Meet Brian and Karen Prunty: Answering God’s Call and Embracing a Life of Stewardship

Back in the early 1990s, when Karen and Brian Prunty heard God calling them to live out a stewardship-based faith, they didn’t hesitate to answer.

“We were praying over our treasure and how we should use it,” Brian says.

While attending Mass around 30 years ago, Karen and Brian encountered a visiting priest who was working in Tanzania. At the time, the two of them had been considering where to give their tithe outside of the United States. They decided to periodically send money to the priest, praying over the envelope of money that would support the Missionaries of St. Francis de Sales and Holy Cross Sisters overseas.

On that same weekend, their friends Mary and Steve Zimmerman encountered another priest at their parish, who discussed the possibility of helping support his missionary work in Tanzania. In 1994, the Zimmermans traveled to Tanzania. Eventually, after a few years of offering this support, these efforts formalized into the founding of a not-for-profit organization, now known as Living Waters International. Karen says that Mary Zimmerman, who has since passed away, was largely the inspiration behind Living Waters.

The decision to begin a not-for-profit organization with five young children was not something that Brian and Karen took lightly, but they felt the Lord calling them to do so, along with the Zimmermans. While there have been challenges and an incredible amount of work over the last 25 years, the two say it was truly an answered prayer.

“I don’t think we’ve ever doubted the call,” Brian says.

Living Waters International exists to collect funds for the missionary and international development efforts in East Africa and India. As the organization’s mission statement reads: “This mission arises from faith in Jesus Christ, the belief that He desires that the Gospel be shared with all people, and the belief that He calls each of us to do our part to alleviate human suffering among the poor and marginalized of this world.”

The organization’s work includes a variety of efforts, such as student sponsorship, seminarian support, construction projects, daily living expenses of religious, housing for the poor, solar and wind power facilities, and much more.

Karen and Brian credit much of the Living Waters International’s successes to its benefactors, many of whom are local to the Diocese of Green Bay.

“I am convinced the generosity is folks listening to their own call,” Brian says. “It’s amazing how Living Waters has grown and how we get funds — sometimes it’s miraculous how the money gets to us. It is unexpected and it fills a need.”

But the two ultimately give credit to God for His calling them and others to a life of stewardship.

The countries of Kenya and Uganda were hit particularly hard when COVID-19 lockdowns caused many locals to lose their livelihood, primarily those who worked as day laborers. Around that same time, Karen found herself chatting with someone in the diocese about her work. That conversation led to a $125 donation to 20 schools and parishes, providing food to the communities. Karen received photos from the communities that brought tears to her eyes.

“It was never expected,” she says.

Steve Zimmerman is currently working in Africa for five months, and the Pruntys will travel there for a few weeks this year as well. They hope the organization will continue to grow, entrusting it in God’s hands.

“We are just open to where the Spirit takes us,” Brian says.

If you would like to make a donation, or to learn more about Living Waters International, please visit www.livingwatersinternational.org. Brian and Karen Prunty are also available for presentations about their organization and can be reached at livingh2o@livingwatersinternational.org.

Karen and Brian Prunty have been working at Living Waters International for 25 years. They say much of their work is credited to the generosity of our local Diocese of Green Bay parishioners.