The theme of the 47th Annual Convention of the Diocese of Arizona was "Into the Regions Beyond." The focus was on the United Nations Millennium Development Goals and The Episcopal Church's call to respond to these eight mission priorities. Woven throughout the Convention was the call to embrace the power of One (www.one.org).

In the Exhibit Hall, the Native American Issues Group from St. George's, Holbrook had a display featuring a four-foot tall replica of a drinking well which they offered for raffle as a fundraiser. Tess Cowan, of St. Mark's, Mesa, was working two other booths when she spotted the well. She also discovered that Episcopal Relief and Development has a "Gifts for Life" program which allows folks to buy necessities like safe drinking wells for people in need. In a moment of divine inspiration, Tess realized that she wanted to win the raffle for that well and use it as a means to raise money for the purchase of a real well in a village in need of water.

She bought a bunch of raffle tickets and prayed. Sure enough, Tess won the raffle and screamed with excitement. She then ran out carrying the well into the courtyard where the Convention Delegates were eating lunch. Jumping for joy, she shared her vision with St. Mark's delegation. Then in a moment of contagious enthusiasm, Tess and Judy Hossack started carrying the well from table to table sharing the vision of raising $5000 to build a well for a village. In just 20 minutes, they had filled the dipping bucket with more than $500.

The well, the vision, and the call to make poverty history made its way to St. Mark's Church on Sun., Oct. 21 and by the end of the day almost $1000 had been collected. The power of one idea, one person, and now one parish will lead to a gift enabling one well to be installed in a village where one whole community might then have access to safe drinking water.

As a sign of God's abundant grace and mercy, we will place a picture of our parish community and of the village in which we build a well onto this red replica well in our midst. We will then offer it to another parish in the Diocese of Arizona who would like to catch the power of one and embrace the same challenge. Can you imagine what a difference we might make in Millennium Development Goal ministry if we kept passing the well around until the next Diocesan Convention in October 2008?

Please contact the diocesan MDG Committee with your MDG story or if you have any questions at myra@trinitycathedral.com.