Advent in Action is here! Once again the family of Bethel Church is choosing to celebrate Christmas by spending less and giving more. The United States spends an estimated $130,000,000,000.00 a year each Christmas. What we are choosing to do is to buy one less present and take that money and redirect it toward a life-change opportunity.
Specifically, Bethel Church is working with Master’s Heart Ministries to improve the lives of men and women and boys and girls living in Sodwana, South Africa and Gondola, Mozambique. Working with the local church in those communities, clean water brings credibility to their message of love in the name of Jesus within those communities. Wells and sanitation improvements are being researched and planned for the coming year with an average cost of about $1,500.00 per well. Each well serves up to 300 people.
Throughout the world, 1.8 million people die every year from water-borne illness. This means that 3,900 children will die today because of contaminated water. In Sodwana, South Africa, women spend the entire day fetching water for their families and the average person drinks less than one glass of water per day. Dr. Kari Sikkink, a Bethel member who has been there several times tells one story of a little girl who suffers from worms in her intestines because the water is so unclean. Taking medicine does not ultimately help because the water she drinks to take the medicine continues to be contaminated. Too many suffer with similar medical conditions.
In partnership with Master’s Heart Ministries we are researching and planning how we can best invest in two local communities to make disciples of Jesus. The local church is excited to work with Master’s Heart as a living witness to the love of Jesus expressed through clean water and community development. Our commitment is that 100% of the funds raised will be used to invest in local communities to improve water source, sanitation, and transportation in partnership with local resources and the local church.
During the month of December all of Bethel Church’s worship venues will be hosting an opportunity for you to give toward clean water in these African communities. Just look for the big white box with the red bow on top. Also, you may give online right now.
If we all give a little, it adds up to a lot! Your gift of $40, $100, or $1,000 will go a long way toward providing clean water and a way to build relationships with people for the gospel of Jesus Christ. In December last year the Bethel Church family raised $67,000.00 for water wells, and we would love to reach far past that this year.