When you first heard we were trying to raise $1.2 million in the Rocky Mountain Conference to help end deaths from malaria in Africa, did you think we would make it?
At Annual Conference in June, the Steering Committee reported that not only did we achieve our goal, we surpassed it, with gifts and pledges totaling $1,414,000! And since then, we have received another $75,000 in goals and contributions, bringing our total commitments to $1.489 million as of July 31!
If that's not exciting enough, here are some more details on the work that has made this possible:
Members from 203 different churches made a contribution. Eight more have set goals, but haven't yet sent in their funds. That means 81% of Rocky Mountain Conference churches participated in this extraordinary effort!
Specifically:
- Wyoming churches collectively raised $26.30 raised per member
- Newcastle First (Wyoming) raised $4,985 - that's $22 per member
- Grace (Cheyenne) raised $3,833 - that's $26 per member
- Yuma (CO) set a goal for $100 and raised $998
- Steamboat Springs exceeded their $8,000 goal and raised $13,967 - that's $34 per member!
- Ogden Community raised $5,724 - that's $24 per member!
- Montrose First (CO) is still working toward their $20,000 goal, but they have raised $31 per member - so far.
- Limon (CO) raised $78 per member by raising $20,046.
- Rush (CO) did not set a goal, but raised $88 per member
- Last Chance (CO) raised $24 per member
- Hope (Greenwood Village) raised $15,375, or $23 per member
- Heritage (Littleton) raised $8,236, or $28 per member
- Colorado Springs First raised $50,700
- Trinity Denver has raised $110,330 - so far - they are still working toward their goal of $123 per member!
- St. Andrew's (Highlands Ranch) has raised $20,964 and are still working to achieve their $24 per member goal.
- St. Luke's (Highlands Ranch) raised $26,099!
- Arvada is 20% of the way to reaching their $33 per member goal
- Good Shepherd (Thornton) raised $25 per member
- Glenwood Springs raised $22 per member
- Mountain View and St. Paul's (both in Boulder) raised $8,615 and $3,618 respectively - even though they were dealing with flood waters and a community in crisis. Perhaps they know a thing or two about mosquitoes!
Communication Changes
In the interest of saving administrative expenses for the campaign, the Steering Committee has decided to discontinue our email newsletter account. Updates will still be sent out periodically through the Rocky Mountain Conference weekly e-newsletter; you can sign up for that list here. If you do nothing, you will not receive any further communications from us, except for updates on your individual giving from the Rocky Mountain United Methodist Foundation, which continues to manage the donation tracking.
A Few Reminders
If your church has collected funds that you haven't sent in yet, please send those in on a monthly basis - the easiest way is to include donations with your monthly remittances to the Conference office, designated for Imagine No Malaria.
If your church set a goal that you haven't achieved yet, please continue working towards your goal! If you need to adjust your goal, contact Kristi Kinnison, kristi@rmumf.org.
If you have questions or updates, see whom to contact going forward.
Please continue to pray for Imagine No Malaria, for all who suffer and all who are helping to end unnecessary suffering.
Efforts to fight Malaria are also good for the communications and medical infrastructure to fight Ebola. According to the article, "Your gifts to Imagine No Malaria are also helping in the fight against Ebola because together, we’ve improved access to health care. A strong health infrastructure, consisting of trained health care workers and well-equipped facilities, is better able to handle other health threats as well." We know that although the article didn't mention this, the publicity, education and communication networks that have been developed about Malaria are the same networks being used to educate people about Ebola.
Together, we are saving and transforming lives!
