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Can We Share Jesus’ Love Through a Clean Water Christian Organization?

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Water is so critical to our existence that it has become a symbol for life itself. The Bible speaks of the “water of life” in John 4 and calls Jesus the Living Water. It’s no surprise that water is an important part of many Christian organizations. God is using GFA World, a clean water Christian organization, to spread the message of this Living Water. For over 20 years, we’ve used water to bring Jesus’ love to communities across South Asia. When a local missionary sees a need for a well, we provide a well through the generosity of our donors. These wells are called Jesus Wells. GFA pastor Kirk was very aware of the illnesses that came from unclean water in a neighboring village, so he started praying for a resolution. One man in particular touched Pastor Kirk’s heart. His name was Laul, and he was often plagued with typhoid fever, a waterborne illness. He struggled with fever and aches. The doctors were unable to help, and his illness stole away his livelihood, which sent his family i...
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Is a Clean Water Initiative Effective for Poverty Reduction?

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Yes. Since 1979, GFA World has been serving in South Asia and has witnessed firsthand how a clean water initiative has had a life-changing impact on numerous communities. In 2019, over 12,243 BioSand water filters were given to families in Asia through GFA and their partners. GFA has drilled a cumulative total of more than 30,000 wells throughout Asia in areas of need. How do these clean water initiatives impact poverty among families and communities? The World Health Organization says improved water supply, sanitation and better management of resources “can boost countries’ economic growth and can contribute greatly to poverty reduction.” 1 Health improves Clean water provides health benefits to entire communities. Not only does it hydrate, but it also prevents waterborne disease that resides in contaminated water. With fresh clean water, a community is protected from diarrhea, cholera, dysentery and other waterborne diseases. Income and education potential Often the burden of water c...
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What Role Do Toilets Have in A Clean Water Project?

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Toilets are an important but often overlooked part of a clean water project. It’s estimated that over 2 billion people in the world do not have access to a toilet, latrine or other sanitation facility. In these areas, people often go out to the fields to relieve themselves. Open defecation is part of everyday life for 673 million people. Open defecation increases a person’s risk for diseases like cholera, typhoid, dysentery, hepatitis A, polio and diarrhea. 1 This practice is also unsafe, and women often face harassment and assault. 2 Pamela is one of those 673 million. Her family would walk to a field to relieve themselves. But Pamela worried. Would her daughter, Aalia, be ok during the day if she needed to go to the field by herself? Aalia suffered from seizures, and it wasn’t safe for her to go to the field alone. Pamela worried that Aalia would have a seizure far from home and not be able to return home. Or even worse, be assaulted along the path. One day, local GFA pastor Raanan ...
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Access to Clean Water

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Access to clean water is vitally important and remains a challenge in many areas of the world. For many of us, we simply turn on the faucet and fresh drinking water pours out. But many people around the world have no access to clean water. They are left thirsty. How many people lack access to clean water? The World Health Organization estimates that 785 million people lack a basic drinking water source. 1 That is defined as an improved water source within 30-minute round trip walk. In some areas of the world, especially in Asia and Africa, the walk for clean water takes hours. Even then, the water is often contaminated, causing the risk of waterborne illness. Researchers estimate that by 2025 half of the world’s population will be living in water-stressed areas. Even though 71% of the earth is covered with water, only 3% of that water is fresh water. Of that 3%, over 68% is in the form of snow, ice caps and glaciers and 30% is in the ground. 2 How ironic that there are countries surr...
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How Will Giving Children Hope Help Them?

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Giving children hope is how you build resiliency, which is defined by “an ability to recover from or adjust easily to adversity or change.” [1] One study on the impact of hope and resilience reported, “Hopeful individuals possess positive thinking that is reflective of a realistic sense of optimism as well as the belief that they can produce routes to desired goal.” [2] Every person will experience some form of adversity in their lives. It’s how a person is able to deal with those challenges that makes the difference between being able to continue on despite the situation or giving up on themselves and life. The Bible repeatedly talks about hope and its power to sustain us. Psalm 9:18 says, “But the needy will not always be forgotten; the expectation of the poor shall not perish forever.” Again in Psalm 10:17, “Lord, You have heard the desire of the humble; You will prepare their heart; You will cause Your ear to hear.” A powerful passage on hope is in Romans: “And not only that, but w...
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How Do Children’s Mental Health Issues Affect Growth?

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Children’s mental health issues are not often thought of when it comes to poverty. However, more and more evidence shows that children living in poverty, dealing with constant hunger or trapped in child labor can develop mental health problems that they bring into adulthood. According to an article in the British Colombia Medical Journal, “…child abuse, trauma, and early adversity can have a significant impact on all aspects of child development and behavior. Early childhood interventions that support the basic needs of children, including access to nutritious food, safe and affordable housing, quality child care, and regular health care, should be our top health priority if we want to ensure the well-being of future generations.” [1] When a child faces daily hunger and constant uncertainty about their environment, they will have a hard time focusing and excelling at school (if they even go), have developmental delays, and spend precious energy worrying about their situation. It’s vita...
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How Can I Help Children in Crisis?

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Children in crisis need immediate relief from whatever desperate situation they may be facing. People may say that children are resilient, but that does not mean they are indestructible. A child who is in crisis is experiencing a form of trauma. According to the National Child Traumatic Stress Network, “Traumatic experiences can initiate strong emotions and physical reactions that can persist long after the event. Children may feel terror, helplessness, or fear, as well as physiological reactions such as heart pounding, vomiting, or loss of bowel or bladder control. Children who experience an inability to protect themselves or who lacked protection from others to avoid the consequences of the traumatic experience may also feel overwhelmed by the intensity of physical and emotional responses.” [1] Kids who face crises like hunger, child labor and poverty are experiencing a kind of trauma, even if they can’t name it as such. The NCTSN says unaddressed trauma can cause children to have ne...
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