An Email I Never Wanted To Send
AJ Sandoval
March 24th, 1982 to May 17th, 2022
Dear Church Family —
With great sadness, I need to share with you that AJ Sandoval died last night. AJ has been our worship leader since before we launched as a church. He invested the last 16 years of his life serving our congregation. He was a friend to many and was kind to all.
I remember writing songs with AJ. I wrote the lyrics and he would put them to music. His original works were unique, inspiring, and beautiful. He was a chef of rare capabilities. His chicken wings, chicken strips, and smoked meats were nothing short of amazing. He loved soccer. He was the captain of his soccer team in college and a longtime fan of the Liverpool Football Club. He also was a walking Star Wars Encyclopedia.
AJ played at hundreds of weddings and funerals over the years. He celebrated with people in their times of greatest joy and comforted people in their time of need. He led various bands throughout the years and was one of the best blues singers you will ever listen to. In addition to his role at The Water’s Edge, AJ worked at PayPal for the last ten years. He found great value in serving clients and being part of a team.
AJ’s favorite roles in life were husband and dad. I remember doing AJ and Kristen’s wedding on October 20th, 2007. It was a celebration of love with friends and family and a feast of chicken wings. AJ’s other love was their daughter, Avery, born four and a half years ago. They had lightsaber battles, he painted her nails, and she loved to cuddle up to him.
I will be forever grateful for AJ. I think of all the late nights and early mornings he must have spent learning and practicing songs because he wanted to give his best and glorify God every time he led us in worship. More than a partner in ministry, he was like a son to me. It was beyond a joy and blessing to see him grow and flourish as a worship leader, husband, dad, and child of God. During his last couple years, AJ fought addiction and depression. He did so with courage and perseverance.
My heart is broken, and I know yours is as well. Jesus says: “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” May WE trust in God together and hold each other close in days ahead.
When I have details about AJ’s celebration of life, I will share them with you. In the meantime, I know you will pray for, support, and love Kristen and Avery.
In Christ,
Craig Finnestad
AJ's Visitation & Celebration of Life
AJ’s Visitation and Funeral Information
I informed our congregation on Wednesday afternoon that AJ died on Tuesday night. After the autopsy, the cause of death is still unknown. The police have ruled out foul play and further testing will happen, but the outcome remains the same. A wife has lost her husband, a daughter has lost her dad, parents have lost a child, siblings have lost a brother, many have lost a friend, and our church has lost our longtime worship leader.
This Sunday morning I will be speaking about loss, grief, pain, and suffering. Our church has experienced too much of this over the last four years. Sunday is not AJ’s funeral. It will be a worship service where a bunch of hurting people gather together. Supporting each other and seeking God.
We all grieve differently. Some of us knew AJ well. Some knew him as a worship leader. Be patient and kind to each other. Trust in God. Pray a lot.
AJ’s visitation will be Tuesday afternoon from 4:00 to 7:00. His funeral will be Wednesday morning at 10:30 with a lunch to follow. You can watch the Celebration of Life at www.youtube.com/weomaha if you are unable to attend in person. I encourage you to be present to support Kristen and Avery and to celebrate AJ’s life. We were blessed to have him as our worship leader since our beginnings 16 years ago.
To volunteer, including providing the funeral meal and dessert: www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0d4badaa2ea7fe3-ajsandoval
To give to Avery’s college fund in memory of AJ:
https://www.kindridgiving.com/app/giving/kindrid-wn3n90t
I have done too many funerals for too many people younger than me in the past few years and I’m trying to make sense of something that just doesn’t make sense. I have never led a church through anything like this before. I ask for your prayers for me and the staff. And for the band. I called each of them before the email went out on Wednesday and their hearts are broken. I’m not a musician, but I know that a special bond is created when people make beautiful music together.
AJ loved The Water’s Edge. He wants us to continue to prevail by being faithful to each other and faithful to God. Let’s join to together in doing this.
In Christ-
Craig