I asked Phil Brinkmeyer, Regional Director for Russia and Africa Ministry to write about how Buckner is providing water through a collaboration with churches and serving the least of these.
Being from Texas, there is nothing better than a cold Dr. Pepper or a glass of sweet tea...but today, as I sat down, I looked over my “trying to eat healthy” lunch and glass of iced water…hmmm… water: clean, clear and cold… straight from the tap no more than 5 feet away. I snapped a picture on my techno savvy phone just to give you a visual.
I am not the type of person to carry the ever present “hug the trees” Nalgene bottle, or even “hurt the trees” throw away plastic bottle… Heck... give me a DP, or sweet tea… Gatorade, or lemonade any day!
In countries around the world in which Buckner works…there is no luxury of a cold DP or lemonade. There is no clean, clear, cold ice water or for that fact clean warm water, much less getting it indoors 5 feet away… Are we spoiled or are we blessed?
Whatever the case may be there are churches, groups and individuals around the world that are choosing to make the dream of having clean water accessible to thousands around the Globe. Christian Life Commission, the ethics agency of the Baptist General Convention of Texas is one such entity. Each year, CLC dedicates funding for crisis needs around the globe through the Texas Baptist Offering for World Hunger (TBOWH). Buckner has been the recipient of funding through this offering to aid in the drilling of water wells in Kenya and Ethiopia. Through this group and churches in Texas like; “The Maverick Class” at South Main Baptist Church in Pasadena, Wilshire Baptist Church in Dallas, The Church on Rush Creek in Arlington, Greater Mt. Zion Church in Austin or Community Baptist Fellowship in Hickory, Kentucky, and the “E-Team”, a group of churches binding together from East Texas and dedicating their congregations to saving lives physically, emotionally, educationally and spiritually in the country of Ethiopia as well as many huge hearted individuals.. The dream is becoming a reality. It has been wonderful to see funding coming through so many sources to give the gift of clean water to so many deprived of this most basic necessity of life and to all of you, I say thank you.
You see, it is estimated: water related diseases are responsible for 80% of illnesses and deaths in the developing world; 1.1 billion people don’t have access to clean water. For every well drilled thus far by Buckner, between 3,000 and 8,000 people now have access to clean water. Because of committed Christians around the world, villages such as Busia, Axum, Kitale, Bantu, and Bungoma will have life giving water. There are still thousands of other specs on a map around the world that need their thirst quenched and health secured.
Will you help?
If you’re interested in the World Hunger Offering take a look at www.bgct.org/texasbaptists/Page.aspx?&pid=5585
If you’re an East Texas Church of any denomination and interested in the work in Ethiopia or other parts of the world contact: jipalmer@buckner.org or myself, pbrinkmeyer@buckner.org.
Oh… and that refreshing clean, clear, cold water I had at lunch… I drank what I wanted and poured the rest down the drain….
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