Each month, we are going to spotlight a Blood:Water employee to help you get to know us a little better! Erin Todd will kick it off for us sharing fun five facts to introduce you to Aaron Sands, our director of systems.

Aaron lives in Nashville with his wife, Cari, and their two children, Sam and Willa. Life has been exciting since day one for the Sands family. Aaron and Cari were married in Iowa, with 6 inches of snow on the ground. But the fun didn’t end there. Guests who traveled from Nashville escaped the snow only to have to dodge tornadoes on their drive home. I guess you could say Aaron is a real force of nature!

He certainly likes to stay busy anyway. As the former bass player for Jars of Clay, Aaron was one of the founding members of Blood:Water. After spending 10 years touring and recording with the band, he has spent the last 10 years working to create lasting change in Africa, as well as Nashville. For as long as he’s worked at Blood:Water, Aaron has also been deeply involved in the launch and growth of City Church of East Nashville.

In addition to keeping everything running smoothly at Blood:Water, Aaron has recently started hiking the Appalachian Trail. Roughly 2,180 miles long, the Appalachian Trail passes through 14 states from Georgia to Maine. Along with his 12-year-old son, Sam, and some friends, Aaron is taking on the trail in four-day increments. This is good news for us, because it typically takes “thru-hikers” 6 months to complete the trail!

His hiking expedition is not the first daunting travel experience Aaron has had, however. As you might imagine, Aaron has traveled to Africa several times since Blood:Water was founded 10 years ago. Once, when he was headed home, his plane nearly came to an emergency landing in Durban, South Africa. At the last possible second, the pilot pulled back up. Several minutes passed before an explanation was offered… just not in a language Aaron speaks. The cause of that maneuver may always remain a mystery.

One thing that is not a mystery is where Aaron gets his inspiration. His favorite famous figures include Teddy Roosevelt, G.K. Chesterton, Wendell Berry and Abraham Lincoln.

Be sure to check back next month to get know Jake Smith, our resident country music star director of engagement.