For former NFL tight end Benjamin Watson, a Super Bowl XXXIX champion, using his platform means inspiring and informing others. One way he does this is through “Why or Why Not with the Watsons,” a podcast he does with his wife, Kirsten.
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In this free podcast, Benjamin and Kirsten help families through all kinds of important topics. They talk about kids in sports, making the most of summer, how to overcome fears, and storing up your treasures in heaven.
“Within all of us,” Benjamin said in the January 25 episode, “there is a desire to create some sort of lasting impact. … We want to help people and exhibit kindness.”
He and Kirsten go on in the episode — titled “Finding Your Family Verse and Your Family Mission” — to discuss Micah 6:8, their family verse and their family mission.
“He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” — Micah 6:8 (ESV)
They share about their favorite charities. For example, several years ago, Benjamin and Kirsten began partnering with Water Mission, a Christian engineering nonprofit that builds safe water solutions in developing countries and disaster areas. Together with partners like Benjamin and Kirsten, Water Mission has served more than 7 million people in 57 countries.
Kirsten discussed the burden women and girls shoulder, and the dangers they face, collecting water for their families. “Some of these women and girls walk several miles to the nearest water station,” she said. “So, think about the ability to have clean water in your town and how many people may have been saved from violence … because the water is closer.”
“If these women and children are walking several miles to go get water,” Benjamin added, “they’re not able to go to school, because you have to get water for the family. You’re not able to work or have some sort of occupational training. You’re not able to do all those other things because you’re going to get water.”
Benjamin and Kirsten’s family mission is truly changing lives. As listeners might consider their own mission, Kirsten shared some advice.
“It is good as an individual to say, ‘Look, I’ve been given [a lot] and blessed with these resources … how am I going to give back? What am I going to do that is not going to be about me?'”
Is God calling you to bless your brothers and sisters in developing countries and disaster areas, as He called the Watsons? Gather your team, church, youth group, school or family to participate in a Walk for Water. Keep the 2.2 billion people without access to safe water in your prayers. Use your voice to share about the global water crisis on Instagram, Twitter or Facebook. Or check out other ways you can get involved, and let the Lord lead your steps.
Trisha Stucker works as a content director at Water Mission.
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