Together, We Did It!

It wasn’t a huge idea really. It wasn’t even the most interesting idea I heard that week. But there was something that excited me about the thought...What if we raised money to build a well as a community on this website? What if a community of people who believe that the Church is ALIVE proved it by doing something good for the world? $5,000 seemed like a lot of money, but the excitement of the moment floated the goal into an expectation.

And with that, the Water Project began.

When we launched the water campaign Ninety-One days ago, it was Ash Wednesday. Looking back, it seemed like perfect timing. Throughout the Lenten/Easter seasons we heard amazing stories and reflections of wise, passionate, and inspiring people from all over the country. But ninety days is a long time, and it is especially a long time to keep one's attention. Anyone who knows me knows that it's tough to get me to focus for even five minutes! Yet these past ninety days consumed me. Even more amazingly, the words, donations, and actions of this online community made it clear that this campaign to build a well for a needy population has consumed "us." It has been a surreal journey, but a journey that not only united us as a community, but will also join us with another community somewhere in the world.

12-18 months from now, charity: water will send us - and all of you - pictures and GPS coordinates pinpointing the construction site of a brand-new fresh water well. Granted, 12-18 from now seems like a long time! But when I think about the community that is going to receive the well, 12-18 months that cannot come soon enough! A community that has yet to see the first drops of clean water waits in anticipation to watch water gush from the earth. In 12-18 months we will officially join in the promise of clean water, of new life with a community somewhere in the world. They will not be mere recipients of the well, but will be part of our narrative and part of our community, just as we will be part of theirs. Great moments do not occur solely because of good ideas, but rather when people unite behind ideas to do something great. Indeed, this community - the Church is ALIVE community - has clung together over the past ninety days to do something great! Thank you, each of you, for your work!

YOU have done something great. Together, we made the world a better place. 12-18 months from now, we will join our celebrations with another community's celebrations somewhere as we observe the construction of a clean water well!

Thank you. Together, you have made it clear: the Church is indeed alive and well!