Showing posts with label Water. Show all posts
Advent Offering -- CHARITY:WATER
As part of our Advent Conspiracy this season, we are collecting a special offering to support clean water in the world. While it is a missional emphasis of the United Methodist Church in Alaska to support clean water for Haiti, in particular, it doesn't appear there are any UM groups I could find that have that as their primary focus. So, in dialogue with some folks, our congregation has decided to support the work of CHARITY: WATER.
There are a few things that I have found particularly attractive about CHARITY:WATER.
- I believe that clean water is one of the world's most pressing needs.
- I love the personal story and biblical perspective of their founder.
- Their videos are very professional and usable in church.
- They've mastered the art of getting people involved at many levels.
- They seem to be quite transparent in their financials.
So, throughout Advent, our congregation will be encouraged to give towards this goal of clean water in the world. And, for a change, we'll be doing through the CHARITY:WATER website.
IF YOU'D LIKE TO DONATE, YOU MAY DO SO HERE!!!
November 19th -- WORLD TOILET DAY
Read more about this day to call attention to global sanitation issues.
Be informed about the lack of sanitation in the world. The facts are staggering:
| 2.6 billion people worldwide are without access to proper sanitation1, which risks their health, strips their dignity, and kills 1.8 million people, mostly children, a year2. |
| Diarrheal diseases kill five times as many children in the developing world as HIV/AIDS.2 That's 5,000 children DYING EVERY SINGLE DAY. |
| Not only that, but the disease kills more children than either malaria or AIDS, stunts growth, and forces millions - adults and children alike - to spend weeks at a time off work or school, which hits both a country's economy and its citizens' chances of a better future.3 The majority of the illness in the world is caused by fecal matter.4 |
| Lack of sanitation is the world's biggest cause of infection.4 |
| One gram of feces can contain 10 million viruses, one million bacteria, 1,000 parasite cysts and 100 parasite eggs.5 |
| Safe disposal of children's feces leads to a reduction of nearly 40% in childhood diarrhea.5 |
