. “We’re thankful for the consistency of your ministry. He has sustained the work here through good times and hard times, and I’m very thankful for what it did in my life.”
As others shared, there were hugs and tears. One young member, Bradley Airey, remarked, “It’s like a family reunion!”
Ken, preparing to close, grinned as Jon Evans spontaneously rushed to the piano to play “Great is Thy Faithfulness,” and all stood and sang along.
Following the service, the church served pit beef on the lawn, accompanied by sides, which were served indoors, where attendees could view photos and memorabilia.
Pointing to the hundred-plus people on the church lawn following the service, Ken said he was so pleased with such a great turnout and with the answered prayers over the past several years.
Watersedge Baptist Church members were thrilled with the turnout for their VBS this summer. (Photo courtesy of Watersedge Church)
He said, “We’ve gone from a dozen people to over 50 each week, so again, it’s God’s faithfulness. That’s why that was the theme, because that’s just how it happened. He does it.”
The church is moving forward. In addition to their Little Light Christian Daycare Center, active since 1987, the church now offers a young adult Bible study, family fun nights, Christian Skate nights, Vacation Bible Schools, and a food pantry. They’re collecting shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child, and they’re gearing up for their Family Fall Festival on October 11.
For more information about how the BCM/D helps with training, equipping, and resourcing your church, visit our website www.bcmd.org.
Sharon Mager serves as BCM/D stories editor.