The power of unity: a testament to prayer, worship, and God's Word
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Through my work as the Chief Storyteller and Director at a global water and discipleship ministry, I have had the rare privilege of studying The Bucket Ministry (TBM) teams across the world. This experience has been one of the most educational and beautiful aspects of my ministry. I have witnessed miracles—some extraordinary, others subtle, yet just as powerful. Among these miracles, one stands out: teams serving together in ways that, "on paper," should not work. The world would tell us that such unity is impossible—so many different backgrounds, cultures, and tribes coming together as one.
Yet, I have seen something that I believe holds the key. Something so profound, it has weighed heavily on my heart, compelling me to share it with you. The implications of this truth extend far beyond our work with TBM. Maybe this could provide you with answers on how to solve a problem?
The Kibera Campaign: a monumental effort
Recently, TBM concluded a five-year effort to provide generational access to safe drinking water and the love of Jesus to every resident—all 408,000—living in Kibera, a slum located outside Nairobi, Kenya. Through this campaign, we distributed 81,777 Sawyer water filters, conducted three follow-ups in every home that received a filter, and discipled those who came to faith. This was an unprecedented accomplishment—something the world had never seen before. And it was not carried out by professionals or seminary-trained ministers but by ordinary people.
At the start, everyone told us it was impossible. Even I had my doubts. In fact, I initially ran away from Kibera multiple times before fully committing. People said, "You will never find enough missionaries."
As I reflect on the weeks since we handed out the last water filter—to a man named Michael (the last filter recipient of 81,777 in the Kibera Slum)—I now understand how this happened, even when it seemed beyond reach. The answer is simple.
The foundation: prayer, worship, and God's Word
Many of us immediately recognize three fundamental elements of a thriving church:
• Prayer – The early church was devoted to prayer.
• Scripture – The church was rooted in God's Word.
• Worship – Worship was central to their lives.
Luke illustrates this beautifully in Acts 2. Even a superficial reading of this chapter reveals a community deeply committed to these principles.
But where am I headed with all of this?
The "Special Sauce": Unity
During a recent trip to Kenya with a large team, the Lord answered a question I had asked countless times: How did this happen? What made this movement so powerful?
The answer was simply and profoundly illustrated—UNITY.
Every single day (Monday through Friday) for over three years, a team of 100 local missionaries gathered to pray together, hear God's Word together, and worship together. This daily rhythm became more than a routine—it became a culture. A culture of single-minded, radical devotion to keeping the most important thing, the most important thing.
And what was that?
It was the unwavering commitment to sharpening and unifying their relationship with Jesus Christ and living in His perfect love.
This is the power of unity.
This is how the impossible becomes possible.
 | Christopher Beth is the Founder, Chief Storyteller and Director of The Bucket Ministry, a nonprofit organization that works to provide the love of Jesus and clean water solutions to communities in need around the world. Learn More » |
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