In a very old church nestled in the heart of a campground, near Oxford, the students of Clean Water U offered a morning prayer. They called for God to "create springs in the parched desert of our hearts."

They had come from as far as New York and Minnesota to hone their skills for bringing clean water to the poor.

As the students dispersed, Danny Kelly began explaining the basic workings of the water purification system.

"Relatively speaking, it's pretty basic, light-weight and inexpensive," said Kelly. "We try to purchase as many components as we can in-country."

The clever, self-contained system, the basic model of which can produce about 120 five-gallon jugs of clean water a day, is the basic hardware of Living Waters' work. The missionaries insist, however, that the relationships they build are the real heart of the ministry.

Universal need

Dirty water kills 13,000 people every day worldwide. The epidemic is worse in developing countries, such as in Central America and Africa, and children, especially those under the age of five, are the most susceptible.

"Clean Water U," the training ground for an organization called Living Waters for the World, prepares missionaries to attack the problem of dirty water head-on. At the heart of the mission is a biblical message, and the imagery of water, as a source of life and renewal, is everywhere.

Over the course of four days students at "Clean Water U" learn to establish a cooperative relationship with people in needy areas and to maintain that relationship as clean, life-giving water flows from one of the purifiers.

Friday morning, Todd Jenkins of Fayetteville, Tenn., stepped outside the "102" class, which shows missionaries how to teach indigenous people proper hand-washing and sanitary techniques.

Jenkins was part of a team that recently installed a purifier in Guatemala. He said the network of humanity that makes the project work is always inspiring.

"From the interpreters, to those who cook and the people that we teach and empower to maintain these systems, it's just amazing to see it all come together," said Jenkins.

Missionaries usually install the purifiers in some place like a church or a school, then those left in charge sell the water at a fraction of what it would normally cost. The meager profits are put toward maintaining the system, but money isn't the goal and Living Waters encourages giving the water away to those who can't afford it. Jenkins has seen the purifiers bring together entire villages and said the health and good will the water inspires is fertile ground for talking about the love of Christ.

Technical skill

Living Waters for the World started as the brainchild of the Rev. Wil Howie. In seminary Howie, a self-described Mr. Fix-it, read about the worldwide water crisis and started developing a small-scale, practical approach to addressing it. He solicited the help of engineers. In 1993 his proposal, including the purification system and the ministry model that accompanies it, was adopted by the Synod of Living Water of the Presbyterian Church USA, which includes Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee and Kentucky.

Three years later the first site was up and running in Mexico and since then, as more funding and resources have become available, things have taken off.

Living Waters now maintains 300 purification systems in 22 countries. "Clean Water U" started in 2004 as a means of refining the model and better preparing missionaries. A second location, "Clean Water U West," is set to open soon in California.

"We're growing at a logo-rhythmic pace," said Ralph Young, a retired engineer and one of Living Waters three, full-time paid staff. The thousands of people who've helped bring Howie's vision to fruition are volunteers.

"As baby-boomers are retiring and asking how they can give back, we're getting some really skilled people," said Young.

In the "103" class, he explained the technical workings of one of the larger systems, like the one used in the Yucatan region of Mexico, where the water can be unhealthy.

The purifiers can use almost anything as a source, such as a lake, a river - even a ditch. A shot of ozone is one of the tricks used in the purifying process.

Among those listening to Young was Dr. Cristiane Queiroz Surbeck, a civil engineer who teaches as the University of Mississippi.

Surbeck, who has studied a number of projects similar to what Living Waters is doing, was very impressed.

"Their ability to work effectively, with limited resources, in indigenous areas, and to coordinate well with the people is really remarkable," she said.

Kelly pointed to solar panels atop a cinder block building that housed the purification systems.

"We're working on the technology to make those our source of power," he said.

Sharing the wealth

Living Waters started as a Presbyterian initiative but it's grown into an ecumenical collaboration. Lutherans, Catholics, Methodists, Episcopalians and Latter-day Saints have been among the 900 students who've taken the training.

Spreading the gospel is always important, but "Clean Water U" focuses a lot on cultural sensitivity and non-aggressive methods of evangelizing.

"We figure there are plenty of missionary opportunities out there," said Kelly. "We definitely spread the message of Jesus Christ, but for us providing clean water is the first step."

He hopes the organization can help more of the world's poor achieve the fullness of life that comes with healthy living. That kind of concern, he said, crosses religious and ideological boundaries.

Living Waters missionaries work to cultivate a sense of ownership, as well as of dignity and personal responsibility among those who receive the purification units.

"It's like the old saying, the difference between giving someone a fish and teaching them to fish," said Kelly. "We don't want to be the ugly Americans here, coming in, taking over and dictating to people how they should live. We want this to be a partnership."

Ed Cunnington of Orono, Minn., recently returned from a Living Waters trip to Cuba. He was impressed at how effectively the missionaries were able to empower the people there to maintain their own system.

"It was such a blessing to that community," he said. Even with limited mechanical skills he's confident that after four days at "Clean Water U" he can hit the ground running on his next trip. "I can do this. I know it," he said.

Victor Carcioppolo, a profusionist from Strongsville, Ohio, said his team is going back in a couple of months to check on a unit they installed in Guatemala.

"We're all kind of tools in the toolbox of God," he said. "Putting in these systems, building these friendships, it has a kind of ripple effect - no pun intended."

Contact Daily Journal religion editor Galen Holley at 678-1510 or galen.holley@djournal.com