Saying Yes to Water and the Gospel: Dr. Pete Savard’s Journey

Dr. Pete Savard, a 1990 graduate of Cedarville University, never imagined his life would be defined by clean water and the Gospel. A nurse educator and medical innovator, Pete once designed mobile hospitals for the U.S. government. But when that chapter closed, God began to stir something deeper in his heart. What started as a broad vision to improve healthcare around the world soon narrowed into a single, life-sustaining mission: providing clean water to those in desperate need.

Years ago, Pete faced a personal “Nineveh moment.” India — a hot, rice-laden, unfamiliar place — was not where he wanted to go. But God had opened the door. Pete said yes. He took that first trip with his daughter and an engineer, not knowing it would change everything. What he saw there was heartbreaking: children sick from sewage-filled water, mothers unable to work, fathers out of jobs due to typhoid.

Every hour in India, 171 children under five die from dirty water — over 4,100 every day. Pete couldn’t unsee that. He had to act.

That first water purification project in India took three years to fund. Pete, by his own admission, is a “terrible fundraiser.” But God provided through unexpected gifts — even a check from a widow who had just lost her husband. The water plant opened, and lives began to change. Illnesses disappeared. Children returned to school. Parents returned to work.

From that humble beginning, Global Water Consortium (GWC) has grown to serve over 4 million people through projects in India, Nepal, Honduras, and soon, Kenya. Each GWC site produces and sells clean water sustainably — millions of liters annually — while opening doors for Gospel conversations.

In Kenya, Pete spoke to high schoolers about health, respect, and the love of Jesus. After two days, 416 students accepted Christ — and asked that a pastor visit their homes to share the Gospel with their families.

Pete doesn’t see himself as a preacher. “I know health,” he says. “God uses that.” His ministry’s model is rooted in Romans 12 — using the gifts God has given to serve others. And the results? Physical health, spiritual hope, and communities transformed.

Pete recently shared his story on the Cedarville Stories podcast. He said yes to God even when it was hard. And through his obedience, entire villages now drink safe water — and Living Water.

https://share.transistor.fm/s/758c6c2d

https://youtu.be/qCZCzf6-O5k