The Remarkable Story of How Jars of Clay, a College Student, and the Choice to Persevere Turned $1 Into “1,000 Wells” for Overlooked Communities
Christianity Today’s 33 under 33 winner Jena Lee Nardella’s “captivatingly honest” (Publishers Weekly) account of how her passion for saving the world grew into a humbler, long-term calling of loving the world in all its brokenness.
Today Only $24 $9.95
As seen in:
Amazing things can happen when you fight for your dreams.
Inside, you’ll discover how Jena first connected with Jars of Clay, why Blue Like Jazz author Donald Miller wrote the foreword, how to find love in motion, and how just $1,000 became a beacon of hope for over a million overlooked children, women, fathers, and families.
That’s why, as part of a nationwide push to raise money for the Blood:Water charity and share this incredible story full of hope, heartbreak, and perseverance, we’re offering this memoir at just a fraction of the retail price.
Plus, you’ll discover the incredible lessons that Jena learned about serving some of the world’s most vulnerable communities best and feel inspired to create change in your own world.
More on how important this story is for understanding what charity and the “good work” really means in a second…
But first, go ahead and pick up this incredible memoir — this amazing story is worth the read!
Flash Sale
Only $24 $9.95!
Thousands of copies sold!
Paperback Delivery in all 50 States
“Jena’s story will inspire you to go out and live a great story. And though the work she does is serious business, she never takes herself too seriously. She invites you into her world like an old friend.”
— Donald Miller, bestselling author of Blue Like Jazz
“Very few people can write a book about how they have already changed the world before they’re even 30. Jena is one of those rare gifts from God. Her story, her heart, and her journey of bringing clean, fresh, life-giving water to the people in Africa is one you will never forget. Read One Thousand Wells and then help her dig some more.”
— Kathie Lee Gifford
She never thought she’d get this far.
Eighteen years ago, Jena Lee Nardella was a fresh-out-of-college twenty-something with the lofty goal of truly changing the world.
Armed with a diploma, a thousand dollars, and a dream to build one thousand wells in Africa, she joined forces with Grammy Award-winning band Jars of Clay to found Blood:Water and pursue their joint mission.
Jena’s dream for their nonprofit turned an initial $1 donation into $20, and then $100, and today into more than $40 million — reaching more than 1 million people in eleven countries across sub-Saharan Africa with access to improvements including clean water; HIV testing, healthcare, counseling and support; and sanitation and hygiene training.
But along the way, she faced many harsh realities that tested her faith, encountered corruption and brokenness that nearly destroyed everything they’d fought for, and learned that wishful thinking will not get you very far.
Jena discovered true change comes when you stop trying to save the world and allow yourself to love it, even when it breaks your heart.
With a fresh, intelligent, and winsome voice, Jena Lee Nardella weaves an evocative, personal narrative filled with honest and hard-won lessons demonstrating the amazing things that can happen when you refuse to give up.
Your purchase directly supports communities in need
After the costs of manufacturing and shipping, ALL of the proceeds from your purchase go directly toward Blood:Water’s mission to end the water & HIV/AIDS crises in sub-Saharan Africa.
Consider this: it takes just $1 to give someone clean water in sub-Saharan Africa for a year.
By that logic, you can help someone get clean water for a year — just by picking up a book you will love reading and sharing with friends.
A fantastic read and the chance to make a profound difference in someone’s life?
They call that a “no-brainer.”
A profound read for anyone who wants to change the world
One Thousand Wells is the ideal book for:
- Small-group discussions
- Aspiring activists
- Charity leaders
- Book clubs
- Birthday gifts
- Christmas gifts
- You or the book lover in your life
“Original, perceptive, and compelling… In an astonishingly honest voice, Jena Lee Nardella reflects on the questions we ask ourselves when the odds are overwhelmingly against us – why hope that seems foolish is still necessary.”
— Amy Tan, bestselling author of The Joy Luck Club
“Buckle up, you’re about to meet one of love’s heroes.”
— Bob Goff, Hon. Consul, Republic of Uganda; author of Love Does
“An authentic and inspiring read for those who want to make a difference in the world.”
— Tony Hale, Emmy-Award winning actor from Arrested Development and Veep
“This is a story of idealism maturing, step by step, into lasting love—and it’s a story every idealist, and every almost-cynic, must read.”
— Andy Crouch, executive editor, Christianity Today
“Captivatingly honest… Her story lights the path for a generation of disillusioned Christians sifting through tough questions about selfless love and unbounded faith in a world of heightened individualism.”
— Publishers Weekly
“Jena Lee Nardella lives her life with honesty and humility—always learning and always adventurous. In One Thousand Wells, her indomitable spirit shows through! A delightful read that shows what can happen when you love others with your whole life, pursue passion with reckless abandon, and allow yourself to be changed along the way.”
— Gary A. Haugen, President and CEO of International Justice Mission and author of The Locust Effect
“One Thousand Wells is the journey of a calling, from start to finish. It’s for the ones of us that always felt the call to something “big” in our bones. What’s refreshing about Jena’s story is that it isn’t too massive for us- it gives us hope that the world can be shifted through persistence, a dedication to one’s cause, and baby steps. If each of us lived with the plain love and bold obedience of Jena, there’d be a thousand more tales of loving the world– instead of saving it– out there. It is so evident– the world needs more stories like this one.”
— Hannah Brencher, author of If You Find This Letter
“Jena’s passionate, reflective and uncompromising journey has inspired me and the team at charity: water for years. Her leadership has not only directly impacted the lives of so many with clean water, but inspired countless others to break from apathy and follow their passions to give and serve.”
— Scott Harrison, Founder of Charity:Water
“Oliver Wendell Holmes put it best. “Give me the simplicity on the other side of complexity.” That, in a phrase, describes where many social entrepreneurs stall out. They run up against complexity and are overwhelmed by it. Jena Lee Nardella is one of the very few who not only made it through that obstacle but now has the wisdom and skills to be a guide for others.”
— Fred Smith, President of The Gathering
“This is a book of profound hope sure to inspire dreamers of all kinds. Jena Nardella’s story proves that when we pursue audacious goals, we find so much more than we went looking for.”
— Reba Riley, author of Post-Traumatic Church Syndrome
Treat Yourself to a Beautiful and Inspiring Read
All proceeds go to Blood:Water’s mission to end the HIV/AIDS and water crises in sub-Saharan Africa.
About Jena Lee Nardella
Jena Lee Nardella is the co-founder of Blood:Water, which she started in 2004 at the age of twenty-two with the band Jars of Clay. Following her vision and leadership, the organization has brought clean water access and healthcare services and support to more than one million people in Africa, with an emphasis on HIV-affected areas. In 2012, Jena was invited by President Obama to pray for the nation in front of a TV audience of twenty million.
She has been honored as an Epoch Award Winner, as GOOD Magazine’s GOOD 100, and as one of Christianity Today’s 33 under 33 Christian leaders shaping the next generation of faith. Jena serves on the core team for Praxis, a venture group helping entrepreneurs build high-impact organizations, and served on the board for Equitas Group, a philanthropic organization focused on ending child exploitation in Haiti and Southeast Asia. Jena, her husband, James, and their two children currently live outside of Boston, MA.
All orders are guaranteed. If you aren’t satisfied with your order we will refund you 100%!
Checkout
© Blood:Water 2021 All Rights Reserved