Water key to reaching hard to reach

International (MNN) — Providing clean safe drinking water to people around the world is a platform for the Gospel. That’s what Jerry Wiles, President of Living Water International , is saying. Currently there are 1.2 billion people without clean safe drinking water and they’re doing everything they can to help.

According to Wiles, they’re making progress. “We’re now working in 20 countries, but we’ve actually done water projects in about 70 countries through partnerships and those we’ve trained. We’ve just completed 1,400 water projects and roughly close to 2.5 million people will drink clean safe drinking water today as a result of Living Water International.”

Most of the people groups who need water are people living on a dollar a day and haven’t had much access to the Gospel. Wiles says the ministry is more than just providing clean water. “Evangelism and ministry is integrated into all that we do. We’re not just a humanitarian group, although we do humanitarian work.” Showing the Jesus Film, literature distribution, and back yard Bible clubs are all part of their evangelistic campaigns. He says, “Everything we do is permeated with the ‘Living Water’ of the Gospel and brining people to a relationship with Christ.”

Hands on volunteers, prayer partners and financial supporters are all needed to make a difference in someone’s life. Gifts of $3,000 to $5,000 can help provide a well in some areas. Wiles says on average it only costs $1 to provide water for a person for one year.