It was the morning of June 4th, 2006…What seemed to be just another Sunday in the small village of Tokumbu, Malawi. Rev. Leonard Banda stood outside of a small, brick building with a sheet metal roof, ringing a bell to announce that church was about to begin. He stood waiting for the villagers to join him for prayer and worship. June is a very hard time of year for Malawians because it’s in the middle of their dry season. Thousands upon thousands of children die every year in Malawi because they lack clean water and access to medication. 2006 was no different. As the villagers came down to worship, Rev. Banda could see the helpless look of deep despair in the eyes of many devoted parents because they had sick children and literally no way to get them the clean, healthy water they so desperately needed. As they filled up the tiny building, Rev. Banda knew that God would want him to deliver a message of hope…and he was determined to do just that…even if the only hope he could share was that of someday living in Heaven, where there will be no more tears, and no more suffering. But, despite their impossible realities, deeply embedded in the hearts and minds of every person in that room was the simple hope that God would somehow provide them with the miracle of clean water. No one was praying for a new car or a new TV, a new air-conditioner or some new household appliance. No. The people of Tokumbu were simply praying for clean water…nothing more, nothing less. On that very same morning, on the other side of the world, in a medium-sized church in Akron, Ohio (Cornerstone Free Methodist Church), people were walking into their beautiful, air-conditioned sanctuary, to sit in their soft, comfortable chairs, only to find that each seat had a bottle of water on it. Little did they know that they were about to play a part in a miracle that was beyond their imagination. That morning, Pastor Brenda Young gave a message entitled “A Cup of Clean Water.” She passionately shared about the terrible water crisis in Africa and then pleaded with the congregation to take action by financing the installation of wells to desperate locations in Africa already located by Free Methodist missionaries. The average cost of a well in many African countries ranges from $5000 to $6000 depending on the depth and location of the well. Cornerstone Church is a low to middle income church with seemingly no extra money to give beyond the basic necessities of the yearly budget, so Pastor Brenda had only hoped to raise enough money for one well that day. But, within three months of that miracle Sunday, Cornerstone had raised enough money for more than 8 wells!
Not long after that, Rev. Banda, and the people of Tokumbu, received some of the greatest news they had ever heard! A truck was coming to put in a well! A clean water well would be placed in the very heart of Tokumbu! Rev. Banda and the villagers jumped up and down with thanksgiving and praise to God for answering their desperate prayers with the miracle of beautiful, clean, life-sustaining water! Their lives were forever changed, and all who use the well will know that the clean water came as a direct result of God’s answer to their prayers. Add to it the fact that this same great news was being given to seven more villages that had very similar conditions to that of Tokumbu and the evidence was in place—God was moving into action in POWERFUL ways throughout Africa!
Back in America, this great news was pouring into Free Methodist World Missions and to Cornerstone Church! It was then that God began planting a vision inside to use a documentary video about this "Miracle Sunday" to inspire churches across the nation with a life-changing challenge: Dedicate one Sunday every year for raising funds to place clean water wells in desperate locations throughout Africa.
The next step for the Clear Blue Project took place during the Free Methodist General Conference, held at Spring Arbor University in early July 2007. Clear Blue distributed approximately 1000 free DVDs to church leaders and showed a 4 minute version of the documentary video to all in attendance. This video directly challenged Free Methodist church leaders to dedicate one Sunday per year to raising funds for wells in Africa, just as planned. Also, the DVD provided all attendees with additional relevant information, including the address for the Clear Blue web-site, where many resources and information can be found and put to use.
The Clear Blue Global Water Project is alive and thriving…Now it’s your turn to become a part of this miracle story. If God can do something this big at one medium-sized, low to middle income church, just imagine what He will do at your church or place of influence! “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.” Ephesians 3:20-21
