“Those who give one of these little ones a cup of cold water because they are my followers will truly get their reward.”
Matthew 10:42 NCV
Bethel Worship Center and World Christian Outreach Ministries joined together on
a project to provide a water well in Luanda, Kenya. This is an area where Lloyd Middleton,
a beloved brother of our church, ministered on several missionary trips. Lloyd went
home to be with the Lord in February 2006.
After his passing the Holy Spirit whispered into my heart the memory of several of the stories that Lloyd told following some of his missionary journeys. One of these stories was about a well that was drilled that was named after one of the people on the trip who had worked to provide the funds for the well. Lloyd told of his great desire to provide a well that would be named after him. He was a little embarrassed about this, but all of us who knew Lloyd’s heart knew how much he loved the people and his desire to meet their spiritual and physical needs. He was especially touched by the children who called him “Baboo,” which means grandfather in Swahili.
In the summer of 2007, we began the work to secure a water well in Luanda, Kenya,
in honor of Lloyd. Because of God’s love in Lloyd’s heart and his passion to serve,
we continued this beautiful legacy of love, which represents the love that Christ
shows for all people.
The well was completed in September 2008 and dedicated on November 17, 2008. This
hand dug well provides plenty of good pure water to the families and children of
the Luanda area and is a tremendous blessing to them. Through the contributions and
the work of Dr. Rahamut, we have been able to “give a cup of water in Jesus’ name”
to these people. During the trip when the well was dedicated, three hundred people
were saved at an altar service.
It seems a little surreal that our church’s name and the name of Lloyd Middleton are on the monument erected at the site of the well. The most important part is that the clean water will provide a healthy source of water (that is readily available) to these people and disease will be reduced because of it. Thank you all so much for making this gift of love a reality.