Featured Friends - Sturgis Wesleyan Church

World Hope International thrives through partnerships with volunteers, donors, and other members of our extended team. Together these friends make our work possible. Pastor Matthew Deprez of Sturgis Wesleyan Church in Sturgis, MI, tells the story of how his church was moved to help provide clean drinking water to the people of Zambia.

I first heard about digging wells for impoverished people in Africa at a conference a few months ago. I was stirred by the statistics of the African people who don’t have the basic necessities that we take for granted. As a result, I made a challenge to our youth group here at the church to think about raising money for a well in Zambia, Africa. Much to my surprise, some teens had already been thinking about doing something like this!

We decided to commit for a year to building a well in Zambia. The cost of the well was $3,500.00, so we knew we needed to ask God to put His blessing upon this journey. And bless it He did! In the last month, I have seen two twelve year olds in the youth group give over $100.00 each, and have seen kids realize what sacrificial living is all about! In just over a two month period, we have raised just shy of $3,000.00! It’s incredible to see how God works in the hearts of people! At first we committed to doing just one well for the year, but now we will be able to bless the people of Africa so much more!

Now our church is teaming up with the youth group, and we’re raising money to sponsor an entire village in Zambia!

Matthew Deprez
Pastor of Student Ministries
Sturgis Wesleyan Church - Sturgis, Michigan

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