After dissolving their Ohio construction firm in 1976, Jim and Marion Zirkle and their three children moved to Broken Arrow , OK . During two years of intense study in God’s Word, Jim was presented with an opportunity to minister to a group of missionaries working in Quetzaltenango , Guatemala . It was during this time of ministry that the Spirit of God called him to Central America.
Soon afterwards, the vision that today guides the entire ministry began to unfold. Living Water Teaching was started in 1979 by the Zirkles. Since then, the work of this ministry has grown to include outreaches in several countries around the world. The Word of God is going forth through our local church, by way of Bible schools, evangelistic campaigns, medical clinics, Operation Shoebox, and through the ministries of the graduates of the Bible Institutes in each of these countries. Pastor Jim Zirkle, his son, son-in-law, two missionaries and six group members from the United States died tragically when their Douglas DC-3 aircraft went down on November 1, 1998.
Pastor Marion knew that the vision had not been completed so she picked up the mantle on that fateful night, and by the grace of God, continues running with the vision changing Central America for Jesus. On July 12, 2003, Pastor Marion married Pastor Clarence Wright and they, along with the Living Water Teaching family, are taking the gospel to Belize , Cuba , Mexico , the six countries of Central America , Bolivia , Brazil , and Paraguay in South America . Living Water Teaching has celebrated its 30 years in the ministry./ More than 29,000 students have graduated from our Bible schools and extension schools.
More than 700,000 people have been born again through this ministry. More than 100 denominations have trusted us to train their leaders and youth. The commission of Living Water Teaching is to make disciples, and send them out to do the same.
