Congressional reception spotlights Nothing But Nets
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The Rev. Kent Millard watches as Bishop Janice
Huie holds up a $10 bill, enough to buy an insecticide-treated mosquito
net for a family. A UMNS photo by Jay Mallin.
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By Kathy L. Gilbert*
Jan. 26, 2007 | WASHINGTON (UMNS)
"If you could save a life with $10, would you?"
When the Rev. Kent Millard asked that question at St. Luke's United
Methodist Church in Indianapolis, the congregation answered with a
pledge of $50,000 to the Nothing But Nets campaign. The anti-malaria
campaign is buying and distributing insecticide-treated bed nets to
protect people in Africa from deadly mosquitoes.
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Duwahabi Ogoba and her children from Lekki,
Nigeria, are protected from malaria by an insecticide-treated mosquito
net provided by Nothing But Nets. A UMNS photo by Mike DuBose.
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"I really think this campaign can bring United Methodist churches
together," Millard told a Jan. 25 reception for United Methodist members
of Congress and their staffs. "Every congregation can ask their members
to give $10 to save a life. That is what we as United Methodists are
called to do."
St. Luke's is also donating $50,000 to the United Methodist Global
AIDS Fund. Millard, who serves on the United Methodist Global AIDS Fund
task force, said his church has been involved in HIV/AIDS ministry for
years. Its mission teams have worked in a Kenyan hospital and the church
has contributed to HIV/AIDS projects.
The reception, sponsored by the United Methodist Board of Church and
Society, was held in the United Methodist Building, across from the U.S.
Capitol, three weeks after the new Congress convened. Sixty-two United
Methodists serve in the 110th Congress.
Nothing But Nets is an ambitious initiative supported by The United
Methodist Church worldwide. Each net purchased for $10 could save a life
in Africa, where malaria kills one-fifth of all children under age 5.
Hanging nets over children while they sleep is a simple, inexpensive way
to protect them from the mosquito-borne disease.
Partners in Nothing But Nets include the people of The United Methodist Church, the United Nations Foundation, Sports Illustrated,
the National Basketball Association's NBA Cares foundation, Millennium
Promise and the Measles Initiative. The United Methodist Board of Church
and Society, Board of Global Ministries and United Methodist
Communications are coordinating the church's participation.
Scoring points
Sen. Richard Lugar, an Indiana Republican and a member of St. Luke's
church, cited the congregation's "remarkable reach" as he introduced
Millard, his pastor, at the reception. Lugar's parents were one of the
founding families of St. Luke's 54 years ago.
"Our denomination is part of a major health initiative, and we are
asking all churches and congregations to help eliminate HIV/AIDs and
malaria in the world," Millard said.
When mosquitoes carrying malaria attack sleeping children, the
children "get sick, go into a coma and die within 10 days," he noted.
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The Rev. Kent Millard announces a pledge of
$50,000 to Nothing But Nets as Sen. Richard Lugar (center) and Jim
Winkler listen. A UMNS photo by Jay Mallin.
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He reminded the crowd that, in the game of basketball, "nothing but net"
means sinking a shot without the ball touching the rim - particularly
satisfying from the three-point range. "Treated bed nets save live.
That's worth a whole lot more than three points," Millard said.
St. Luke's fundraising plans for Nothing But Nets include sponsoring a
free-throw basketball challenge in the church gymnasium, and having
players contribute $10 for every missed basket.
The church’s membership includes people with the NBA’s Indiana Pacers
organization who are helping arrange a special offering to be collected
at the end of a Pacers game. In the spring, a church choir concert will
benefit the cause. The church’s special focus for Lent will be on
malaria prevention.
"I expect we will raise the $50,000 by Easter," Millard said.
Every year, St. Luke's picks a project that all of its members can be
part of, "from the children to the older adults," he said. Yearly, it
contributes $1.2 million to charitable projects supported by the
denomination.
Who will care?
Speaking at the congressional reception, Millard cited Jesus' words
in Matthew 25. "'I was sick and you came and took care of me.' Millions
are sick, are we going to care for them?" he asked.
Bishop Janice Huie, president of the Council of Bishops, met
Millard's challenge with $10 from her own billfold and an invitation to
others at the reception: "Who else will save a life with $10?" she
asked. By the end of the evening, another $200 was donated.
Church members can help slam dunk malaria by supporting the global
Nothing But Nets campaign through the church's second-mile giving
program, the Advance for Christ and His Church, via Advance #982015. One
hundred percent of each gift to the Advance will go to purchase and
distribute the treated mosquito nets. For more information, go to http://secure.gbgm-umc.org/donations/advance/donate.cfm?code=982015 or www.nothingbutnets.net.
*Gilbert is a United Methodist News Service news writer based in Nashville, Tenn.
News media contact: Kathy L. Gilbert, Nashville, Tenn., (615) 742-5470 or newsdesk@umcom.org.
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