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Our Story

Advent Worldwide was founded in 2008 by David and Susan Downie as a response to their personal experience of God's provision and a desire to enable others to know that blessing too. This is their story:

In the beginning...

David and Susan arrived in Salisbury (where the charity is based) with two young children and barely any money, having moved house five times in two and a half years and 8 long months of unemployment. They had survived on parental help, milk tokens and income support.  By their own admission, it was a tough time in their life and in their marriage.

But God...

David began a new job and, as it went from strength to strength, Susan was able to return to work part time. Their children settled well into nursery and, as a family, they found "the most amazing place, called Church." And so, in February 1994, they started attending St Paul's Salisbury.


From one Sunday to the next, the vicar's sermons spoke directly into their situation, with solutions and insights he could not have known without God's prompting. It wasn't long before they enrolled on an Alpha course and learned more about Jesus and the Holy Spirit.


This transformed their lives and, over the next 20+ years, God has continuously called them to generosity as a direct experience of His abundant provision for them, at a very difficult time. 

The Charity

Registered Charity Number 1184389

Advent Worldwide was originally founded to create a margin in David and Susan's income that could be allocated to give away. Inspired by the biblical story of Ruth, and the provision afforded her by gleaning from the margins in a field belonging to Boaz, Advent Worldwide seeks to demonstrate God's love through the act of generosity so that others may also know and experience His provision.


Just as David and Susan experienced God's provision along the way to recovery from debt and job loss, they set out to put money aside to be able to buy things initially for friends, and then for others. It started small and has now grown.


We would love to do so much more, so if you are able to donate and become part of the biblical provision for someone like Ruth, find out who we support and give now. 

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