Blythswood News

Number 87 Spring 2025

A spring of water

Of all the stories you can read in this issue of Blythswood News, one especially makes me smile. That’s because I’d already seen a short video of the moment the drilling company hit water for an irrigation well in Harare. Grown men were jumping around in the gushing water like little boys, soaking wet and whooping with delight.

Why was that? It meant the work they’d done had been successful. It also meant many new possibilities for the project in Harare. I like both of the outcomes and believe they are descriptive of something you’ll see more of in our work.

In future you will see our messaging change to say that Blythswood seeks to change lives for good and forever. We believe we can be successful in changing lives for good. It may be bringing relief to an elderly woman, caring for her disabled son. Or providing a bed – somewhere to call home – for a young man stepping into the world of work. Or providing food in times of crisis for people in our own communities. All of it is good and, in some measure, successful. People are helped.

But we love the possibilities our work gives us for lives to be changed forever. It may be through a winsome word from a worker in our shops. Or through sharing a book or leaflet that introduces people to Jesus. Or through equipping people like Alfred in Cameroon to explain the gospel. Jesus alone changes lives forever. Through his life, death and resurrection he gives to those who come to him ‘a spring of water welling up to eternal life’.

Jeremy Ross
Chief Executive

A spring of water

Of all the stories you can read in this issue of Blythswood News, one especially makes me smile. That’s because I’d already seen a short video of the moment the drilling company hit water for an irrigation well in Harare. Grown men were jumping around in the gushing water like little boys, soaking wet and whooping with delight.

Why was that? It meant the work they’d done had been successful. It also meant many new possibilities for the project in Harare. I like both of the outcomes and believe they are descriptive of something you’ll see more of in our work.

In future you will see our messaging change to say that Blythswood seeks to change lives for good and forever. We believe we can be successful in changing lives for good. It may be bringing relief to an elderly woman, caring for her disabled son. Or providing a bed – somewhere to call home – for a young man stepping into the world of work. Or providing food in times of crisis for people in our own communities. All of it is good and, in some measure, successful. People are helped.

But we love the possibilities our work gives us for lives to be changed forever. It may be through a winsome word from a worker in our shops. Or through sharing a book or leaflet that introduces people to Jesus. Or through equipping people like Alfred in Cameroon to explain the gospel. Jesus alone changes lives forever. Through his life, death and resurrection he gives to those who come to him ‘a spring of water welling up to eternal life’.

Jeremy Ross
Chief Executive