REACH - A College Ministry Podcast
of Acts 2 Network S2:31: Clean Water, Changed Lives: How Filter of Hope Became a High-Impact Mission for Students (ft. Bart Smelley and Keith Back)
Dec 22, 2025
Bart Smelley, founder of Filter of Hope, shares how his ministry is providing clean water and opening doors for evangelism worldwide. Keith Back, the organization's operations coordinator, discusses the transformative impact of mission trips on both communities and college students. They dive into the origin story of Filter of Hope, explore a typical trip's logistics, and explain how the clean/dirty water analogy is used to present the gospel. Their passion for service and growth in new countries fuels an inspiring conversation.
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Water As The Key Local Need
- Community surveys in the Dominican Republic showed access to safe water as a top local need.
- That revealed the global water crisis as a practical entry point for evangelism and service.
Simple Tech Scaled Global Impact
- Hollow-fiber membrane filters proved durable, low-maintenance, and suitable without electricity.
- That technology scaled to 300,000+ filters across 80+ countries and became an effective evangelistic tool.
Prepare By Resting And Learning
- Rest well on arrival and expect a full orientation before ministry begins.
- Prioritize sleep and learning the installation and gospel-communication methods taught by Filter of Hope.