“Sometimes the smallest victories hold the deepest meaning.”
—Linda Noah, Executive Director
In Torit, South Sudan, our team at Petros Network is witnessing something sacred—a miracle drawn not just from deep aquifers, but from deep wells of generosity and faith.
Let me tell you what happened at Bright Academy, a thriving school that feeds over 1,000 students daily in rural South Sudan. With the help of compassionate donors and Convoy of Hope, these children not only receive a meal each day but are also learning farming, nutrition, WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene), and community leadership. Girls are receiving feminine hygiene kits that restore dignity and keep them in class. Women gather weekly to build businesses and gain confidence. This school is more than a place of learning—it’s a living model of Redemptive Lift
But for a season, one crucial thing was missing: water.
The Crisis: A Well Gone Salty
The school’s only well turned salty, making the water undrinkable and unsafe for the children. Crops began to fail. Hygiene practices deteriorated. And the students—our future—were at risk.
This is not uncommon in South Sudan, where 59% of people in rural areas lack access to safe water, and where tribal conflict, extreme poverty, and seasonal flooding add layers of difficulty most of us can hardly imagine.
The Response: Portland Youth Say Yes
The youth at Portland Christian Center heard about the crisis and took action. Moved by the need, they launched a campaign—raising $12,000 by collecting sponsorships to pick up trash on the streets of Portland.
It was bold. It was beautiful. And it was enough to spark real change.
“We came up with the idea of building a well in South Sudan through Petros Network. When we figured out how much money we needed to raise and we got in contact with organizations who would sponsor us. And so we’re out here just picking up trash along the highway and open to pick up as much as we can, clean up the area, help the community, and just to give back and raise as much money as we can.”
With a goal to pick up 500 pounds of trash, the youth ended up picking up 854 pounds—Blessing both the city of Portland and raising $12,000 towards a well for a village in need in South Sudan.
Another generous donor stepped in to match the remainder, and together, they funded a solar-powered, sustainable well. These wells are expensive—up to $25,000 each in South Sudan—but their return is immeasurable.
This well now means:
Safe drinking water for every student.
Thriving crops for meals and income.
Restored health, renewed dignity, and revived dreams.
And above all—a visible, tangible expression of God’s love.
The Bigger Picture: One Well, One Gospel Movement
Bright Academy’s transformation is part of something much larger. In this region alone, Petros Network has planted hundreds of indigenous churches—each becoming a Community Hub of Hope.
Where the church is planted:
Women rise.
Children are fed and educated.
Communities discover their purpose.
And the Gospel is preached not just in words, but through actions.
That’s the heart of Redemptive Lift—holistic transformation rooted in Christ.
The Invitation: Be the Next Yes
There are still villages without water, children without food, communities without churches, and hearts waiting to hear the Gospel.
Will you say yes?
Your Gift Launches Hope:
- $12/month feeds one child for a month.
- $42/month feeds an entire family for a month.
- $42/month supports a church planter to launch a hub of hope
- $4,200 launches a church plant in an unreached community
- $25,000 funds a solar-powered well in South Sudan
Every gift matters. Every gift lifts.
“Whoever gives one of these little ones even a cup of cold water… will by no means lose their reward.” — Matthew 10:42
