As World Water Day Approaches on March 21, Ministry Partners Urge Christians to Help Meet Critical Need for African Households
Contact: Ty Mays, 770-256-8710
NORCROSS, Ga., March 13, 2014 /Christian Newswire/ -- As World Water Day Approaches on March 21, The Mission Society (www.themissionsociety.org) has announced it is helping lead a life-saving effort in Ghana that will provide safe drinking water to 1 million people by 2020.
Photo: The women of Buiyilli proudly show off their new water filters donated to the community by members and friends of First Baptist Church of Woodstock, Ga.
In Ghana, more than 1 million people -- mostly in the rural north -- lack clean water. The Mission Society and Pure Home Water (www.purehomewater.org), a nonprofit manufacturer of ceramic pot water filters located in that country, hope to draw attention to this growing problem, save lives by supplying water filters and encourage others to take action.
During the last seven years, The Mission Society and Pure Home Water have provided more than 20,000 filters, giving an estimated 100,000 people access to life-saving clean water. The filters are made by local people who use local materials, such as terra cotta clay and rice husks.
The effort to grant widespread access to water is also helping to increase economic stability in the region. In Taha, where Pure Home Water is located, the nonprofit organization hires local women who are able to earn a regular paycheck. This steady income allows them to purchase more food for their families or pay for school supplies for their children -- activities that would not have been possible without the employer.
In observance of World Water Day, The Mission Society and Pure Home Water are encouraging Christians around the world to purchase a $25 water filter, which will radically impact the life of one family in Ghana.
"So much of the disease, pain and death that afflict the people of Ghana is preventable," said Mary Kay Jackson, a missionary with The Mission Society and managing director of Pure Home Water. "By providing something as simple and affordable as a home water filter, we can change the course of millions of lives."
Jackson's dedication to providing safe drinking water has been recognized in the U.S. and abroad. She was recently named Distinguished Graduate of the Zachary Department of Civil Engineering at her alma mater, Texas A&M University. Additionally, Pure Home Water received a $50,000 grant from the 20/20 Expo, which will be held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The grant was part of a larger program that assists organizations who help the world's poor.
Founded in 1984, The Mission Society recruits, trains and sends missionaries around the world to communicate -- through word and deed -- the message of the gospel. The organization is involved in numerous initiatives, including agricultural training, evangelism, church planting, literacy, medical work, arts ministries and several other pursuits.
In addition to projects in Ghana, The Mission Society has also spearheaded water projects in Nicaragua, Paraguay, Kenya, Peru, Ecuador, Togo, Haiti, Tanzania and Costa Rica over the past 30 years.
"Our mission has always been to deploy the body of Christ to the least-reached people around the globe," said Dick McClain, president and CEO of The Mission Society. "While many of us take for granted access to clean water, it's a matter of life and death for millions, including the people of north Ghana. Something as simple as a locally made water filter can literally change the future for these families, their communities and even the entire region."
Concerned people are encouraged to help provide clean water to 1 million people in Ghana by 2020 by visiting www.themissionsociety.org/support/gwp.
Incorporated on January 6, 1984, The Mission Society (www.themissionsociety.org) exists to mobilize and deploy the body of Christ globally to join Jesus in his mission, especially among the least-reached peoples. The Mission Society recruits, trains and sends Christian missionaries to minister around the world. Its church ministry department provides seminars, workshops and mentoring for congregations in the United States and abroad, helping equip churches for outreach in their communities and worldwide. At present, The Mission Society has more than 225 missionaries serving in more than 42 countries.
To schedule an interview with representatives of The Mission Society, contact Ty Mays at 770-256-8710 or tmays@inchristcommunications.com.
