Nothing But Nets

August 27, 2008

Dear St. Paul’s Family,

If I were to tell you that ten dollars could save a life, would you believe me?

More importantly, would you give it?

Every year, 1 million people die around the world from malaria.  It is particularly devastating in Africa, where malaria cases account for roughly half of all hospital admissions.  Malaria-related illnesses also affect the economy, with an estimated 12 billion dollars per year in lost productivity, foreign investment, and tourism.  Worst of all, malaria kills 1 child in Africa every 30 seconds.

The predominant carrier for the disease is the African mosquito, which is most active at night, between the hours of 10pm and 4am.  Sleeping African children become unsuspecting prey to a disease that has the potential of killing them in a matter of weeks.

But the tragic irony is that malaria is entirely preventable.  By supplying families with insecticide-treated nets that hang over their beds, rates of transmission drop a whopping 90 percent.  Couple that with anti-malarial drugs and efforts to stem the breeding of these mosquitoes, and Africa could join the rest of the world in combating and even eliminating the threat of this disease.

And the cost of each net?  You guessed it.  Ten dollars.

Jesus was very clear:  if you minister to the sick, the dying, the diseased, and the poor, you minister to Jesus himself.  The church is called to respond to the needs of others with fervor and diligence, whether those needs be here in Cherokee, or in the most remote parts of the world.

The Iowa Annual Conference has placed a special emphasis on combating malaria by supporting a program called Nothing But Nets, an agency committed to fighting the disease one family and one life at a time by providing insecticide-laced bed nets.  As of last Annual Conference, churches throughout Iowa have provided over $200,000 of support.  That means 20,000 families have been saved through the efforts of Iowa United Methodists.

St. Paul’s joins the effort this Sunday, with a special offering for the Nothing But Nets program.  I would invite you to be prayerful and generous with your support, and know that all of the offering will count toward our Rainbow Covenant Missions giving effort this year.  More importantly, you will know that your small sacrifice will literally save a life.

For more information about the Nothing But Nets program, visit www.nothingbutnets.net.

It is still great to be the church.  See you Sunday!

Grace and Peace,

Magrey

The Rev. Magrey R. deVega
St. Paul's United Methodist Church
531 W. Main St.
Cherokee, IA  51012
Ph:  712-225-3955
http://www.cherokeespumc.org