BGMC Change Agents Silicone Wristband

• BGMC Relay Walk for Living Water Raises $80,000
  

  Two dozen pastors walk across Arkansas to raise fund for BGMC

• New BGMC Product
  

  BGMC offers new product for activities and prizes.

• Kids in Japan Raise Funds for BGMC
  

  Kids in Okinawa, Japan, are raising funds for BGMC too!

• 2013 BGMC Calendar On Sale
  

  The calendar reflects the Change Agents theme, which kids are sure to love.

• BGMC Kids Send Christmas Gifts to Honduran Children
  

  Kids in Arkansas make a difference for kids in Honduras.

• Change Agents Offering Boxes Now Available
  

  2013 BGMC theme offering boxes FREE

• National BGMC Day-The Second Sunday in March
  

  Gear up for National BGMC Day!

• 2012 BGMC Giving Report
  

  National BGMC coordinator reports on 2012 giving.

• Buddy on African Safari
  

  Buddy helps missionaries provide water for southern Africa.

• Missionaries Ron and Gloria Hanson-Africa Oasis Project
  

  Missionary thank-you letter from Tanzania / Africa Oasis Project

BGMC Provides Water for Africa

By Mary Boyd, BGMC coordinator/BGMC

Water. We drink it every day, and we take for granted that in America we can have water any time and anywhere. When we look at a map of the world, we see that 97 percent of the world is saltwater. It gives the illusion that there is plenty of water in the world. Yet if all of the world's drinkable water were put into a bucket, only one teaspoon would be drinkable.¹ Water is so important. A person can live weeks without food, but only days without water.

According to the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), more than 1 billion people - about one in six people in this world - have no access to clean and safe drinking water. The effects of unclean water often lead to an endless cycle of poverty, conflict, disease and death.²

Women and children are most affected by the lack of clean water. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 5,000 children die every day as a result of diseases caused by unclean water. That's 1.8 million children a year or one death every eight seconds. The WHO also states that roughly 90 percent of water-related diseases are because of unsafe water.

The water crisis is especially felt in Africa. Africa is considered one of the most water-impoverished regions in the world. The lack of clean water in Africa is considered a "global crisis."³ Africa has about 9 percent of the world's water resources but 13 percent of the world's population. This means that the amount of water for each person is well below the world average and often at great distance from the people. Africa's women and children are often obligated to use large segments of their time and energy daily in hauling water. ⁴

Assemblies of God World Missions is responding to the water crisis. They have created an organization called the "Africa Oasis Project" (AOP). BGMC is partnering with AOP to help provide money for water wells and providing portable drilling rigs to drill for water. Each water well is drilled by an Assemblies of God church or an Assemblies of God Bible School. This way, the people in the village come to the church or Bible school to receive the water. The pastor and school administrator can also take care of the well and protect it. As people come for water, we are then able to share about the "Living Water-Jesus" with them. It has become a great evangelism opportunity, especially in areas where Christianity is not welcomed. In 2008, BGMC provided the funds for several water wells in Africa and several portable drills that can be towed behind a vehicle. When able, a full-fledged water well is installed. But many times there are areas where drilling equipment cannot get to. In those cases, portable drills are needed.

To also help with the water situation, BGMC is providing "Buddy Buckets" (water buckets) to people all over Africa. Our missionaries observed that women and children were using any kind of old, dirty container for water. Some containers were old oil and gas cans. People could not afford new, clean buckets. BGMC was asked to provide buckets so we created "Buddy Buckets." (See above photo.) The missionaries tell us that the people are so thrilled to receive these.

None of this would be possible without you! All the sacrifices you make, the time that you give, and the inspiration that you provide the kids is making a difference around the world. Every penny that goes to missions is used to reach the world for Jesus! Thank you for providing the "Living Water" for Africa. For more information about the Africa Oasis Project, go to www.africaoasisproject.org.

Click here for missionary thank-you letters with photos from the Africa Oasis Project.

"If anyone gives you even a cup of water because you belong to the Messiah, I tell you the truth, that person will surely be rewarded." Mark 9:41

1. www.GlobalCitizenCorps.org
2. www.GlobalCitizenCorps.org
3. http://www.america.gov/st/washfile-english/2007/May/200705171308471EJrehsiF9.121341e-02.html
4. www.africaoasisproject.org