5 Questions with Aaron Sands

Welcome to 5 Questions With.....

Today's guest is Aaron Sands. He is the Administrative Director for blood:water mission. After almost 10 years of touring and recording with Jars of Clay, Aaron has transitioned into a life closer to home. A part of Blood:Water Mission from the beginning, Aaron continues to work to show dignity, respect and love in the world, especially for those seeing no hope.

And now without further delay, on to the questions:

Hi Aaron,

Question 1: What is the Blood:Water Mission?

We are a grassroots organization that empowers communities to work together against the HIV/AIDS and Water crises in Africa. Both through the creative fundraising and advocacy ideas of people throughout the US and through the benefits f medical care, clean water, hygiene training and sanitation, communities are coming together and becoming stronger. People want to make a difference, and we help guide them toward simple ways that make a large and long-lasting difference.

Question 2: How did this ministry get started?

We were started in 2004 by members of the multi-platinum, GRAMMY-award winning band, Jars of Clay, in an attempt to make the HIV/AIDS crisis in Africa personal. As they began to tell the stories of our friends overseas, they realized the vital link between living with HIV/AIDS and the need for clean water. Soon after making that connection, we embarked on what was one of our first major campaigns: the 1000 Wells Project, a nation-wide effort to raise enough money to provide clean water and sanitation to 1000 communities in sub-Saharan Africa. In the years since, we have not only solidified our water programs, but have also initiated HIV/AIDS-related programming and plan to have even greater synergy with these programs in the years to come.

Question 3: How serious is the need?

Put simply, these are matters of life and death for our brothers and sisters in Africa. But the need is also serious because communities in the U.S. and throughout Africa grow stronger and are more sustainable as they engage in addressing the HIV/AIDS and water crises. And that is something that will bring change from generation to generation.

Question 4: What has Blood:Water Mission been able to accomplish since it got started?

With HIV/AIDS specifically, we have successfully helped launch 3 clinics, testing more than 17,500 people and serving more than 22,000 people. On the water projects side of our mission, we have funded more than 850 water projects, serving an estimated 570,000 people in 11 different countries.

Question 5: How can people help the ministry?

The great part of our mission is that anyone can help! We are a grassroots organization and truly thrive ff of individual campaigns by our creative supporters. We encourage people to think creatively and use their unique gifts to gather their communities around this cause. We also provide downloadable online resources to make it easy to participate in some of our signature campaigns as well as share ideas for creating your own.

Thanks you so much Aaron.

There you have it. I want to encourage you to go to the blood:water mission website and get involved today. I did and it isn't that hard. Simple acts can make a difference.

To see past 5 Question guests, check out the rotating interview links on the sidebar.