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Wells of Living Water

Most of us know the story of the woman at the well. It is about Jesus encountering a Samaritan woman who is drawing water from a deep well during the hottest part of the day. Jacob’s well, located near a town called Sychar in Samaria, is the place where Jesus explains the importance of living water to the woman, who then goes and tells the entire town that Jesus is the Messiah. After, many come to believe in him.

Visitors to the Holy Land may be surprised to learn that the very same well where the woman drew water still exists today. It is located within a Greek Orthodox church where visitors can drop a metal cup many feet down, and then drink cool, refreshing water. It is amazing to think that this same well where Jesus drank still offers travelers a drink today.

Of course, in the biblical account, Jesus is teaching about eternal life. For many people living in poverty, a well is an amazing gift that changes everything about daily life in the here and now. A well provides clean, dependable drinking water, as well as water that can be used to cook, clean, and bathe. The difference in a village that receives a well is like night and day.

Women and girls no longer spend hours each day fetching water, often from a contaminated source. Instead, girls can attend school. There is less illness among children, and everyone has more energy because they are not dehydrated. Quality of life improves as less time is focused on undependable water sources, and more effort can be given to bettering village life.

More and more humanitarian organizations focus on drilling wells in areas that need it most because they provide dependable, clean water and can last for many, many years—maybe even centuries!

When people spend less time just surviving, they have more time to hear the Good News. That’s why many Christian organizations understand the importance of meeting the overwhelming physical need for water before they offer the spiritual truths about living water.

Perhaps you or your church could consider sponsoring a well in a village. It is so much more than a convenience. It truly changes the lives of so many people—and offers the opportunity to share about living water.