Faith for Water

Hebrews 11:1
“Now Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see”
James 2:17
“In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.”

For many people across Africa life revolves around the daily challenge of finding enough clean water for basic needs. This is the case in many places in Swaziland as well, especially in the rural areas where large water sources have not been developed and brought close to homes.

In July of 2008 a Global Outreach team from Bethany First Church of the Nazarene traveled to Swaziland to work in a small village called Sisatsaweni, Swaziland. As most of the team worked, one team member looked up the hill at the primary school and saw a tall windmill that was not turning. He wandered up the hill to check it out and asked the teachers and other community members about this windmill water pump. He was told that it had been broken for quite a while yet the water source beneath it was still strong.

The idea of water being just below the surface and yet not accessible to the community above who was in desperate need created a holy discontent in this team member. It was a discontent that caused him to begin to research water systems in the country and to find professionals that could assess and possibly remedy this issue in this community.

Before the team went home this man had met a contractor who gave information and a quote for installation of a solar-based water pump system. This came with a price, however, and when the team got home this team member felt led by the Lord to share this need with others. Together with other members of the church he raised the necessary moneys to hire the contractor and install a new system into this bore hole. It was a solar system that would bring water at no cost to this school and the clinic.

With this project finished, the church members continued to dream and pray about the water needs in Swaziland. In March of 2009 they came back to Swaziland to do an assessment of the other 16 clinics and surrounding communities in the country. When they had finished they found that putting a solar pump at the remaining 16 Nazarene clinics came with a large price tag. The cost did not deter them, but they knew it would take a long time to complete all of the Nazarene clinics. They felt led by God to continue on this path, but unbeknownst to them God was leading others down the same path as well.

Meanwhile, the Coca-Cola Foundation was looking for a group that had a vision and a plan to bring water to Swaziland. Jim and Colleen Copple, BFC members and grant-writers for NCMI, made the connections between Coca-Cola, NCM Swaziland, NCMI, Swaziland’s Nazarene hospital, RFM, and Bethany First Church. The plan that had already been developed by BFC’s assessment in March became the basis for the proposal to Coca-Cola.

By July 2009, Coca-Cola had awarded a grant to NCMI to bring solar powered water systems to Nazarene clinics in need, as well as several community gardens. The gardens are operated by HIV support groups initiated by Swaziland’s Nazarene HIV and AIDS Task Force, and are a life source for people with HIV/AIDS. The first phase of the project began in mid-August, and there are already several solar water systems up and running, providing free and clean water to their surrounding communities.

It is the plan for the twelve Nazarene clinics and communities in need of a better water supply to receive a solar water system with associated water harvesting and sanitation systems in the remainder of 2009 and the first half of 2010. As the water supply dictates, the system is intended to serve the clinic first, then the school and church on the mission station, and finally the community. Yet this is only the first of three phases in the grant.

This story would not be what it is if it were not for the strong faith exhibited by many. It was the faith of one team member who felt a holy discontent and urgency about water. It was the faith of a team who prayed around a broken windmill in July 2008, and whose continued prayers multiplied the supply of water throughout the country! It was also the faith of those who were able to see God’s hand in the small plans of one church as well as the large plans of an outside donor. Stepping out in faith is one of the ways that God uses us to bring glory to himself and to his Church. Sometimes the glory of God comes in the tangible form of clean water in the name of Jesus – the living water!

(This article recently appeared in the regional Nazarene publication, Out of Africa.)