USA (MNN) ― The commercialism and greed of the shopping season surrounding the holidays have provoked a unique response in believers. More and more Christians are joining the "Advent Conspiracy" to be a part of the solution.
Two years ago, a group of pastors identified consumerism as the biggest threat to the American church. Ironically, it creates the largest distraction at a time when people should be focused on Jesus Christ.
The point of the Advent Conspiracy is to help align with Christ, worshipping Him in a holistic way. Believers decided to change their spending habits at Christmas, avoid the commercialism, and give relationally -- the way Christ modeled for us through His gift of Himself.
The pastors took the money they saved and gave it to Living Water International so that desperate communities could have the gift of clean water.
Living Water's Jerry Wiles says, "It was a partnership with Living Water International. In 2006, with four churches, it was around $300,000 they raised. They more than doubled it the next year, and there was more than a thousand churches involved last year. It has really grown, and I think that the momentum is going to continue to build."
Last year, those thousand churches banded together and gave three million dollars to the neediest people across the globe. Money given by advent conspirators is still funding wells in Liberia, Peru, India, Sudan, and Sierra Leone.
Wiles observes that "one dollar provides clean water for one person for one year. That's a pretty good return on your investment when you consider the desperate need and the fact that clean water is the most basic physical need. That opens the door for a demonstration of the love of Christ and the living water of the Gospel."
Here's how the Advent Conspiracy is being used this year. 30 deep wells are in process of being drilled in Mount Barklay, Liberia, ending the entire region's water problem. An estimated 25,000 people in the immediate area will be served.
Before the new wells, communities would utilize creeks, mudholes, swamps and the river for drinking water. Living Water is working closely with community development organizations, and clean water has proven to be a mighty access into the heart of each village.
School attendance immediately increased once the well was drilled at the school. Instead of kids bringing their dirty water to school, they are currently bringing empty jerry cans to school with them -- so they can bring clean water back home. Some of the chiefs are in a state of wonder -- it seems to them that all of heaven has opened up for their villages in the last few months.
Living Water is also working in partnership with AC to rehabilitate/repair 350 broken/open-top wells in Liberia. On average, one repaired hand-pump or well rehab restores water to approximately 1,000 people.
In Peru, 10 new wells are in progress in Peru. LWI Peru is reaching native tribes along the Amazon River -- communities that can only be reached by boat, days along the river. Local pastors are working alongside drilling crews in every community.
Living Water India, in partnership with a church from AC, has drilled two wells in India.
In Southern Sudan, Living Water is in-process of
25 well repairs/rehabs. Anticipated
funding will be used to repair wells in Haiti and Sierra Leone. Click here if you want details on the Advent
Conspiracy.
