BLUEFIELD, Va.—“Every time you take a sip of clean water, someone dies of unclean water somewhere in the world.” That’s the statement that stirs the heart of Bluefield College student J.D. Taylor.
So much so, he’s doing something about it through the help of Charity Water, a non-profit organization designed to bring clean, safe drinking water to underprivileged people in developing countries. In fact, Taylor is challenging the community of Baptist-affiliated Bluefield College to join him in the cause.
J.D.Taylor on one of his many missions around the world. (Bluefield College photo)
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For as long as he can remember, Taylor, a rising senior biology major who plans to attend medical school, has had a passion for missions and ministry. He has served on mission projects in South Africa, Namibia, Peru, Italy and New York City. He also has participated in street evangelism, after-school programs, praise and worship gatherings and other service projects through his church and college.
Lately, it’s Charity Water Taylor has been sinking his passion into. After hearing during a leadership conference about the plight of people without clean water in villages around the world, Taylor discovered Charity Water.
Charity Water funds a range of water technologies, including hand-dug wells, drilled wells, rehabilitations, spring protections, rainwater catchments and BioSand filters. To date, the charity has funded 6,185 projects, providing clean water to more than 2.5 million people in villages, clinics, schools and other facilities around the world.
And, according to Charity Water, a clean water project in a village provides more than safe drinking water. It protects people from disease and gives them freedom to change their community. Diseases from unsafe water kill more people every year than any form of violence. In Africa alone, people spend 40 billion hours every year walking for clean water.
“Having such a profound impact on not only a village’s water system, but their hygiene, life expectancy, income, educational opportunities and overall standard of living is a chance very few people get,” said Taylor, who is a member of BC’s Student Government Association, Residence Life staff, and men’s varsity tennis team. “What an incredible thought—knowing that we as a campus community were able to change an entire way of life for a group of people.”
Taylor’s goal: raise $5,000 to build a well in a village. To get there, he has written letters to students, faculty and staff, inviting them to get involved. He’s created a fundraising portal on the Charity Water web site. And he has distributed rice bowl piggy banks to students, encouraging them to save spare change for the cause. He’s also planning a Mr. BC pageant, sports fundraising tournaments and a benefit concert.
To double the impact, Taylor has partnered with the Alan Morefield Charitable Foundation, which agreed to match his $5,000—making it possible to provide two wells, not one.
“The thought of providing not just one, but two villages in desperate need of water will be an amazing experience,” said Taylor, “giving our campus the pride and satisfaction of knowing we’ve given such an incredible need to others, who otherwise wouldn’t have had their needs met.”
Taylor, son of Bluefield campus minister and dean of students David Taylor, said his involvement in missions at the college has helped him grow spiritually and strengthened his relationship with Christ. This particular mission, he said, has helped him realize the value of sharing God’s love and fulfilling the need to be a part of something larger than himself.
“Bluefield College has given me so many resources and opportunities to live my passion,” said Taylor. “I honestly feel no other campus could have enabled me to bring this thing into the light. Having the chance to do so much with something I’m passionate about is a huge deal. It’s now up to me, those involved in event planning, and the student body to help this passion become a reality.”
Chris Shoemaker (cshoemaker@bluefield.edu) is director of marketing and public relations at Bluefield College.