Water is Life

A village 13 hours from the World Hope office in Sierra Leone received both clean water and the true water of life through the Jesus film! 

Because water is life, one community in rural Sierra Leone chose to sacrifice the lives of some in the hopes of saving the many.  Desperate for clean water they sacrificed young girls in an attempt to appease the gods and win their favour, but the clean water never came. 

For generations, the only available source of water was on a distant rocky hill requiring a 3-hour long trek over dangerous terrain. This led to tragic outcomes, including miscarriages, injuries, and widespread waterborne disease. The chief himself fled to a nearby country due to this crisis.  

After 20 years the chief returned to his village and continued to seek help getting access to clean water with no success. However, WHI’s intervention finally brought clean water to the community. 

Hope Flows

Initially skeptical, the chief was astonished when water flowed after the installation of the deep borehole well, leading to a spontaneous celebration. He testified that only God, the Creator of heaven and earth, not the devil could provide such a blessing. This community now has clean, life-giving, life-saving water, which is restoring hope and dignity. Children are no longer being sacrificed in an attempt to appease the gods. 

Living Hope

The village and surrounding communities are predominantly Muslim, with Christians making up less than 1% of the population. Our team offered to show the Jesus film, given the story that was shared by the chief, and received permission. Showing the Jesus Film can put our team at risk of physical harm, but they felt led by the Spirit of God to do so. They did not hesitate; and believed God was already ahead of them. Watching the Bible story come to life and hearing Jesus speak in their own language was deeply moving for the community. Many gave their lives to Christ.  

Early in the morning after the Muslim prayer, the chief gathered his family and started questioning them about the film they had watched. “What have you learned?” One of his wives said that according to the film, Jesus is the only one to believe in. One of his sons said that the film teaches that we should not do bad things to others, and the younger wife replied, that you should love one another and do good to those who hate you. After the meeting with the family, he summoned the elders of the community to affirm all that he heard.  

New Life

The next day, the Jesus film team screened the discipleship film, Walking with Jesus. Esther, a member of the Jesus film team went house to house to visit community members. She met women preparing food and joined them. While helping them, she spoke of the love of God and encouraged them to believe in him. They said they understood that they should worship God, Jesus Christ, who came to die for their sins. One young woman said that she believed in Jesus when she finished watching the film. She also expressed fear because her father is a native doctor who believes in the devil’s works, and she is afraid that he will hear that his daughter is now a Christian. 

Esther encouraged her that she need not fear because the One in you is greater than the one in the world.  

The transformation in the village has been so profound that the community later formally requested WHI to play the Jesus Film in the neighbouring village, so they too can hear about Jesus.  

West Africa Country Director, Grace, shared, “This is truly a miracle! Is this not wonderful? How God is moving through the synergy of all of us serving in different parts of His vineyard from Canada to Sierra Leone. Thank you for being part of this story of redemption and transformation. May God continue to use you and all our partners to bring light where there was darkness, and life where there was despair.” 

This blog was written collaboratively by World Hope International Canada’s staff team.