LINKING ARMS WITH THE GLOBAL CHURCH
What Pastors are saying about Living Water International
Your church is invited to engage with congregations in communities around the world that are in desperate need of safe water and God's love. Through unity, action, and compassion, you can be a powerful witness to share the Good News of Jesus and help end the water crisis for 703 million people worldwide.
KNOWLEDGE
EXPERIENCE
INVESTMENT
Every contribution makes a significant impact–a small monthly gift, a water project sponsorship, or an entire Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Program Area.
What is unique about Living Water International?
- For 35 years, we have partnered closely with the Church in all its forms—national and district networks, as well as local congregations—to mobilize and empower them as leaders in water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) projects. Through this partnership, the Church transcends divisions to demonstrate love for neighbors in need, unite for a common purpose, minister to the unreached through both the Word and deed, and address pressing social issues. Guided by our holistic approach, Living Water’s WASH projects serve all people, regardless of religious affiliation.
- Living Water focuses on designated regions within a country where the need for water is most critical, rather than simply drilling wells in scattered locations. This strategic approach is known as a WASH Program Area (WPA). Through the WPA model, we commit to working in a specific geographical area for 5–7 years, allowing our teams to build meaningful relationships that drive lasting transformation. By embedding deeply within these regions, we establish partnerships with local governments, collect comprehensive data on all projects and activities, develop sustainable water sources and complex water systems, promote long-term hygiene behavior change, and strengthen relationships with local church leaders. Through these efforts, we expand God’s Kingdom by fostering ongoing discipleship and community impact.
- We use a holistic development model called Flourish that addresses the core relationships with God, ourselves, others, and the rest of creation. Read an in-depth document about the Flourish process HERE, or get a quick 1-page overview pictorial of the process HERE.
- Learn more about what makes Living Water International so unique HERE.
How does Living Water choose the churches they partner with internationally?
Does Living Water plant churches?
In what countries does Living Water operate?
Core Investment Countries:
- Kenya, Liberia, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Uganda, Zambia, Guatemala, Honduras, Dominican Republic & Haiti, South Asia
Partner Programs:
- Ghana, Peru, Zimbabwe, Nicaragua, Mexico
Where do I find answers to my questions about Living Water Trips?
We offer churches and individuals the opportunity to serve alongside our in-country teams each year to our Latin American, Caribbean, and African countries. More information about Living Water Trips can be found HERE.
How does Living Water select which geographical areas you work to provide clean water?
We select areas to work based on a number of factors, including:
- Where the need is the greatest for clean water.
- Where there are local church pastors who will network and collaborate together to champion the work in their communities.
- Where national and local municipality leaders will support the work.
How do you measure the results of your work?
Living Water measures its success based on measurable results. When we start a WASH program we take a baseline survey, assess mid-way, and at the end we assess increased access to safe water and changes in hygiene practices. We also measure perceptions of the local church. There is a lot that goes into Living Water programs every day around the globe. Sometimes, the full scope of our work can be intimidating to understand, so we’re here to break it down for you. Read about the technical side of the results HERE.
What is the average cost for a person to obtain safe water?
How much does it cost to drill a well in a community?
This is a great and popular question! The short answer is, “It depends!” The actual cost of a new water point varies based on many factors. For example, the type of system (a simple hand pump verses a complex water system), the depth of the well, whether it takes multiple attempts to reach water, how many people the project will serve, and many other factors. In addition, the process and strategy for each new water system includes efforts to mobilize local municipality leadership, church pastors, and community water committees. The development of unity across these multiple sectors can take up to an entire year’s effort. Therefore, the cost of projects range from $15,000 to $90,000, or more.
