Local church impacts over 15,000 lives with water wells in Uganda

WRIGHTSVILLE BEACH, NC (WWAY) — John McIntyre, pastor at Wrightsville Beach Baptist Church, reflects on his journey with OneThirst: A Well for Every Village, a mission that aims to provide clean drinking water to communities in Uganda.

“Fresh water… we take so much for granted,” McIntyre said. “We walk to the tap, get a glass of water at night, flush a toilet—it just seems so common to us.”

But for many in Uganda, access to safe drinking water is a distant reality. McIntyre explained, “They get water from the swamp… cows have walked through it. They fill a bucket for their family.”

Since 2022, the church has been working to change this, completing 21 wells that now serve over 15,000 people.

“Little kids—I kid you not—you’ll see a four or five-year-old carrying a can for water that’s twice their weight,” McIntyre shared, describing the immense challenge many families face in their daily routines.

Just this week, McIntyre returned from Uganda, bringing back a special souvenir from a local artist.

Each well costs approximately $2,500 to install, with all funds raised and donated by the church’s members.

“And God has just continued to provide… funding for wells isn’t something I’ve really had to ask for—folks have just given,” McIntyre explained.

Craig Stevens, who has visited Uganda twice, has witnessed the changes firsthand.

“The whole community would come in, singing and dancing, celebrating. This water was a celebration of life, because before, they were walking so far to get dirty water, and people were literally dying. So this well—it’s a celebration of life.”

Looking ahead, McIntyre shared that a future well already has plans to be installed on the other side of Lake Victoria. The well is expected to serve around 20,000 refugees in the region.