Imagine No Malaria's Impact

Imagine No Malaria is having a tremendous impact in 16 African countries, and this new infographic lays out all the ways we are saving - and changing - lives.

Leadership Transition: Campaign contacts going forward

Rev. Kerry Greenhill,
Field Coordinator

As we previously announced, Rev. Kerry Greenhill will complete her term as Field Coordinator on February 25. Should you have questions, need materials, or want to request a volunteer Ambassador to give a presentation after that time, please contact one of the following people:

If you...

• Need handouts or other materials: Please check the Resources page on this blog, or at ImagineNoMalaria.org, first; if you can't find what you need, contact Rev. Youngsook Kang's office, dmmassistant@rmcumc.com or 303-389-9466
• Want to request a speaker: Robin Ball, Steering Committee Co-Chair, nanas91@yahoo.com
• Need financial information (about your own giving or your church): Kristi Kinnison, Director@rm-umf.org
• Have questions about Imagine No Malaria in general: Rev. Youngsook Kang's office (she may refer you to a District Organizer), dmmassistant@rmcumc.com or 303-389-9466
• Want to share your church's story or photos from an event: Rev. Youngsook Kang's office, dmmassistant@rmcumc.com or 303-389-9466
• Are a pastor seeking tips on raising funds within your congregation: Rev. Mike Dent, Steering Committee Co-Chair, mdent@trinityumc.org or 303-839-1493
• Have questions about the science of malaria, its prevention or treatment: Becky Buxton, rebecca.buxton@path.utah.edu or 801-581-4880
• Would like to volunteer as a District Organizer (supporting churches behind the scenes), or help with social media (Facebook and Twitter): Rev. Youngsook Kang's office, dmmassistant@rmcumc.com or 303-389-9466
• Would like to volunteer as an Ambassador (giving presentations): Robin Ball, nanas91@yahoo.com

Several members of the RMC-INM Steering Committee
took part in the net distribution mission trip to
Angola in October 2012, including Rev. Mike Dent,
Bishop Elaine Stanovsky, Kunle Taiwo, and Robin Ball

Thank you to all who have taken part as leaders, volunteers, donors, cheerleaders, fundraisers, inviters, organizers, ambassadors, servants, teachers, exhorters, inspirers, or other kinds of ministers in this extraordinary effort to end deaths from malaria in Africa! Together, we are saving and transforming lives!

Training webinar now available

Today's webinar was recorded, and is now available to watch online (1 hour):

"Rev. Kerry Greenhill will teach you everything you need to know about how to raise awareness, inspire and motivate your church and your friends to contribute to save lives."

• Videos links can be found at ImagineNoMalaria.org 
• Blog links can be found at RMCBuzz.net

Steamboat Springs surpasses their goal by 50%!

We know that Imagine No Malaria is just one of many important causes that churches are asked to support, and that each congregation faces unique circumstances and challenges that affect their ability to raise the suggested $20 per member toward our Rocky Mountain Conference goal of $1.2 million. And so we are grateful when a church takes on that baseline goal with commitment and conviction, and thrilled when they surpass it by more than 50%!

Here's how Steamboat Springs UMC did it, submitted by member Dorothy Lindahl:

Just wanted to let you know what the Steamboat Springs UMC has been doing to support the Imagine No Malaria Campaign.  Our mission team set a goal of raising $8000 (approximately $20 per member as was suggested). 

On July 4th we set up a booth which included a bednet on the lawn of the church following the parade to let others know about the project.  We had a donation jar and literature and mosquitoes.  Next we advertised and showed the "Killer in the Dark" movie at the town library, with the children selling mosquitoes they had made in Sunday School.  At the UMW Fall Fare we offered a few items left from an Estate Sale. 

We have been taking coins in buckets on the third Sundays of the month called "Change for Change." We have a portable basketball hoop which is moved place to place in the church with a bucket for coins. A challenge was made to parents and kids to make a donation for every score made as they played sports. (Nets for Nets). At Christmas we offered cards for honor donations.

I don't have the exact figure we have collected but know it is more that $13,000. United Methodist Women gave $500 raised for mission work to the fund. This has been a joint project of the Mission Team and United Methodist Women. 

Congratulations and thanks to all who took part in these efforts, and praise God for an abundant return on your faithful work!

What has your church done so far to support the cause? What exciting plans do you have for the next several months? Please send stories and photos to kerry@rmcumc.com! 

Conference Planning Season

The Mission Banquet focusing on Imagine No Malaria at
Rocky Mountain Annual Conference 2013

It's still winter outside, but annual conference planning season is well underway. You have probably already heard that this year's session for Rocky Mountain Conference will take place in Pueblo, part of our effort to rotate among the districts every few years. Many clergy and lay members have to travel long distances every year because the Metro area is hundreds of miles from where they live and serve, so once in a while it's only fair that the Metro (and other Front Range Colorado) members travel to see other parts of our region as well.

When choosing a site for annual conference, the staff and other conference leaders take into account travel options, meeting space, hotel availability, and other logistics. But in Mozambique, it turns out they have to take malaria into account as well. Jill Wondel, one of the Field Coordinators for Imagine No Malaria in the Missouri Annual Conference, shares a story that puts things into perspective:

When I was sharing my story with our district superintendent, Kendall Waller, he told me his own story about malaria. He recently visited Mozambique, I think it was this spring, and was with one of the leaders of the church there.

They were visiting the northern part of the country and the man mentioned to Kendall that when they were planning for their annual meetings, their Annual Conference, they originally thought about holding the meeting in that area.

But because the prevalence of malaria is greater in the north, they decided to move the conference further south. They determined that if they held the conference in the north for one week that they would lose 70 people to malaria.

70 people.

They had to decide where to hold their conference not based on available hotels or the size of the conference center, but on how many people they thought would die in the week they were there.

Malaria is a powerful enemy. But we have an opportunity to change that.

What are you going to do with that opportunity?

Resources for Lent

Happy Valentine's Day! Are you ready for Lent?

Seems like church leaders can never fully enjoy the present day or season because they always have to be thinking a month or two ahead to plan for the next. Ash Wednesday is March 5, less than 3 weeks away.

If your church is considering taking on Imagine No Malaria as a mission focus for Lent this year, we have some new resources to help you out! View and download any or all of the following:

• Guide for Lent (developed by INM-Iowa Conference)
• Giving from Abundance Calendar
• Bulletin Inserts
• Call to Action Poster
• Church-wide letter
• Lent slider image
• World Malaria Day Resources

May the God of abundant life and unconditional love bless you richly as you look for ways to share that love with others!

Campaign Transitions & Final Webinar

Campaign Update & Transition

Imagine No Malaria in the Rocky Mountain Conference continues to make progress toward our goal of saving 120,000 lives - we are now about 60% of the way there!

I wanted to let you know about some upcoming changes. My role as Field Coordinator will end on February 25, both because the position was always short-term and much of the work is now done, and because my husband and I are preparing to welcome a new addition to our family next month!

I have greatly enjoyed this opportunity to use my gifts to support such a meaningful and life-giving ministry, and I feel confident about leaving the campaign in the competent and trustworthy hands of the Steering Committee, supported by the office of the Director of Mission and Ministry (Rev. Dr. Youngsook Kang), and many wonderful volunteers.

I will post more details next week about whom to contact with questions or requests for speakers after February 25.

Webinar

We will be offering one more webinar training on Thursday, February 20, at 11am for those who weren't able to attend a training last year. See below for more details, or register here. The webinar will be recorded and posted online afterwards for those who can't attend the live event.

Imagine No Malaria - Make It Happen! 

Join us for a Webinar on February 20 

District Superintendent Melanie Rosa receives a check from
the children's ministry at First UMC of Colorado Springs

Did your church set a goal to save lives from malaria? Great!

Now what?

Rev. Kerry Greenhill will provide detailed information about what you can do to engage your church, and your community, to meet the goals you set. She will give real examples of what some churches are doing to raise money and make a difference in the world. You will also get in-depth information about the fight against this deadly disease that you can take back to your church and communities to generate excitement about this extraordinary effort. Put your faith into action and join us as we seek to end deaths from malaria in Africa.

Title:    Imagine No Malaria - Make It Happen!
Date:    Thursday, February 20, 2014
Time:    11:00 AM - 12:00 PM MST 

After registering you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the Webinar.

System Requirements
PC-based attendees
Required: Windows® 8, 7, Vista, XP or 2003 Server

Mac®-based attendees
Required: Mac OS® X 10.6 or newer

Mobile attendees
Required: iPhone®, iPad®, Android™ phone or Android tablet