“Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen:
to loose the chains of injustice
and untie the cords of the yoke,
to set the oppressed free
and break every yoke?”
Isaiah 58

The Davis 1000 Wells Project Team believes that we have been called to support the efforts of Blood:Water Mission to build 1000 clean water wells in 1000 African communities. One aspect of our campaign is raising money—funds that will go directly to our brothers and sisters in Africa. The other, just as important, component of this project is raising awareness and inspiring action amongst our friends on the UC Davis campus and the greater Davis community. We are stronger when we work in community, and we know that participation in this project will change lives– men, women, children in Africa, and every day people here in Davis, California.

During our campaign, the Davis 1000 Wells Project team plunges into the dollar campaign to gain support from students and faculty on campus, patrons at the Farmer’s Market, and church members around the community. The vast majority of the proceeds in our campaign, however, come from those who participate in the Two Weeks of Sacrifice. The challenge is to make water your only beverage for two weeks, and then donate money you would have otherwise spent on coffee, tea, juice, milk, soda, etc, to the 1000 Wells Project to provide clean water for African men, women, and children.

As students, we don’t tend to have a lot of extra cash around, which can make it difficult to part with what little we may have. That’s the beauty of the Two Weeks of Sacrifice– by giving up the luxury of coffee or Coke, we are freer to share our resources with our brothers and sisters in need. We may even begin to appreciate the taste of our Davis water! We also want to encourage you, as it is written in Luke, to be faithful in what you have to give: "He who is faithful in a very little thing is faithful also in much” (Luke 16:10). When we put even small dollar amounts to good use for God’s kingdom, we are exercising faith and building trust for when, hopefully, one day we actually have jobs and income! When you participate in the Two Weeks of Sacrifice, you can be sure that every dollar you donate towards the project will make a difference in the life of an African national. In Matthew 25, Jesus tells us that whatever we do for the least of our brothers and sisters, we do for Him. God created this world in His perfection; the injustice of today is the result of our failure to uphold His righteousness. We are responsible to work toward that justice, and we have the power, the resources, and I believe, the love to do so. Please join us in faith as we serve God through His children, our brothers and sisters, in Africa.

Go deeper:

1. Join us for the Two Weeks of Sacrifice!
2. Encourage your Bible study or fellowship to be a part of the Two Weeks of Sacrifice as a group.
3. Help us to better partner with your Christian fellowship to bring clean water and God’s heart to our thirsty family in Africa.