World Vision, an international Christian humanitarian organization, has been working for nearly three decades to bring clean water to the most remote areas of the world, and with the invention of a manual, smaller plastic pump, the relief organization is hoping to expand its clean water outreach even farther.

The pump, according to Randy Strash, World Vision's water, sanitation, and hygiene strategist, consists of a small, plastic PVC pipe and PVC fittings which costs only $25 to assemble, compared to $700 to $800 for standard stainless steel pumps previously used in many parts of the world.

Although the pump's plastic composition seems flimsy, it will actually last five to seven years without any need for maintenance, according to Strash. more >>

One of the greatest challenges facing the world today – one that kills nearly 5,000 children every day – is the lack of access to clean water. But today on U.N.-designated World Water Day, we'll look at one Oklahoma-based group that is providing a fresh solution that is saving lives and giving hope to hundreds of thousands of people in impoverished communities around the world.

Water4, established in 2008 by Richard and Terri Greenly, has for years been equipping, training, and empowering locals in Central America, Africa and parts of Asia to drill water wells on their own and in surrounding communities. The initiative is aimed at eradicating the global water crisis, which kills a child every 21 seconds, largely due to Diarrheal disease, which is more deadly than Tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS and Malaria combined.

Water4's upcoming documentary about the group's work, called "This is Normal," directed by Derek Watson, gives a first-hand account of the families in Africa living with the very real realities of the clean water crisis every day. The film also chronicles Water4 President Richard Greenly's motivation in starting up the group, and how the project has spread around the world. more >>

A Christian economic professor has argued that the problem of poverty is based less on a lack of material goods and more about "broken relationships."

Dr. Brian Fikkert, founder and executive director of the Chalmers Center for Economic Development at Covenant College, told those gathered at a Christian leadership conference held in Raleigh, N.C.: "I would like to submit to you this morning that poverty is fundamentally rooted in broken relationships.

"And once you define poverty as being rooted in broken relationships, it orients everything you do. It changes everything in your approach to working with the poor. " more >>

A memorial service for longtime National Religious Broadcasters board member Dr. Alex Leonovich is planned for Emmanuel Baptist Church in Manville, N.J., on Saturday. Leonovich, who was the director of Slavic Missionary Service, "went to be with the Lord" on Wednesday after nearly seven decades of missionary, pastoral, and evangelistic work, NRB stated.

"Alex was a giant among the NRB faithful. He never lost sight of his calling and never lost his love for NRB," said NRB President & CEO Dr. Frank Wright.

SMS, an organization dedicated to reaching Slavic people for Christ, stated, "Alex not only preached with his words, but even more so with his actions. Alex would always tell you that he is ready to be with the Lord at any time, and God truly helped Alex to fulfill his ultimate desire: 'When it's time for the Lord to take me home, I want to go with my boots still on!'" more >>

Noted televangelist Pat Robertson has claimed that a prayer he made recently on the air was answered for one of his viewers.

A couple weeks ago on an episode of the long-running program "The 700 Club," the founder and chairman of the Christian Broadcasting Network prayed that a given member of his viewing audience would receive a much needed million dollars.

On the Monday episode for "The 700 Club," Robertson spoke of the million-dollar prayer succeeding, as someone identified only as "a businessman" apparently got a check for that amount. more >>

A young U.S. missionary has persuaded the Honduran government to allow 2,000 Christians to converge on the Central American country for one week to preach the Gospel, provide medical aid and potentially affect life-long change as part of a One Nation One Day campaign targeting what has become the world's deadliest country.

"We have almost 1,600 people already signed up to come with us to Honduras July 13-21. We have already shipped 10 containers of aid and we're gathering eight more. We have 18 different ministries sponsoring 18 different outreaches in the capital cities on July 20," explained Dominic Russo, the 29-year-old missionary organizing the event through his nonprofit Missions.Me network, which he leads with Jedidiah Thurner and and Gabe Bahlhorn.

"The momentum is enormous. We're going to be broadcast live in Honduras on the government channel. We're going to be on every radio station in Honduras and broadcast hopefully across the world with a couple of different Christian networks. The momentum is unbelievable and the vision is that all of Honduras will be changed and impacted in one day," he added. more >>