Forward in Faith | Spring 2025
More than two billion people do not have access to clean drinking water. Often their water comes from rivers and streams that are full of bacteria, and clean water becomes the difference between life and death. But what if you could provide people with both the clean water to drink and the living water of the gospel? This is what Filter of Hope is doing around the world.
Perimeter-supported missionary Seth Swindle is the director of global expansion for Filter of Hope. During a recent talk at Perimeter, Seth explained that a single filter is life-changing to a community. It connects to a bucket, and each day, it can filter 250 gallons of water that can be safely used for drinking, cooking, and bathing. The filter does not require electricity, has a minimum life span of ten years, and is given freely in the name of Jesus.
Seth explained that Filter of Hope partners with missionaries and local churches to distribute the filters so that they can build long-term relationships as they share the gospel and answer ongoing questions. “When we go into communities, we are not there as Filter of Hope,” he said. “We are there as the Church.”
During the travel restrictions of the global COVID pandemic, they were unable to deliver filters. However, the team prayed that God would open more opportunities to send filters to hard-to-reach areas, particularly within the 10/40 window*. That is now happening, and at times it is very hazardous as filters are brought to areas with high levels of persecution. Seth said the biggest need is to “pray for safety during distribution.”
“We’ve seen people of Buddhist, Hindu, and Muslim backgrounds come to faith,” Seth said. “There is real opportunity to see kingdom growth through the filter.”
Today they have filters in 84 countries.
The Swindles are one of 33 Perimeter-supported missionary families. Pictured are Seth and Whitney Swindle with their children.
*The 10/40 Window is a geographic region with a high concentration of unreached and least-evangelized people groups, many of whom also rank among the world’s poorest populations.
