North Katanga Water Wells
Twenty years ago, the Arkansas Annual Conference partnered with Bishop Ntambo in the North Katanga Conference in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) to build water wells. At the invitation of Bishop Mande Muyombo, we are rekindling that partnership.
Between now and the end of the year, the Arkansas Annual Conference is raising money to provide solar-powered wells in North Katanga. Each water well becomes the life-giving center of its village, with a United Methodist church, a school, and a health clinic built around it. Clean water for drinking and handwashing protects families from cholera and other waterborne diseases as well as Ebola.
A water well costs about $10,000. The Methodist Foundation for Arkansas has graciously offered to match gifts received by December 1, dollar for dollar, up to $25,000. The General Board of Global Ministries of the UMC has pledged a second match of up to $25,000. That means the first $25,000 Arkansas gives by December 1 becomes $75,000 for wells. There is no limit on what we send. Every gift after the match goes to North Katanga, and every $10,000 means another village has clean water.
Ways to Give
Churches may also send contributions, marked “North Katanga Water Wells,” to:
Melissa Sanders, Financial Controller
Arkansas Conference of the UMC
PO Box 3611
Little Rock, AR 72203
Individuals may give through their local church and mark the gift “North Katanga Water Wells,” or mail a check to the Conference Office at the address above with the same memo.
Please send all gifts through the Conference Office so they count toward the match. Churches receiving gifts in December, please remit them to the Conference as early in January as possible.
All gifts to this project count toward the international Advance project requirement for the Arkansas Conference Board of Global Ministries 5-Star Church Award.
Questions? Contact Rev. Dr. Hammett Evans, Chair, Board of Global Ministries, at hammett.evans@arumc.org, or Rev. Roy Smith at roy.smith@arumc.org.