Meeting at the Well
The Well Men’s Group
Joe Marino is a Harley-riding, big-bearded pastor in Hastings, NE. When you meet him, you instantly want to be his friend. That’s just the kind of guy he is, even with his rugged looks. Joe loves Jesus, and like Jesus, he hangs out with people others might find intimidating. You know the kind I’m talking about—the sinner and tax collector types. Or better yet, Samaritan women with shady histories. The ones who go to a well in the heat of the day to avoid stares and comments.
In 2012, Joe planted a church with six adults in a living room. The church’s very name, The Well, brings to mind the story of Jesus with the Samaritan woman in John 4 and reflects his heart to reach the unchurched, de-churched, and anyone else who wants to come.
By Joe’s admission, however, planting The Well has been one of the hardest things he has ever done. He told me, "It's been the slowest growing thing I've ever done. I mean, probably been the most infuriating thing I think I've ever done, too." But despite the frustrations and what seemed to be slow growth, you won't believe what's been happening the last couple of years. It is truly a testimony to the importance of patience, faithfulness, and waiting on God.
In its first year, The Well had to relocate, which became a repeated theme for the church. They moved eight times in seven years! That would be enough to cause most men to quit, but Joe stuck with it even though his congregation never exceeded 50 people. Things stabilized in 2018 when The Well was gifted an old church building from the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC), but they still had a lot of work to do.
In 2022, ten years after planting, Joe began casting a vision for The Well to pursue financial self-sufficiency. This goal required great faith! At the start of 2023, The Well was only 50% self-funded and relied heavily on external support. They had enough money to last only two years.
With this bold vision, Joe asked external donors to discontinue their support, which placed full financial responsibility on the congregation. He explained, "At the end of 2022, I began casting that vision to our church family. I went to all of our external donors and asked them to discontinue giving to The Well so that we could live on our own sufficiency." At the same time, Joe prayed, "Lord, I don't know what you're going to do, but this is your church. It's not mine."
You won't believe what followed—the church doubled! New members brought fresh energy and resources, contributing to the church's financial health. Generous gifts from these families helped the church end 2023 with a budget surplus of $450! One family, moved by Joe's message, told him, “Joe, we're no different than Ananias and Sapphira," and then proceeded to give an entire year's worth of tithing in one shot, followed by consistent, regular giving.
Besides encouraging financial health, 2023 brought even more affirmation as the church celebrated several baptisms and welcomed more new members, including a former Hindu convert. By Easter of 2024, The Well had nearly reached its capacity in their building.
There is much more that I wish I could fit into this article, but if you're a pastor or church planter, here’s what I want you to know: Joe's story is a true testament to the importance of staying faithful to the work that God has given you because he is a faithful God! Even when things look uncertain, God is always working behind the scenes. The Well's story is a powerful reminder that God gives growth; you may not see it immediately, but if you remain faithful and trust in his timing, he will bring about his fruit in his season. So stay faithful—anything is possible with God!