(ABP) — Pure drinking water — a critical need to avoid an outbreak of deadly diseases in the wake of South Asia's tsunamis — got a boost from two sizeable donations from Baptists.
First Baptist Church of Rome, Ga., donated $50,000 to purchase five water-purification systems for tsunami survivors in Indonesia's refugee camps. Each unit can produce 10 gallons of fresh water a minute.
And Woman's Missionary Union is sending over $37,000 worth of water-purification equipment to Sumatra and other parts of Indonesia.
The Georgia church's gift came from an unprecedented budget surplus. “Instead of sticking that money away for a rainy day, we realized [tsunami survivors] were having their rainy day now,” said Phil Smith, the church's minister of students and missions.
“We can't imagine a more Christ-like project than to give fresh water to these who have suffered so much,” said Tom Bennett, chairman of deacons.
The church also challenged its members and the Rome community to raise money to purchase an additional five water-purification units. “Water has taken away. Water can also give life,” pastor Joel Snider said.
The church collected another $26,693 Sunday, Jan. 9. The effort is coordinated with David Harding, the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship's international coordinator for emergency response and transformational development.
The donations from Woman's Missionary Union, a Southern Baptist agency in Birmingham, Ala., came from a pre-existing water-purification project called “Pure Water, Pure Love,” begun in 1997.
A total of 457 items, ranging from water filters to portable water-purification systems for personal use, will be delivered to Indonesia through disaster-relief teams, volunteers and other mission partners.
The shipment will deplete WMU's supply of water filters, the agency said, but an order has been placed for more equipment worth $100,000. WMU is “committed to sending more water systems to help provide safe, clean water to those living in the midst of this crisis,” said Jean Cullen, WMU missions involvement specialist.
The main purpose of “Pure Water, Pure Love” is to provide missionaries with safe drinking water. “Thanks to the support we have received for this ministry, we are able to respond to those in need of clean water in Southeast Asia,” Cullen said.
WMU wants to expand the ministry to include digging wells and other long-term solutions for providing clean water in areas where missionaries serve.