FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:   Contact: Jenny Fredette WorldServe International Phone: 202-302-4979 Fax: 806-737-4979 jenny@worldserveintl.org www.worldserveintl.org   WorldServe Launches the Living Water Challenge   Springfield, MO – September 1, 2006 — In response to the global water crisis, faith-based economic development organization WorldServe International is launching the Living Water Challenge to forge partnerships with churches throughout the United States. Each congregation taking part in the Living Water Challenge will sponsor a community water well in a rural African village. WorldServe water projects also include evangelism and church planting in partnership with African churches.   The global water crisis leaves 1.1 billion people without access to clean water and basic sanitation, making water the number one killer in the world today. More people die from preventable, water-related diseases or lack of water than any other cause. In fact, 80 percent of all sickness is attributed to unsafe water. Lack of access means that women and children in sub-Saharan Africa walk up to 8 miles each day in search of water for their families.   WorldServe’s unique strategy couples high-capacity water well drilling along with community development initiatives. Contributions from donors such as God TV’s Angel Foundation, The Vetter Foundation, and James River Assembly of God enabled WorldServe to acquire drilling rigs and support trucks. With this equipment, WorldServe performs hydrological studies, drills for water, and develops water distribution systems to better serve communities.   The Living Water Challenge, under the leadership of WorldServe’s President John M. Bongiorno, builds bridges between U.S. churches and African communities in several ways.   WorldServe’s ministry representatives, Sam Farina and John Palmer, will spend the next year sharing the vision by speaking in various churches using dynamic multimedia presentations.   The ministry’s Youth Impact Coordinator, David Lindell, will focus on maximizing the unique role of children and youth in addressing the water crisis.   The campaign also has a component carried out exclusively with partner organization GPN – the Global Pastors Network. This association, led by Dr. James O. Davis, gathers and trains leading pastors from around the world. GPN chose to feature WorldServe’s Living Water Challenge as part of its Billion Soul Campaign to help churches reach 1 billion people. It will focus on the water evangelism strategy – coupling clean water with proclamation of Jesus Christ as the Living Water.   The simple concept behind the Living Water Challenge is that for a monthly commitment of prayer and financial support, a U.S. church can plant a sister church in another region of the world and provide access to clean water.   “We’re focused on water because it’s the greatest need of our time,” Bongiorno said. “Unsafe water is the number one killer in the world. Access to clean water is the basis of development. Without water, people can’t grow food and they can’t live. Very simply, water is life for people.   “That’s why we decided to find a business solution for a need that is ongoing and will continue to be a major problem for years to come. The need remains vast, but we are confident that the partnership of U.S. churches helping to build local capacity for water intervention will prove effective.”   For additional information, contact: Jenny Fredette WorldServe International Phone: 202-302-3979 Fax: 806-737-4979 jenny@worldserveintl.org www.worldserveintl.org   WorldServe’s Living Water Challenge will create lasting partnerships with at least 100 U.S. churches, resulting in more than 100 community water wells throughout Africa.   Organizational History: WorldServe is a faith-based, non-profit organization engaged in humanitarian relief and economic development. It alleviates physical and spiritual poverty by giving the poor help for today and hope for tomorrow. Providing sustainable growth opportunities and strategically investing in entrepreneurial communities, WorldServe seeks to restore dignity to people's lives. Recent innovative projects include the drilling of water wells, strategic medical missions, and microfinance loans to create jobs. WorldServe is an inter-denominational organization with a diverse array of partners. We are "Building global networks. Meeting local needs."