Bart spent the first part of his life chasing success as an entrepreneur—building and selling companies. Yet, despite attaining wealth and status, he remained restless and unfulfilled. At times, he allowed success to pull him away from God, a choice he deeply regrets. However, through years of ministry involvement and mission trips with various groups and his family, God was working in his heart. Witnessing families living in extreme poverty and struggling without even the most basic necessities began to change his perspective on what truly matters. In the early 2000s, Bart fell victim to a major wealth management fraud, losing millions of dollars. As he navigated that season, he began to seriously question his purpose. Through this challenging season, God was miraculously at work—answering prayers, working in Bart's heart and providing restoration for him and his family. In 2011, he decided his true life purpose was serving those in need and sharing the hope of Jesus Christ.

In 2013, Bart founded Filter of Hope, a ministry dedicated to providing simple, life-changing water filters to families in need while creating opportunities to share the gospel and connect them to the local church. The ministry became a 501(c)(3) in 2014, and what began as a small initiative has grown into a global mission, bringing safe drinking water to over 1.6 million people in more than 80 countries. Each filter meets a physical need while opening doors for conversations about the Living Water—Jesus Christ.

Filter of Hope partners with churches, schools, and volunteers across the U.S. and leads short-term mission trips throughout Latin America, giving thousands of people each year the opportunity to participate in the Great Commission firsthand. The ministry has since expanded beyond Latin America, focusing on evangelism and church planting among Unreached People Groups. Through strategic partnerships in more than 20 countries across Africa and Asia, Filter of Hope brings both clean water and the gospel to those who have never heard the name of Jesus.

Bart and his wife, Sissi, live in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, where Filter of Hope is headquartered. They have three children and six beautiful grandchildren. Sissi serves alongside Bart in the ministry, sharing his passion for seeing lives transformed.

Looking back, Bart knows his purpose was never about worldly success. It was about serving those in need around the world and helping build God’s Kingdom. His passion is to see lives changed—one family, one filter, and one gospel conversation at a time.