Mississippi Church Honors Legacy
Living Waters for the World (LWW) shares clean water throughout the world in a unique, yet beautiful way – by empowering the church to fulfill God’s call as outlined in Matthew 25. We often lift up our trained church mission teams, the “hands and feet” of this ministry. However, our church financial partners are equally important to the success of this life transforming work. They are the wind beneath our wings.
And thus today we celebrate the wonderful members of Briarwood Presbyterian Church of Jackson, MS and the legacy of one of their saints, Johnnie Webb. “Briarwood Presbyterian is all about Christian community,” says mission committee chair Audie Dodson. “We seek to make a relationship with God the most important thing in our lives, and because of that relationship, we respond to God’s call to love our neighbors, both near and far away.”
Johnnie Webb committed her life to teaching Spanish and history to high school and college students. On a teacher’s salary, she managed to save a large amount of money, and at her passing, Briarwood received the bulk of her estate. Her instructions were straightforward – use the funds for world missions of high impact, with preference given to Latin American countries.
In a twist that can only be described as a “God thing,” LWW founder Wil Howie happened to be one of Johnnie Webb’s students! Wil states, “Ms. Johnnie Webb was both my high school and college Spanish teacher. Through her I developed my life-long love of Spanish.”
And, when Briarwood began to consider Ms. Webb’s intent for the Johnnie Webb Endowment Fund, they reached out to Living Waters for the World. Most recently, Briarwood Presbyterian has provided grants to help fourteen LWW water teams and their operating partners.
Corinne Fox, Johnnie Webb Fund Committee, Audie Dodson, Briarwood PC Mission Committee Chair, and pastor Rev. Charles Bowdler celebrate Briarwood's most recent gift with Steve Young
Wil Howie says, “What a blessing that her love and legacy along with our dear partners at Briarwood Presbyterian are now so beautifully supporting LWW’s work.” Fourteen communities with clean water and fourteen partners sharing the love of Christ are a beautiful legacy indeed.
