Metro Voice News Celebrating Faith, Family & Community
More than 400.000 residents of Kibera, Kenya, now have access to clean drinking water. The Bucket Ministry, a nonprofit committed to sharing God’s love through the gift of clean water, has completed a five-year effort to provide generational access to safe drinking water and the love of Jesus to the poor suburb of Nairobi.
Through the efforts of 100 local Kenyan missionaries, the ministry distributed more than 81,000 filters and conducted follow-up visits with each recipient, ensuring water filters were properly maintained and building relationships to share the gospel message and disciple individuals. Over the past five years, the local missionary team has shared the gospel more than 500,000 times, experienced 21,000 professions of faith and conducted 1,400 baptisms in Kibera.
“Today is a celebration of hope given to more than 400,000 individuals living in Kibera,” said Christopher Beth, founder of The Bucket Ministry. “Our team of missionaries answered God’s call to serve their neighbors and because of that, lives have been changed both physically and spiritually. I’m in awe of how God continues to use ordinary people for his rescue mission.”
Kibera is characterized by poverty, overcrowding and inadequate access to basic services. The slum has no running water, no permanent electricity, no social services and only 78 public latrines. Kibera’s residents living among open sewers and piles of garbage are highly susceptible to health hazards, many of which can lead to death. The filters distributed by The Bucket Ministry provide up to 20-plus years of clean, safe, drinking water.
“Diarrheal disease is preventable, and yet it remains the third-leading cause of death in children under 5 years old,” Beth aid. “While those of us living in the developed world rarely think about the safety of our water, it is a life-or-death reality in places like Kibera.”
The majority of the Kibera local missionary team now are preparing to begin filter distribution in the neighboring slum of Kawangware. The Bucket Ministry is actively assessing the slum and estimates that more than 700,000 individuals live in Kawangware. Water filter distributions will begin in January.
“Our mission is for everyone in the world to have access to clean water and the life-giving news of the gospel of Jesus,” Beth said. “We are committed to seeing this mission to completion.”
–Alan Goforth
