Welcome to Advent Impact!
Advent Impact is a new website dedicated to supporting ministries around the world. We are just getting started, but we are excited to see the Lord lead, and the positive response we have received from ministries. Please come back soon as the site will develop quickly.
Not only are we a church planting ministry, working at establishing new groups of believers where there are no churches, we also build churches. When funding allows, we look for opportunities to build churches to give congregations in Central America a place to gather and worship the Creator. Through a team of staff, volunteers, lots of prayers and the generous support of many donors we are able to help grow God's kingdom! In this photo several volunteers are helping us to place concrete pillars in place as part of a prefabricated concrete construction system. Large blocks, with tongues on their edges are then slid down between the pillars from the top. Almost like a walled fence. An interesting system and just one step towards constructing a beautiful church for the community. Sign up for our free digital magazine on our website. Visit www.wingsoflife.net to subscribe to our magazine (sent via email) and read the testimonies from the frontlines!
In an overcast and rainy village where laughter faded due to 50 years without water, a thrilling adventure began as Water for Life rolled into town! Armed with a mighty drilling rig ready to strike gold… or rather, fresh water! The villagers helped and gazed upon the process as the machine roared to life, as pipes danced with muddy excitement. After days of thrilling twists and turns, a gush of crystal-clear water erupted—smiles erupted too! This life-changing well now brings joy, health, and hope to all. But the mission’s not over—more villages need this magic! Join us! Your generous support can fuel more rigs, more water, more smiles. Donate today at guatemalawells.com and be part of this splash-tastic journey! Together, we're quenching thousands of Guatemalans thirst, one well at a time!
Bibles and Wells: Quenching Thirst in Guatemala
At every Water for Life well dedication in Guatemala, people come for a bible. Here at a recent event two boys sat together, their eyes glued to a Bible they’d just received. People from surrounding villages had gathered, not just for the fresh water flowing from the new well, but for these cherished books. Water for Life drills wells to bring clean water to remote communities, yet the Bibles handed out at these celebrations spark a different kind of excitement. Villagers, hungry for hope, walk miles to receive them, eager to explore God’s word. Just as the well’s clear water revives weary bodies, these Bibles offer truth that refreshes the soul—steady and life-giving. Together, they meet deep needs: one sustains health, the other nourishes faith. Water for Life’s mission delivers both, inviting everyone to drink deeply from physical and spiritual renewal. Join us to keep this hope flowing! www.guatemalawells.com
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A gentle breeze stirred the dust as the wheels on the bus went round and round. The big yellow dental bus equipped with solar panels, dental chairs, equipment and volunteers rumbled into the small village nestled among rolling green hills. Children ran while giggling with anticipation at this unusual sight. You could see mothers and fathers peeked through doorways, and others waited with excitement shining in their eyes. From the bus door stepped volunteers—dentists, and helpers—greeted by grateful villagers eager for relief from their aching teeth and the simple joys that came with kind faces from faraway places. This is a huge event that most have never witnessed before.
Water for Life’s presence has already transformed the landscape. Thanks to donors who believed in providing clean water, a new well stood at the heart of the village, ensuring fresh water flowed year-round. With the well in place, the focus could shift to another vital need: accessible dental care.
Throughout the day, villagers lined up, talking quietly among themselves, relieved they would no longer suffer through nights of throbbing tooth pain. Children marveled at free toothbrushes, and mothers praised the gentle hands that eased their children’s fears. It was work well done as volunteers stepped off the bus, with big smiles despite long days that pass quickly, their hearts were full.
It was more than providing relief—it about forging connections, lifting spirits, and offering lasting hope and support. You can learn more or get involved by visiting WFL at www.guatemalawells.com
From One Child to an Entire Community: The Founder of Water for Life
Twenty years ago, Gary Bartholomew traveled to Guatemala with a heart full of hope and nervous excitement. He was there to finalize the adoption of a young girl, a child whose bright smile contrasted sharply with the harsh realities of her impoverished village. During the adoption process, He witnessed firsthand how difficult it was for families to access clean water, often relying on shallow, contaminated wells. This poignant experience marked the beginning of his life’s mission: to bring safe, sustainable water to the people of Guatemala.
In the early days, Gary worked from home and took them short annual trips, coordinating everything from fundraising to equipment purchases. It was a humble start, defined by long nights and countless sacrifices. He poured his time, talents, and treasures into what would eventually become Water for Life. He had a well drilling background in the USA, and an unwavering belief: every human being deserves clean water. If he had done nothing, the 50,000 people today who have clean, sustainable water would still be drinking from contaminated sources. As it has been said, "Faith without works is dead." Having faith in God to provide resources and open doors has opened his eyes and heart in many ways. This is another story of God coming to the aid of one, who in faith moves forward. So go God be all the Praise!
As with any journey it was not without challenges. Teams of volunteers that were drilling wells faced tough terrain, faulty supplies and unpredictable weather. Funding was a concern, and setbacks easily threatened to stall progress. Still, Gary's vision of saving lives through clean water propelled him forward. He leaned on volunteers, fellow comrades in the well drilling industry, and local communities for support. In time, these partnerships blossomed into a network of advocates, donors, and technical experts who still believe in Water for Life’s potential.
Today, Water for Life stands as a testament to what determination and compassion can achieve. What began as a single act of love in an adoption has blossomed into a global initiative touching thousands of lives. Gary's story is one of unyielding generosity—giving time, talent, and treasure to ensure that children and families continue to have water for life!
Every day in the jungle of Guatemala women walk muddy trails, and dusty roads with their empty jugs, to seek muddy streams often a few miles away. They rise before dawn, travel mid day and afternoons with their children for decades. When they hear of an opportunity to have clean water, prayers for relief echo through these little homes, each voice longing for living water in more ways than one. When the new well arrives, it feels like an answer straight from heaven. What some might take for granted, they partake with gratitude. Clear, cool water flows giving strength and hope. During celebrations and days to follow families gather with laughter as children and adults alike taste fresh water for the first time. With hearts brimming with faith, they praise the Lord who always shows up, right on time.
For fifty years, families endured:
Contaminated streams
Unreliable sources
Endless sickness
Heartbreak
But a new well promises hope, turning despair into celebration. Children dance under the bright sun, picturing safe drinking water and radiant futures. Elderly faces soften with relief, knowing grandchildren will never share the same struggle. This precious gift restores health and unity. To every supporter of Water for Life, your kindness has woven more than water into these lives; it has renewed faith and possibility. Thank you for uplifting this community and granting them a fresh, life-giving flow of hope and prosperity.
Collaboration truly makes the dream—and the team—work. At a recent well dedication, we witnessed how unified efforts can bring positive change. Gary received a letter of recommendation and a big “Thanks!” from the local government for this special project, which was different from our usual community-led initiative. Here, the government partnered with Water for Life to provide a desperately needed well, and officials were thrilled with the outcome. We’ve formed lasting friendships and partnerships that will continue to flourish, and we believe nothing done for good is ever wasted. We celebrate every opportunity to bring clean water—and the blessings it provides—to mothers, babies, and families for generations to come.
New to Water for Life? Want to get involved?
Visit www.guatemalawells.com to learn more about how you can be part of this transformative work.
Share our story with friends and family to help us connect even more communities to clean water.
In the small Guatemalan village, the sound of laughter and prayer filled the air as families gathered around the newly drilled well. Men, women, children paused to offer their thanks to God during the dedication, blessing the fresh water for safe and abundant use. Leaders from Water for Life, the local village, and the Government were all moved with deep gratitude for this vital resource as well as the free bibles that were given. Although everyone was eager to fill their containers, no one dared lift a drop until the water was committed to the Lord with this dedication. After the ribbon is cut, and carefully given to each participant that was vital for this well to be drilled, the villagers drink, children and women first. They are all smiles.
The celebration was vibrant and reverent. Each dedication is different, however there is always an effort into decorating the water source. Joy seems to be in the breeze, bearing witness to the happiness that radiated from each face. We walked the winding path with a few children and an adult to the old, unclean water source. It was then we really understood the difference a new well will make. The half-mile trek through swampy terrain and cow pastures had proven challenging even without carrying heavy buckets. When the season is dry another source was over a mile away.
Clean water means fewer people will fall ill from contaminated water sources. Entire communities felt relief and renewed hope as gratitude poured forth for the countless hands and hearts that worked together to provide such a transformative gift.
The miracle at the well
by Sudha Ravichandran
Mrs. Selvarani, a Hindu, first came to the Attur Seventh-day Adventist Church in Tamil Nadu, India, with severe knee pain and a deep wound on her thumb that refused to heal. Despite trying various remedies, she had found no relief. We prayed earnestly for her during the church service, asking God for healing.
One day, a few of us decided to visit her home in the village of Selliyampalayam. Her faith was strong, and she trusted in the prayers. To our amazement, the wound on her thumb had healed completely, and her knee pain had disappeared. Mrs. Selvarani began walking to church every week, fully healed and full of joy, but the miracles didn’t stop there.
Mrs. Selvarani’s family depends on agriculture for their livelihood, and now they faced another challenge—the well in their yard had dried up completely, leaving their crops at risk, especially during the harsh summer month of May. Desperate, Mrs. Selvarani came to the church once again, requesting prayer. This time she brought a bottle of water and asked if we would pray over it. We prayed with faith, believing that God could provide water for their crops.
Mrs. Selvarani took that prayed-over water and poured it into the dry well. In what can only be described as a divine miracle, the dried-up well started to fill with water! Even during the peak of summer, the well provided enough water for their gardens to thrive, and they enjoyed an abundant harvest.
Filled with gratitude for the way God has moved in her life, Mrs. Selvarani has decided to fully give her life to Christ. She is preparing to be baptized, a decision that brings great joy to heaven and to all of us at the Attur Seventh-day Adventist Church. Please pray that Mrs. Selvarani’s family will also accept Jesus and follow Him.
Sudha Ravichandran, a Gospel Outreach Bible worker, writes from Tamil Nadu in southern India.
A Step of Faith: Bringing Clean Water to Those in Need
Imagine walking 1, 2 or as much as 5 miles to fetch dirty water? With only one option families in Guatemala do what they have always done to survive. It’s a heartbreaking reality for many families around the world. But by God's grace, through the power of prayer, the generosity of donors, and the tireless effort of all involved, we’ve been able to bring new hope to these communities in Guatemala with a life-changing solution.
Thanks to a recent project, we've installed a new style of well pump that makes accessing clean water a reality for so many. It’s a joy to witness children, often accompanied by their parents, working together to draw fresh, clean water from a well that can be hundreds of feet deep. What once was a sometimes grueling task has now become something far easier—an incredible blessing in their daily lives.
This new water pump doesn't just bring access to clean water—it brings life. By providing a consistent source of safe water, we’re helping to reduce the spread of illness and lower mortality rates. In many ways, we’re witnessing a shift from the dread of long, exhausting walks to the smiles of children and families now able to drink freely without fear of sickness.
A transformation like this is possible because we have amazing givers. With each donation, you are not only giving the gift of water—you’re giving the gift of health, hope, and life itself. As Christians, we’re called to love and serve our neighbors, and your contribution can make a lasting impact in the lives of those who need it most. We are grateful for your prayers and your generosity. With each new well, we are seeing God’s love at work. Together we can continue to spread that love to those in desperate need.
Will you join us in bringing the gift of clean water to those who need it most? Every donation, no matter the size, makes a profound difference.
You can learn more at www.guatemalawells.com
Health fairs are an important way for our team to get to know people and help them assess their health condition. We then provide information on how they can make simple lifestyle choices to improve their lives. This picture was from our first health fair of 2025. We had very good interest from the community and many contacts were made. At the end of the health fair, participants were asked what other community programs would interest them. Guess what the top two requests were? 1. Healthy cooking 2. Bible seminar.
On the front lines of mission work, in communities where there is no established church, our community bible workers aim to follow Christ's method. Come close to the people through poverty relief initiatives and tangible service. Help in the area of personal health. Then look for spiritual interests and begin Bible studies once trust is established. God continues to open up doors. Please keep our entire team in prayer this year as we continue to bring the light of God to spiritually dark homes and communities in Central America.