Year in Review - 2010
2010 Key Highlights
Our second year of ministry was a year of growing vision and operation. Even now, we are excited about what God has in store for us in 2011. However, before we leave 2010 behind, we believe there is much to celebrate as we remember and see what the support of our Board and sacrificial donors allowed us to accomplish in 2010. But make no mistake, all of these things were truly made possible by the grace of God. We are thankful to have such a good, generous and visionary God as our leader. To Him belongs all praise, honor and glory.
Here are a few of the highlights from 2010:
In 2010 we...
Grew.
This year we were thrilled to add two full-time team members even in a tough economy. Natalie Gibbs joined us in April to help organize and run our US based operations. She has been an incredible asset coordinating water projects, partner reports and fundraising efforts. We ask her to wear a lot of hats and we've found they all seem to fit!
At the end of this year we recruited Andrew Gurkin from Kolkata to manage our India operations as our first India Outcomes Control Supervisor. Currently he is helping us redesign our water programs in India. We will be taking a more intentional approach with the local church and community involvement. This will bring a whole new meaning to our Adopt a Village platform. Stay tuned!
Got Radical.
In January we kicked off the year in the villages of India with David Platt and other leadership from The Church at Brook Hills. In April we were excited to officially partner with this radical faith family to provide approximately 40,000 people clean and living water through the local church. It's been incredible to go back and visit these villages and see how the local church is meeting one of their most basic - clean water! The Radical Experiment projects will be complete by the end of first quarter 2011.
Funded.
Our first full year of operations was a year of learning and partnership development. This year we focused on funding over 140 projects in three countries - India, Sudan and Central African Republic. This is just the beginning and God is already growing our vision for 2011.
Launched.
One of our desires from the beginning was to communicate what God was doing around the world in compelling and meaningful ways. In spring of 2010 we hired a firm out of Virginia to begin our website design and launch out in a new direction with our interactive Adopt a Village campaign. In September, 2010 we went live and have seen online giving increase 195% year over year and more than 30 groups start their own Adopt a Village online campaign in four months.
Traveled.
We found ourselves in India and Sudan six different times in 2010 with photographers, doctors and pastors. It was a thrill to visit new and old projects and to hear the stories of the local church making headway in areas without the gospel. Some of the sweetest times are visiting with friends we've made over these past years and to see the difference clean water and the gospel has made in their family's life. Thank you for allowing us to serve our friends.
Partied.
We were overwhelmed at individuals and groups who wanted to throw a party, a concert, garage sale or sell hot cocoa to raise funds for clean and living water. We always wind down the year with a big party in October and this year was our best. Serving clean water from our ‘water bar‘, selling puzzle pieces to build a well, walking 40ft with two 40lbs of water in jerry cans, laughing with friend Henry Cho and praise music from two of our favorites - Mandi Mapes and Steven Sivley. We couldn't have had a better time with Neverthirst friends and supporters!
Praised God.
None of this could have been possible without your prayers, support and encouragement. We have thanked and praised God this year for your help, for your friendship and how the we have seen you come together to help the church living in extremely difficult circumstances. Thank you for 2010 and allowing God to use your family for incredible acts of mercy.
Have a great New Year - May God be gracious to you, bless you and make His face to shine on you in 2011 - so that His name would be great in all the earth and His salvation spread to all nations.
Psalm 67:1-2
Spencer and Mark
