From Abundance to Purity: Living Water Multiplies at ACK St. Paul’s, Kenya
A report from Audrey Patra
In May 2025, a mission team from the Anglican Diocese in New England (ADNE) witnessed a dream become reality. Through the generous support of the Anglican Church of the Redeemer in Norwood, the Anglican Relief and Development Fund (ARDF), and partner ADNE churches, a borehole well was commissioned at ACK St. Paul’s Church in Athi River, Kenya.
But as the scriptures remind us, a seed planted in fertile soil yields a hundredfold. Today, that initial gift of water has grown into an inspiring story of faithful stewardship, local ingenuity, and expanding impact.
From Sustainability to Expansion
When the well was first commissioned, a local operator was hired to manage the water distribution building, selling water at a nominal cost to ensure sustainability. What happened next is a masterclass in kingdom economics. Rather than simply maintaining the status quo, the leadership at ACK St. Paul’s utilized the savings generated from those water sales to fund a massive, sophisticated upgrade to their infrastructure.
The church has successfully launched and completed the next phase of their vision: a state-of-the-art water purification project. The recent enhancements include:
A Second Water Tower: Constructed entirely from the savings of local water sales to support the weight and infrastructure of an advanced filtration system.
Expanded Storage: The acquisition of a brand-new water tank to complement their existing storage capacity.
Reverse Osmosis (RO) Plant: A fully installed, high-tech reverse osmosis system to purify the borehole water.
A New Enclosure & Vending Point: The construction of a secure structure housing a second water vending point dedicated exclusively to clean, fresh, purified drinking water.
A Testimony of Progress
The Reverend Brian Odhiambo, Rector at ACK St. Paul’s, recently shared the joyous update with the ADNE team, reflecting the deep gratitude of the Athi River community:
"We are doing well here, and we thank God for some progress we are making with the water project. Through savings from water sales, we built another tower for that project... and we completed the installation of our reverse osmosis plant and can now provide purified drinking water. We thank God for this great milestone and trust it's going to be a blessing to the church and community in many ways. Indeed, this work you started continues to be a blessing to St. Paul's."
A Word from Bishop Drew
Reflecting on this incredible update, Bishop Drew, who presided over the original commissioning of the well in 2025, expressed his profound joy at how the Kenyan church has taken ownership of the project:
"It is deeply moving to see how beautifully and faithfully the Lord’s gift is being stewarded by Reverend Brian and the people of St. Paul’s. They didn’t just receive a well; they multiplied its impact through visionary leadership and remarkable financial wisdom. By implementing this reverse osmosis system, they are ensuring that this project goes far beyond immediate relief. This is true kingdom development—bringing a safe, clean, and generational impact that will nourish the bodies and souls of this community for decades to come."
The Flow Continues
What began as a single borehole well has transformed into a self-sustaining utility that provides both general-use water and purified drinking water to thousands. The partnership between the ADNE and the Diocese of Machakos remains a vibrant testimony to what happens when Christ-centered communities collaborate.
As the clean water flows freely from the new vending points in Athi River, so too does the tangible, undeniable love of God. We look forward to seeing how the Lord continues to multiply this blessing!