April 2, 2024
Downtown building provides new home for the not-for-profit corporation focused on loans, investments, accounting services, and charitable giving solutions for ministries and individuals
WatersEdge announced today that the organization closed on the purchase of an office building in downtown Oklahoma City. The office building, located at 300 Johnny Bench Drive in Bricktown, is locally known as the Sonic Building.
“We are excited to move into our new home in Bricktown soon,” WatersEdge CEO Robert Kellogg said. “We have operated in Oklahoma City since our founding in 1946, and we see this move not merely as a change of address; it’s an opportunity to multiply the impact of what we do.”
In recent years, the organization has experienced growth in all areas of service, prompting the search for a new headquarters in Oklahoma City. WatersEdge worked with Craig Tucker at Price Edwards at the outset of the search for a new home. Tucker presented several options over the course of months, but the Sonic Building emerged as the clear choice.
Hogan Property Company LLC, the group responsible for developing and maintaining the building since it opened, will continue to manage the space for WatersEdge.
“I’ve been very impressed, and [the] people have been so great to work with,” Hogan Property Company President Randy Hogan said. “It’s important for all of Bricktown to have office tenants in place; it’s a ripple effect that just brings more energy and certainly helps the restaurants in our development and others nearby.”
The decision to purchase the building accommodates expansion at WatersEdge and provides the opportunity for Oklahoma Baptists, along with their affiliates, to enter into long-term lease agreements. Oklahoma Baptists, Oklahoma Baptist Homes for Children, and Baptist Village Communities will move into the building purchased by WatersEdge.
WatersEdge began as The Baptist Foundation of Oklahoma before rebranding in 2020 as WatersEdge Advisors and WatersEdge Ministry Services. From its inception until today, the organization has been focused on empowering donors and ministries to transform lives with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
At the core of their multifaceted offerings is providing smart charitable giving solutions and investments for individuals and families, biblically grounded investment strategies, and services like loans, investments, and accounting for churches and ministries.
LOOKING FORWARD – WatersEdge CEO Robert Kellogg (center) tours the building prior to purchase.
Each year, WatersEdge helps Christ-followers give millions of dollars to charitable causes they believe in. In 2013, a vision was set called ‘25×25:’ a simple but God-sized goal to distribute $25 million dollars to ministry annually by the year 2025. In 2023, WatersEdge distributed $35.2 million dollars to ministry, a record-breaking year in the history of the organization. This represents the fifth time they have met or exceeded the $25 million-dollar annual distribution.
“Our beneficiaries include everything from senior adult living facilities to Christian universities, children’s homes, and churches. We love our home state and want to continue to give back to charitable causes within Oklahoma,” said Kellogg.
WatersEdge team members will begin to occupy the new space as soon as some minor updates have been made. Oklahoma Baptists and related affiliates will make the move later in the year.
