Blood:Water Mission
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Blood:Water Mission is a non-profit organization founded by the members of the Christian band Jars of Clay, to promote clean blood and clean water efforts in Africa, tangibly reducing the impact of the HIV/AIDS pandemic while addressing the underlying issues of poverty, injustice and oppression. Blood:Water Mission is building clean water wells, supporting medical facilities, and focusing on community and worldview transformation in America and Africa.
Blood:Water also believes in pressing inward, in building relationships and bridges with communities in Africa.
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[edit] History
In 2002, Jars of Clay's lead singer, Dan Haseltine visited Africa. He returned with a vision for clean blood and clean water in Africa -- blood free of HIV and water free of parasites and bacteria.[1]
Jars of Clay's audiences (mainly comprised of young American Christians) provided them with an opportunity. They believed that through bringing the crisis to the minds and hearts of Americans and through presenting opportunities to make a positive impact in Africa, lives would be transformed both in Africa and in America.
Blood:Water Mission, was created and committed itself to clean blood and clean water to fight HIV/AIDS, to build clean water wells in Africa, to support medical facilities caring for the sick, and to make a lasting impact in Africa.
Within the first three months of work, Blood:Water Mission began 42 new water projects in eight different African countries, providing clean water for 37,000 Africans. It also helped fund a new hospice focused on HIV/AIDS care in Cape Town, South Africa. [2]
[edit] 1000 Wells Project
The 1000 Wells Project is Blood:Water Mission's main project, which calls individuals in the United States to donate one dollar each for Africa.
Jars of Clay and other artists (Christopher Williams, Derek Webb) have been raising funds for the 1000 Wells Project during their concerts since 2005. Schools, colleges and universities are organizing fundraising events to adopt a community in need of a well. Some churches are encouraging people to give up spending money on all beverages other than water during the Lent season, and donating the saved funds to the 1000 Wells Project. Several corporations are giving matching grants to the dollars raised during the campaign period. The campaign's success is based on the participation from thousands of individuals across the country who will go into their own communities to raise dollars for clean water in Africa.
The 1000 Wells Project is building 1000 wells and clean water projects in 1000 African communities. Businesses, churches, schools, artists and individuals are collecting funds so they can sponsor the construction of wells in Africa. During the process, they are learning about how HIV/AIDS affects African communities.
With the September 2006 release of their newest album, Good Monsters, Jars of Clay has partnered with The Global Water Challenge and the Coca Cola Company to donate $1.00 for each of the first 100,000 copies of Good Monsters sold. Funds raised will go toward the provision of clean water in Africa. [3]
According to the organization's website, "a well can cost from $1,500-$15,000 USD based on factors including soil condition, water table depth, climate, and proximity to services. We give $3000 as a general cost because a majority of our projects tend to be rural hand pump wells in the $1,500-$5,000 range."
[edit] Quotes
"It is indeed great that Blood:Water Mission has once again done it for the poor faces they have not seen. These are all fruits of your meekness and love to us. Thank you again. You are deeply rooted in my heart and I lack words to express our gratitude. I'll be visiting the two groups over the weekend to pass the message to them about their new wells." — Benjamin O'yoo (GWAKO, Kisumu, Kenya)
"Since the introduction of a well into our community, our stomach problems have completely disappeared." — Member of Bina Community (Kisumu, Kenya)
"As a fan, I don't think anyone has had a bigger voice than the activists in Jars of Clay." — Bono of U2
"Clean water is a powerful way to begin a large scale conversation about AIDS. The 1000 Wells Project is a simple campaign that has very little controversy surrounding it. It is difficult to argue whether or not a person should have clean water. It is also difficult to deny the equation: $1= clean water for 1 person for 1 year. And it is vital that the church begin to build relationships with African communities. When a well is built, a conversation is started, a relationship between the church and the community benefiting from the project begins. This is the seed of a worldview shift. This is what excites us about this project." — Dan Haseltine of Jars of Clay
"The crisis in Africa is difficult to translate to those of us living in the states. Our hearts do not know where to begin. Of the greatest accomplishments of Bloodwater Mission has been their ability to sort through the chaos to match provision with need. Clean water prevents many diseases that can prove fatal to a person suffering from AIDS. Clean water, then, guards clean blood. The simple gift of a dollar provides invaluable clean water for one African for One year. Our calling, then, is to give from our undeserved provision into their undeserved need. In doing so, we participate in the search and rescue mission God is orchestrating in this fallen world." — Donald Miller (author)
[edit] Related topics
[edit] Notes and references
- ^ http://www.bloodwatermission.com/?em1204=43910
- ^ http://www.cccu.org/news/parentNav.Feature,newsID.392/news_detail.asp
- ^ http://www.bloodwatermission.com/?em1204=43910&em1205=43926&em1206=86957/
