Frequently Asked Questions About the Partnership between the People of the United Methodist Church & the Nothing But Nets Campaign

Q: Where did the Nothing But Nets idea come from?
A: Rick Reilly, a popular columnist for Sports Illustrated, heard about the U.N. Foundation’s efforts to provide bed nets across Africa to try to stem the spread of malaria, and he saw the potential to make a real difference. In a column titled “Nothing But Nets,” he made an appeal for anyone who plays or enjoys a sport involving nets to donate $10 to provide a bed net and save the life of a child. Malaria, transmitted by mosquito bite, kills one out of every five children in Africa under the age of 5. The response to Reilly’s column has so far generated $1.2 million, and “Nothing But Nets” has become the name identified with this effort to cover the continent of Africa with bed nets.

Q: How did we get involved in Nothing but Nets?
A: The United Methodist Church was already in dialogue with the United Nations Foundation about global health partnership opportunities when the idea of Nothing But Nets came into being. Because of our extensive presence in Africa, our long commitment to malaria prevention, and the potential for getting church youth involved in the effort, we were invited to join in this diverse partnership. We are committed to making a difference in the world, and this was an ideal opportunity for us to live out our church’s promise of “Open Hearts, Open Minds, Open Doors.”

Q: Why was The United Methodist Church chosen for this partnership?
A: The United Methodist Church is well known for its work in fighting disease and poverty around the world. In November 2005, both the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries and the U.N. Foundation participated in the Global Health Summit hosted by TIME magazine. While many organizations like the U.N. Foundation have the ability to raise funds to meet health needs, they do not have the infrastructure in place to get the money where it needs to go. For decades, The United Methodist Church has been working in African communities to prevent malaria, the leading cause of death among children. Creating a partnership using the strength of both organizations was a natural step.

Q: Who are the other partners?
A: Along with the U.N. Foundation, Sports Illustrated and The People of The United Methodist Church, NBA Cares has joined the effort, and has offered its players and organization to help raise visibility. Other partners include the Measles Initiative, which has worked closely with the U.N. in trying to eradicate that disease, and Millennium Promise, an organization fighting malaria and other diseases associated with severe poverty in many parts of the world.

Q: Is this a program only for youth?
A: No. Everyone in the church is invited to be part of Nothing But Nets, but we see this as a campaign that can be particularly exciting for young people. This is a way for them to make a tangible difference — to literally save the generation coming behind them in vulnerable parts of the world. Some of the resources for Nothing But Nets are being designed with a specific focus for youth, and text-messaging and other technology that is widely used by young people will be part of the campaign. We believe young people will lead the church in getting more deeply connected with Nothing But Nets. The church is also developing resources for its wider emphasis on issues of global health.

A cell phone text-messaging network will provide campaign updates to those who sign up for the service. They can send a text message to 47647, type “Nets” in the text field and hit send to be added to the network.

Q: How much does a net cost?
A: $10 covers the cost of purchasing and distributing an insecticide-treated net and providing education on how to use it. A net can save not only one child but multiple children in homes where family members share beds.

Q: How much of the donations actually go to the work of distributing bed nets?
A: Just like an Advance Special project in our church, 100 percent of the gifts go for the distribution of bed nets. Administrative and promotional expenses of the campaign have been borne by the U.N. Foundation and some of its partners.

Q: Where do we send money?
A: You can make an online donation at www.nothingbutnets.net or send a check to United Nations Foundation, Dept 93, Washington, DC 20055-0001.
Donations can be sent directly to the U.N. Foundation or sent through annual conference treasurers, who will then forward them to the U.N. Foundation.
One hundred percent of donations will go toward the purchase and distribution of bed nets.

Q: What countries will receive nets?
A: The funds that have already been received from Nothing But Nets have been used to purchase nets for distribution in Nigeria in early November. While malaria or poverty are not limited to Africa, the Nothing But Nets campaign will focus on distributing the nets in countries on that continent. Countries in need go through an application process with the Measles Initiative to get the nets.

Q: Will local churches get credit for the money raised for Nothing But Nets?
A: Different annual conferences may handle this in different ways, but churches that want to show their donation to Nothing But Nets as part of their benevolence giving should include the amount on their Statistical Reports, Table II, Line 51, “Other benevolences paid directly by the local church.”

Q: How will they be distributed?
A: To distribute the nets throughout communities in Africa, the campaign has partnered with the Measles Initiative—an integrated health campaign whose partners include the American Red Cross, U.S Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, World Health Organization, UNICEF and the United Nations Foundation. It is one of the most successful vaccination efforts ever undertaken. In just five years, the Measles Initiative has vaccinated nearly a quarter billion children.

The Measles Initiative works closely with African governments and local communities to ensure that its proven distribution system continues to be successful in delivering the bed nets. People receive the bed nets as part of a package provided by the Measles Initiative. The package also includes measles vaccinations, vitamin A, deworming medication and other critical health interventions.

Q: How are the central conferences involved?
A: The United Methodist central conference bishops, particularly those in Africa, are providing leadership and insights that are critical to the church as it battles malaria and other killer diseases. Bishop João Somane Machado of Mozambique gave a powerful, first-person account of malaria at the 2005 TIME Global Health Summit, and revealed that he had contracted the disease more than 80 times. Central conferences are also involved in hands-on ways through hospitals, clinics, education programs and other efforts across Africa.

Q: What else are United Methodists doing to fight malaria?
A: We continue to support work in treating and preventing malaria through mission initiatives sponsored by the United Methodist General Board of Global Ministries. The Community-Based Malaria Control Program is a key effort, and many other local projects are supported by our members through the Advance for Christ and His Church giving program.