Sleep Out Malaria
Written by UM News Service Monday, 29 March 2010 12:50
The United Methodist Church will mark this World Malaria Day, April 25, with a call to local churches to “Sleep Out to End Malaria” on the weekend of April 24-25.
The sleep out events – in which individuals sleep overnight under imitation bed nets – coincide with the denomination’s official launch of Imagine No Malaria, an initiative that seeks to raise $75 million to eliminate death and suffering from malaria in Africa by 2015.
“The United Methodist Church is committed to being a key player in the global movement to eliminate the worst effects of this deadly disease,” said the Rev. Larry Hollon, chief executive of United Methodist Communications. “This event is a unique way to raise awareness and build unity around the idea that we can make a sweeping difference on the African continent.”
The United Methodist Church is encouraging local churches to participate in the Sleep Out to End Malaria as part of a unified action for World Malaria Day in partnership with the United Nations Foundation and the global malaria community.
Sleep outs provide a great teaching opportunity for youth and help them to connect to families in Africa. Directions for holding a sleep out are available online at http://www.umc.org/site/c.lwL4KnN1LtH/b.5554239/k.31EB/Imagine_No_Malaria_a_ministry_to_eliminate_malaria_in_Africa_by_2015.htm. Included are instructions for making bed nets, ideas for using the event as a malaria fundraiser, worship resources, and more.
“Sleep Out to End Malaria” events are among the many service and awareness-building events planned by United Methodist churches worldwide during The United Methodist Church’s first-ever Rethink Church Change the World event, April 24-25. Churches can register their event on a global map of Change the World events at http://www.umcom.org/site/c.mrLZJ9PFKmG/b.5771097/k.4D8B/Change_The_World_Event/apps/ka/ct/contactcustom.asp.
