Benefit Concert strikes water for Africa

The first Angel Mission Benefit Concert was held on 3 July this year, to raise funds to drill wells in Kenya. With a LIVE satellite link to the drilling project in Pokot, Kenya, water finally gushed forth from the drilling rig in the early hours of the morning...

With a record-breaking crowd of 120,000 people and an at-home viewing audience of many more, the first-ever Angel Mission Benefit Concert - this year held at James River's "I Love America" Independence Day celebration - was a major success. As GOD TV is committed to reaching 1 billion souls with the message of Jesus Christ, our humanitarian arm Angel Mission committed to do its part to provide clean, safe water to the nearly 1 billion people who lack access.

The benefit concert featured several explosive bands, a mass choir, rousing performances from solo artists, an extravagant fireworks display and an international broadcast - all LIVE on GOD TV - with the opportunity to connect via phone, web giving and text messaging. The goal was to raise awareness and support to alleviate the global water crisis through Angel Mission's drilling of community water wells.

Concert participants enjoyed a unique experience as a satellite link connected the crowd to the remote village of Kanyao in the Pokot region of Kenya. While the music played in the USA, African families gathered in the middle of the night with floodlights watching Angel Mission's much-anticipated drilling of the village's first clean water well. As the African sunrise grew brighter, Angel Mission's drilling teams struck water and a new era of hope and improved health dawned on Kanyao.

The success in Kanyao launched Angel Mission's initiative to provide clean water sources for 25 communities in Kenya. Now that Kanyao and two other water wells have been funded, Angel Mission seeks partners to fulfill the vision in 22 more targeted villages.

Angel Mission is also working on a major initiative with the music artists who participated in its first benefit concert as well as other musicians, singers and bands. Israel Houghton & New Breed, Leeland, Press Play, The Afters, Vicky Beeching and Live Out Loud have been invited to participate in another exciting event, soon to be announced.

As the humanitarian outreach of GOD TV, Angel Mission focuses on serving widows and orphans, providing water and sanitation and developing community Life Centers. In recent months, the charity has become a major player in international relief and development assistance. Angel Mission is unique in that it owns and operates its own drilling rigs. The organization has eight drilling teams of trained African nationals working in East Africa managing the water projects. GOD TV donates ten percent of all partner revenue to Angel Mission projects, putting a high priority in serving the needs of those who are suffering.

"Dirty water remains the number one killer in the world today, and every eight seconds, a child dies because of it," said Angel Mission president John Bongiorno. "Africa faces a desperate need for clean water, but through Angel Mission's drilling of community wells, we can give new life and hope. Thanks to our partnership with James River Assembly, we have shared the need and the solution through this first Benefit Concert."