The leadership of Genesis Waters consists of a group of Christian men and women who are passionate about spreading the knowledge of Jesus Christ to unreached people groups; those around the world who have never heard of Him. We believe this can best be accomplished through building relationships. The provision of the basic need of water opens the door to a relationship that will hopefully lead to the opportunity to share the Gospel.
Our Mission
Living Water for the Body and Soul
Genesis Waters bridges this gap by addressing both physical and spiritual needs, providing sustainable water solutions alongside the life-giving message of Jesus.
God desires every one of His people to have clean water. Each person on the planet deserves safe and easy access to clean water.
God desires each of His people to know Jesus. Each person on the planet deserves to know about the one true God, through the knowledge of his son Jesus Christ.
Join God where He is working. God already has the mission of reaching those who don’t know Him, and He has a plan to do it. He just wants us to join Him in that plan.
Local ministry partners are the best at reaching their own people. We partner with individuals who live and work in each country (pastors, missionaries and lay Christians). These teammates help to identify areas of need and remain there to support the people once they have been reached—spiritually and physically.
It takes a village. True transformation comes from the people themselves—villages and communities must invest in projects with commitments of people, resources, and finances.
Genesis Waters was born out of a mission trip to Northern Kenya in 2011, where a team witnessed both the physical desperation for clean water and the deep spiritual need for the gospel. Partnering with local pastors, they drilled a village well and shared the message of Jesus Christ—opening doors to communities previously unreached. The simple act of providing clean water built trust and opened hearts to the hope of the gospel.
After seeing the lasting impact, several team members were compelled to continue the work beyond short-term trips. They partnered with others to develop a sustainable model: combining clean water solutions with the message of Christ. That same approach continues to guide Genesis Waters today.
Our Founders
Ken and Shelly Watkins
Ken and Shelly Watkins, founders of Genesis Waters, were first inspired in 2009 during a mission trip with their church, Cornerstone Church in Caledonia, Michigan. In one village, they encountered the tragedy of children being attacked by crocodiles while fetching water from a distant river. This heartbreaking reality made it difficult to speak of a good God without first addressing the physical crisis. From that moment, their calling became clear: meet urgent needs and open hearts to the gospel.
After nearly a decade serving through another ministry, Ken and Shelly launched Genesis Waters in 2018. Shelly served as Executive Director, managing operations, fundraising, partnerships, and gospel resource distribution. Ken, a licensed architect and owner of Architectural Concepts in Grand Rapids, Michigan, serves as President of the Board and Field Operations Director, overseeing all water-related projects.
Shelly ended an almost six-year battle with a rare form of cancer and passed into eternity with her Lord and Savior on March 4, 2025. Her passion for the ministry, and her love of the underserved women around the world that she placed a special emphasis on will be greatly missed. The legacy that she leaves behind inspires the entire Genesis Waters team to continue the work that she felt so called to.
Board of Directors
Ken is a licensed architect and owner of Architectural Concepts in Grand Rapids, MI. When he is isn’t doing that or traveling for his second career as field operations director of Genesis Waters, he enjoys riding his Harley. Ken never dreamed that God would call him to lead this type of ministry, but He is grateful to be able to impact lives around the world and further God’s kingdom in this way.
Barry has been involved with clean water ministry for over 13 years. After a short term trip to Kenya in 2009 in which water was a desperate need, Barry and a friend were the driving force behind starting the ministry. Barry is retired having spent 52 years as an executive in the commercial printing industry and greatly enjoys traveling for Genesis Waters, especially when he can bring one of his lovely granddaughters with him. Barry has made 9 trips to Kenya.
Mark is the co-owner of Compass Property Services and Leasegr.com. He has served on the Genesis Waters board since the ministry began. Mark has been a champion of many of Genesis Waters’ efforts, especially with regard to water filtration. He hopes to further the organization’s mission throughout the world so that everyone can know Jesus Christ.
Brian is a certified arborist and has been the manager of Bartlett Tree Experts, in Grand Rapids, Michigan for over twenty years. He enjoys traveling, hiking, fishing, spending time on his “mini-farm”, and cooking. He has an amazing wife, Nancy of 34 years and 2 wonderful daughters, Emily & Audrey. Brian is passionate about helping to provide fresh water to those that have limited access to something many of us take for granted. By helping provide a water source, we are able to break the “ice” that allows our worldwide partners to present the Gospel to those that have no access. Completing that circle is the motivation that drives him.
Craig is a licensed Professional Geologist and has worked in the environmental industry his entire career, cleaning up contaminated sites domestically and internationally. His experience includes project management, operations, finance, and business development. One of the gifts God has given him is to serve others, which brings him great joy. Having spent his entire career cleaning up contaminated groundwater, Craig is excited to help further the mission of Genesis Waters by providing clean drinking water and the message of Jesus Christ to unreached peoples. Craig enjoys spending time with his wife Diana, of 34 years, their daughters Shannon and Lyndsey, son-in-law Ty and their grandson Cade. He also enjoys doing short-term mission work, traveling, cooking, hiking, hunting and fishing.
Bret is the former owner of Dew-El Corporation, an educational equipment company distributing classroom and other educational furniture in Michigan. He has traveled on multiple mission trips and is always open to more opportunities. Having traveled to Kenya and India in the past and seen firsthand the need for basic necessities such as clean water and fresh foods, he looks forward to serving with Genesis Waters to bring these items and more to God’s people all over the globe. Bret has been married to Carol for over 33 years and enjoys golfing whenever the time affords.
Annette is the co-founder, along with her husband Rob, of Big Steps Little Feet Christian childcare and Preschool in Ada, MI. Rob and Annette are celebrating 40 years of marriage in October, 2021, and are blessed with six children, three beautiful daughters and three handsome sons, along with their spouses and six amazing grandchildren. Annette enjoys traveling, reading, biking and connecting with people. Having lived in the Great Lakes State all of her life, Annette loves the water and is amazed at its calming effect and the how creation is sustained by it. She looks forward to building relationships with the Genesis Waters ministry allies and villages, and spreading the Gospel of Jesus through evangelism efforts.
Thom has been the owner of National Property Inspections of Grand Rapids for the past 24 years, providing residential and commercial inspection services. He is now semi-retired and looking for new ways to serve God and mankind. Thom and his wife Karen have been married for over 40 years, have two beautiful daughters, one spectacular son-in-law, two perfect gransons and a few willful and half-crazy grand dogs. He has led middle school, high school and young adult ministries and been on numerous mission trips in the U.S. and Mexico. He has a heart for serving and believes Genesis Waters provides perhaps the two most important needs in any person’s life–clean water and the gospel. He is very excited to be a part of fulfilling those needs. Thom loves to travel, read, follow the Wolverines, and golf–not necessarily in that order!
Ann is the co-owner and president at Signworks of Michigan, Inc., in Grand Rapids, Michigan. In 2024 Ann is celebrating 20 years with Signworks, and a 35th anniversary married to Todd. Ann and Todd have three grown children, as well as three granddaughters. Ann enjoys spending time near the beach and water, as well as playing with her grandkids. Ann is grateful to be a part of the ministry with Genesis Waters, and the work done around the world.
Living Water for the Body and the Soul
Every person deserves clean water to live and every soul deserves the chance to hear about Jesus Christ. Yet, 2 billion people lack water and 3 billion people have never heard the Gospel.
Genesis Waters bridges this gap by addressing both physical and spiritual needs, providing sustainable water solutions alongside the life-giving message of Jesus.