Hunters provide venison to hungry in Tennessee

By Barry Simmons*

BOLIVAR, Tenn. (UMNS) - When Larry Ross spots a deer on his property, he can tell immediately how many meals it will provide for a hungry family.

"We think a pound of venison feeds four meals," he says, pointing to his latest kill in Bolivar, Tenn. "So if that's the case, that's 160 meals for this one deer. Not bad is it?"

Ross and a team of local United Methodists provide venison to area food banks and soup kitchens through a program called Hunters for the Hungry, operated by the Tennessee Wildlife Federation.

The program aims to alleviate the county's exploding deer population - now the highest in the state - by encouraging hunters to kill extra deer and donate them to families in need.

Chad Whittenburg, state coordinator for Hunters for the Hungry, says the overpopulation is beginning to cause problems in Hardeman County, such as ruined crops and high insurance rates from collisions with deer.

At the same time, local food programs are struggling to find enough donated meat. Whittenburg says a growing number of the area's poor are under-nourished because agencies are only able to provide non-perishable foods.

"(Hunters for the Hungry) is one of the only programs in the state where you can give meat," he says. "Everybody gives canned foods or dry foods, but hardly anyone gives meat."

According to the Tennessee Wildlife Federation, nearly 20 percent of the state's elderly and 11 percent of its children go to bed hungry. Those figures reflect national hunger statistics, which, according to a study by the Second Harvest Food Bank, are highest in Oklahoma and lowest in Delaware. In its 2006 report, "National Statistics on Hunger and Poverty," which ranked states from best to worst according to "food insecurity with hunger," Tennessee placed 25th among the 50 states.

Hunters for the Hungry has partnered with groups across the state that pay to process the deer. The processing fees in Hardeman County are covered by Bolivar's First United Methodist Church, which has raised $8,000- enough to provide 32,000 meals.

"All the hunter has to do is field dress the deer and take it to the processor," says Ross. "It does not cost him anything."

Most of the venison donated in Bolivar is sent to Loaves and Fishes, a local food bank that has received so much venison that Hunters for the Hungry installed an extra freezer.

"We've got about 700 pounds of deer meat in here," says Bill Kirk, an organizer for Loaves and Fishes. "This is super for us. We love it."

Since Ross and his team joined the program two years ago, they've contributed eight tons of venison, which is used to make everything from tacos to sausages.

Whittenburg says venison is a leaner, high-protein alternative to beef.

"Anything that calls for ground beef," says Whittenburg, "you can substitute with venison. You can't tell the difference."

Volunteers sometimes offer recipes to those who do not typically cook deer meat. Oshanda Harrison is one of 300 people in Hardeman County who signed up for the free venison. She received a venison roast.

"It keeps us from having to buy it," she says. "So yeah, it helps."

Venison donations to Hunters for the Hungry are up 37 percent this year. Whittenburg says the program collected more than 25 tons, which was enough to make 200,000 meals. His goal is to provide 500,000 meals next year.

One of the program's largest contributors is the Memphis Annual (regional) Conference of The United Methodist Church, which raised more than $50,000 last year. In March, it received the Tennessee Wildlife Federation's Presidential Award for outstanding volunteerism.

*Simmons is a freelance producer in Nashville, Tenn.

Senator gives little hope to interfaith coalition on Darfur

By Daniel R. Gangler*

INDIANAPOLIS (UMNS) - U.S. Sen. Richard Lugar gave little hope to an interfaith coalition of Hoosier religious and community leaders including native Darfurians who asked him to step up his efforts to end ongoing conflict in the Darfur region of Sudan.

Lugar, an Indiana Republican and active United Methodist, heads the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. During the past three years, he has been actively involved with legislation granting humanitarian aid to Darfur while putting pressure on Sudan in the form of the Darfur Peace and Accountability Act to permit United Nations peacekeeping troops into Darfur.

Lugar called a Dec. 9 dialogue at the University of Indianapolis timely, because Andrew Natsios, special U.S. envoy to Sudan, is in that country with a dozen U.S. dignitaries. Lugar said Natsios told him "the Arab ruling group in the capital feels that they have an existential problem related to their longevity."

"There is no basis for optimism for the moment, but our special envoy is traveling in the area," Lugar said, referring to Natsios. "He's very serious in his intent and bears the weight of the United States. We have to wait for his report. It's about the only thing the world community has going for us right now."

Natsios carries with him a recent, unanimously passed Senate resolution warning Sudan that coercive actions will be taken by the United States and perhaps the rest of the world that aligns with us.

Concerning possible sanctions being considered by Indiana and other states against companies doing business with Sudan, Lugar said the sanctions have to be very comprehensive and substantial to be effective.

Regimes often don't care how sanctions affect their own people, he said. He added sanctions worked in South Africa 20 years ago because Nelson Mandela was imprisoned due to his fight to overthrow apartheid rule. There is no such person in Sudan.

Lugar further warned the 40 members of the coalition present that Natsios is going to issue problems to the current leaders of Sudan of what will happen if they don't stop their current repressive actions. One of their (Sudan leaders') reactions might be for Sudan to deny access to persons wanting to give humanitarian aid. Aid workers also might be hunted down and shot like the people in the camps.

The coalition asked Lugar to do two things in regards to Darfur. First, to push the Bush administration to take actions already approved by Congress. And second, to share correspondence with him to the rest of the world.

Lugar spoke to the ad-hoc coalition in a private meeting at the United Methodist-related University of Indianapolis following his 30th annual day-long symposium for more than 500 high school students and their parents from across the state.

The Darfur coalition comprises Christian, Jewish and Muslim leaders and is coordinated by Beth Reilly, a member of Aldersgate United Methodist Church in Fort Wayne where more than 200 Darfurian immigrants live.

Lugar also introduced Michael Phalan, a specialist on the issue of Darfur and staff member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, who works with senators and the House of Representatives on diplomatic issues. Phalan has traveled extensively in Africa and has been to Sudan on behalf of the senator and has discussed the situation in Darfur with leaders of the coalition including representatives of the Fort Wayne Darfurian community for more than a year.

The hour-long dialogue with Lugar began with three presentations. The Rev. Joe Johns, pastor of Fellowship Missionary Church in Fort Wayne, offered a first-hand account of the situation in Darfur as one who does relief work in the refugee camps.

Johns expressed the coalition's gratitude for the work Lugar has done on the Darfur Peace and Accountability Act and asked him to be a champion of the Darfurian people.

He was followed by David Warshauer, president of the Indianapolis Jewish Community Relations Council, who encouraged Lugar to push for full implementation of the peace and accountability act and more specifically to freeze the assets of individuals in the Sudanese Government who are responsible for the genocide and to deny entry at U.S. ports to oil tankers doing business with Sudan.

Warshauer closed by saying, "The words that came out of the Holocaust were 'never again,' and that doesn't just apply to Jews, but to wherever people are subject to genocide."

The Rev. Chad Abbot, pastor of Lockerbie Central United Methodist Church in Indianapolis and coordinator of the South Indiana United Methodist Conference Peace with Justice program, summarized Hoosier activities during the past two years and United Methodist support for funding, legislation, peacekeeping operations and divestment.

State Sen. John Broden (D-Dist. 10) of South Bend, a Roman Catholic, plans to introduce Sudan divestment legislation in the Indiana State Senate next month.

Following presentations, Mastora Bakhie, a Darfurian immigrant who escaped the violence and moved to Fort Wayne, said, "Every day, we lose our relatives, homes, dignity and we don't know when we will find a real solution."

*Gangler serves as director of communication for the Indiana Area of The United Methodist Church and a member of the coalition.

Summit recognizes United Methodist anti-malaria work

By United Methodist News Service*

The United Methodist Church's commitment to eradicating malaria was recognized at a Dec. 14 forum hosted by President and Mrs. George W. Bush.

The Rev. R. Randy Day, chief executive of the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries, was among those invited to the White House Summit on Malaria in Washington. The New York Times called the gathering "the Who's Who" of the global opponents of malaria.

"As I looked around that room, I saw potential for a profound impact on the elimination of malaria and other preventable diseases," Day said. "We are talking about the lives primarily of children, and we can do something about it, and since we can, God requires that we do it."

The global ministries board, the church's international mission agency, announced a malaria prevention and control effort in August 2005. It more recently joined with United Methodist Communications to represent the church in the Nothing But Nets campaign of the United Nations Foundation, in league with the National Basketball Association's NBA Cares foundation, Sports Illustrated, Millennium Promise and the Measles Initiative.

The church's work with Nothing But Nets was twice recognized from the podium at the summit, by Melinda Gates and the U.N. Foundation's Elizabeth McKee. Gates and her husband, Microsoft founder Bill Gates, are spending millions through their foundation to find a malaria vaccine.

Since May, Nothing But Nets has raised more than $1.7 million with average donations of $62, according to the campaign. In addition to Day, who was representing the people of The United Methodist Church, representatives from the other founding partners of the campaign - the NBA and the U.N. Foundation-were also at the White House summit.

"While bed nets are just one way to curb the spread of malaria, the power of the campaign is that it is an easy thing for people to understand and even easier for them to have an impact," said Kathy Behrens, NBA senior vice president for Community and Player Programs. "Send a net. Save a life. It's just that easy."

Malaria, spread by mosquitoes, infects more than 500 million people a year, primarily in Africa, Asia and parts of Latin America. Some 800,000 African children per year die of the disease, which can be prevented. Children under the age of 5 are particularly vulnerable.

Rallying support
Held at the headquarters of the National Geographic Society, the summit was part of the Bush administration's effort to raise the profile of malaria and to rally governments, foundations, charities, corporations and faith organizations to combat it.

"I believe that people are finally recognizing that we can do a great deal to reduce, and eventually to eliminate, malaria," Day said, reflecting on the forum. "It was gratifying to see so many leaders from the public and private sectors come together around this age-old health problem."

He related Melinda Gates' remarks that while the National Geographic auditorium was packed on Dec. 14, such a meeting could have taken place in a broom closet a decade earlier.

The United Methodist missions and communications agencies are building support throughout the denomination for the Nothing But Nets campaign, with an emphasis on getting young people involved. The disease is transmitted primarily through nocturnal mosquito bites, but a $10 contribution pays for the purchase and distribution of an insecticide-treated bed net that can protect a family of four for up to four years.

Nothing But Nets, administered by the U.N. Foundation, is one important part of the malaria work of the Board of Global Ministries. The agency also has launched a pilot community-based malaria prevention program in Sierra Leone. It uses church-related medical personnel to teach local church and community leaders on the use of nets and prevention medications.

United Methodist Communications is helping develop community radio stations in African countries as a way to provide information on health-related concerns - such as disease prevention - to local communities. In many parts of Africa where infrastructure is minimal, radio is the most effective means of sharing information and news.

How to give
United Methodists and others can contribute to the nets campaign and to the work in Sierra Leone through the Advance for Christ and His Church, the designated mission giving channel of the denomination.

The Advance number for Nothing But Nets is 982015. The number for the community-based program is 982009.

More details about Nothing But Nets are available at www.NothingButNets.net.

Gifts can be made by credit card online at gbgm-umc.org (select the icon for online giving to the Advance) or by going directly to http://secure.gbgm-umc.org/donations/advance/donate.cfm?code=982015. Credit-card donations also can be made by phone at (888) 252-6174.

Contributions by mail should be sent to Advance GCFA, P.O. Box 9068, GPO, New York, NY 10087-9068, or donations can be placed in the offering plate of any United Methodist congregation. Donors should make sure that the appropriate Advance number is on each check. One hundred percent of every Advance gift goes to the designated ministry.

*This story was based on a report provided by Elliott Wright with the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries, with additional information added from Nothing But Nets and UMNS reporting.

Nothing But Nets campaign gets Advance designation

By Melina Pavlides*

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS) - United Methodists are being challenged to a full court press in the fight against malaria.

Now church members can help slam dunk malaria by supporting the global Nothing But Nets campaign through the United Methodist Church's second-mile giving program, the Advance for Christ and His Church. An Advance number - #982015 - has been added for Nothing But Nets, a global anti-malaria campaign. One hundred percent of each gift to the Advance will go to the purchase and distribution of insecticide-treated bed nets to protect families against disease-carrying mosquitoes.

Partners in Nothing But Nets include the people of The United Methodist Church, the United Nations Foundation, Sports Illustrated, the National Basketball Association's Foundation NBA Cares, Millennium Promise and the Measles Initiative. The United Methodist Board of Global Ministries and United Methodist Communications are coordinating the church's participation in the campaign.

A Web site, www.NothingButNets.net, was launched Nov. 14 and online donations can be made through that site. The people of The United Methodist Church have a partner page on the site. United Methodist Communications has a special Web page through www.UMC.org in conjunction with the campaign's site. Both sites feature additional malaria initiatives of the denomination.

"Now that the fundraising portion of the Web site is in gear, we are ready to go full-steam ahead with the broader grassroots support for this initiative," said Grace Hall of the United Nations Foundation. "We want the Web site to be the central hub for all of our fundraising partners and for people to find fun and creative ways to bolster support for their teams.

"With the commitment of the people of the United Methodist Church, the goal for the NBN campaign right now is to get the word out to their constituents utilizing all possible communications channels in efforts to drive them to the NBN Web site to start a team and invite others to join," Hall added. "Within the context of The United Methodist Church alone, that means thousands of congregations all over the country. We have made it easy for those who want to join or sponsor a team to locate that team by entering the team's name or captain's first or last name."

Nothing But Nets was created by the United Nations Foundation in May, inspired by a column written by Sports Illustrated's Rick Reilly. The program was recognized Dec. 14 during the White House Summit on Malaria in Washington, which also highlighted other public and private-sector initiatives on malaria.

Inspiring team spirit
The Nothing But Nets Web team has built a site that is designed to be user-friendly, with features that individual team members can use to help them recruit members and make their pages fun and creative. For instance, teams can upload their photos and post messages to the bulletin board to talk about their experiences, challenge others and share their enthusiasm for the cause.

"We want the Web-based functioning of the campaign to inspire team spirit and competition among participating teams while making it easy for friends, family, co-workers and others to join or sponsor teams," said Shannon Raybold, Nothing But Nets Web-team builder.

The top four fundraising teams will be featured on the Netraiser team page. Teams from different churches, schools, youth groups and even different states can challenge each other to see who can come up with the most innovative and creative ways to raise money for the cause.

All of the Netraiser teams will be able to identify their affiliation to partners.The Nothing But Nets Web site also hosts several downloadable tools for Netraising teams and individuals. More toolkits are being developed by United Methodist Communications for use by Web teams as well. These tools include high-resolution logos and graphics, information about the nets and the plight of malaria in developing countries, details on how to start a Netraising team and frequently asked questions.

Low cost, high impact
"We want people to remember that, above all, $10 buys a net, distributes that net and educates families on the proper installation and use of the nets and other ways to guard and protect against malaria," Hall said.

One net can cover a family of four for up to four years, campaign officials have said.

The campaign will be highlighted at the United Methodist Board of Discipleship's Youth 2007 gathering July 11-15 in Greensboro, N.C.

The Measles Initiative, a Nothing But Nets partner, will be distributing the nets throughout communities in Africa in 2007 and 2008. The first net distribution - 150,000 in Nigeria - occurred in October. Another net distribution is set for January in Lagos, Nigeria, with NBA legend Sam Perkins. Partners in the Measles Initiative include the American Red Cross, Centers for Disease Control, United Nations Foundation, UNICEF and the World Health Organization.

Malaria infects more than 500 million people each year, and more than 1 million die from it-75 percent of them children under age 5.

Gifts to the Advance can be sent to Advance GCFA P.O. Box 9068, GPO New York, NY 10087-9068 or made online at http://secure.gbgm-umc.org/donations/advance/donate.cfm?code=982015

*Pavlides is a freelance writer based in Nashville, Tenn.

Korean congregation serves Hispanic/Latino 'street angels'

By James Melchiorre*

ENGLEWOOD, N.J. (UMNS) - Steve Chung would drive past the day laborers lined up on the streets of Palisades Park, N.J., each day, a Bible verse from the Gospel of Matthew constantly on his mind.

"Whatever you did for the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me," is how Chung recalls the words.

"That Bible verse kept pounding my heart."

An immigrant from Korea, Chung felt a kinship with the Latino immigrant workers.

"I didn't know what to do," he admits, "so I keep praying for 100 days. And when I prayed, God gave me the idea that they're all angels."

Soon afterward, Street Angels was born.

Chung coordinates the program at the Korean Community Church of New Jersey, a United Methodist congregation in Englewood, just across the Hudson River from New York City.
Every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday evening, two church vans roll through the streets of Englewood and Palisades Park, picking up anywhere from 15 to 30 day laborers, predominantly men. Most range in age from 25 to 35 years old, and 80 percent are natives of Guatemala.

Back at the church, the guests enjoy a hot meal prepared by congregation members. Next, Luz Cadavid, a native of Colombia who has worked for years in New Jersey as a barber, leads a Bible study in Spanish. Then, the students move into classrooms for practical job-training in air-conditioner repair, electronics, construction, refrigeration or computers.

"We can understand better other immigrants because we are immigrants," Chung says, laughing. "They need English, when employers try to hire them, and also some basic skills, such as construction and painting and stuff."

Julio Trinidad, a social worker studying for the ministry, teaches the English class. His students include Porfirio Hernandez. Except for his fellow day laborers and the people he meets at the church, Hernandez is alone in the United States, his family in Guatemala.

Speaking through a translator, Hernandez says he often invites friends and fellow workers to come to the Street Angels program.

"In the first place, we can learn the language we need in this country," Hernandez says. "Some of my friends, they find jobs in this program, it helps to find jobs for them."

Hernandez also appreciates the Bible study. "Bible study is good for everybody," he says, "because not just from bread can men live."

Hernandez will graduate from Street Angels on the Thursday before Christmas, a member of the second graduating class since the program began. A piano player, Hernandez will play music for the ceremony.

Following God's law
The Street Angels program, which requires the work of about 50 volunteers from the 1,200-member congregation, is a sanctuary for immigrants living a precarious existence.

Virtually all the students in the class are in the United States illegally, without work permits. One student was arrested and deported to Guatemala in mid-November during a five-day sweep by immigration agents in New Jersey.

Palisades Park Police Chief Michael Vietri says immigration law is enforced by federal authorities, not local police.

Vietri blames the federal government, not the immigrants themselves, for his community's burgeoning population of undocumented workers. "They're trying to make a better life for themselves," he says of the laborers.

And he has no problem with the Street Angels program. "You've got to help mankind," Vietri says. "Regardless of what your opinion is, they're still human beings."

Chung fears the recent crackdown could scare students away from a program that is helping them improve their lives. He acknowledges that the undocumented workers in Street Angels are breaking the law, but that does not affect his sense of obligation to them.

"What we do is based on the law of God," he says. "I think the law of God is much, much higher than the law of the world."

A melting pot
The model of Steve Chung and the Korean Community Church is typical in New Jersey, according to David Malloy, communications coordinator of The United Methodist Church's Greater New Jersey Annual (regional) Conference.

"New Jersey is such a rich melting pot that there's always an opportunity for cultural cooperation," Malloy says.

The Greater New Jersey Conference includes 600 congregations across the state, and in two counties in New York and one in Pennsylvania.

Along the Atlantic coast in Monmouth County, Malloy said, a Korean pastor is learning Spanish so he can recruit new members from the growing Latino population of communities such as Asbury Park, Bradley Beach, and Eatontown.

"Here is a person where English is his second language who is reaching out in a third language," Malloy says. He adds: "United Methodists in New Jersey follow the Bible verse of welcoming a stranger."

Back in Palisades Park, where Chung was first moved by the sight of day laborers waiting along the road, 36 percent of the people identify themselves as Korean and more than 15 percent of the population is Latino.

"Korean town has a lot of Hispanic population," Chung says. "We know each other. Sometimes we hire them, they hire us. There's a lot of Hispanic-Korean population living together."

And over the years, both groups experienced the resentment of longtime residents.

Still, there are significant differences in the status of Koreans and Latinos here. Many Koreans emigrated more than a decade ago, with college educations and high-technology jobs, and now form an influential minority. Chung himself arrived in the United States in the early 1990s as an employee of Samsung. Five years later, he started his own business.

By contrast, politically and economically, Latinos are struggling.

Despite these differences, members of the Korean Community Church of New Jersey feel empathy, according to their pastor, and that led to the Street Angels program, as well as a weekly Sunday worship service in Spanish.

"Until you have a certain experience about somebody else's experience, you really do not have a heart," says Rev. Koo Yung Na. "We are immigrants, as Korean-Americans; we know what the feelings of Hispanic-Americans are. We have some 'connect' where the compassion is coming out, and I think that was the key."

*Melchiorre is a freelance producer based in New York City.

'Dream Dairy' provides hope to Africa University community

By Cathy Farmer*

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (UMNS) - One year ago, Alyssa Chrisos was sitting quietly beside her mother at Pisgah United Methodist Church listening to Marsha Dorgan talk about the "Dream Dairy" at Africa University.

Dorgan, an agriculturalist from Paris, Tenn., and a consultant to Africa University, spoke about the dairy cattle and the milk they produce, which helps sustain 80 orphans who live near the campus. Her talk made a big impression on the little 3-year-old. So big, in fact, that when Linda Winstead, the church's mission chairperson, asked Alyssa to take up donations for Africa University and the herd, she eagerly agreed.

Since then, for a year on Sundays, a faithful Alyssa has followed the ushers down the center aisle of the 32-member church carrying her little brown wicker mission basket.

"She goes up to every person," Winstead said. "If you don't put something in the basket for Africa University and the Dream Dairy, you get a pouty look. Makes you feel real guilty."

Her mother, Renee Chrisos, said Alyssa stops at every person. "She's real serious," Renee said. "She'll give them the baddest look if they don't put in that day." She chuckled slightly. "They all put something in."

"Alyssa loves animals and she wants to be sure the orphans have milk and something to eat," said the Rev. H B Fields, the church's pastor. "But, our people aren't giving just because a little girl is asking them to. They're giving because they have a wonderful spirit and a heart for missions."

The people of Pisgah Church are average Americans, Fields said. "They're working people," he explained, "country folks used to taking care of one another. And they know the value of having animals like cows and chickens to subsidize income." Pisgah is an open-country church located on Tennessee Hwy. 118, six miles from Dresden.

"I think they were really impressed by being able to help folks help themselves," he said of the offerings for the dairy herd.

Dorgan told the Pisgah congregation how the herd was started in 1998 by a Memphis Annual (regional) Conference agriculturalist who visited Zimbabwe with a Volunteers in Mission Team. The herd began with a dream and one bull. "Willy" was purchased by a member of the team in honor of her dog.

Continuing donations to the herd through Heifer Project International enabled the purchase of the first dozen cows. Today's herd of 57 is housed in a newly built dairy barn and cared for by Larry Kies, a United Methodist agricultural missionary, and six farm workers employed by Africa University.

"The herd and farm have made a difference in the community," Dorgan said. "The people are thankful to be able to purchase clean, processed, fresh milk at a reasonable price through the university." The dairy is self-supporting and receives no money from Africa University, and is on its way for more growth. "Thanks be to God!" she said.

And because of the herd, the children at the Fairfield Orphanage nearby also receive a daily allotment of milk.

Although Willy died after a few years from a disease called black leg (there was no money available for the necessary four vaccinations a year to prevent it), the herd is thriving by using artificial insemination. Two baby bulls will soon be sold to community farmers. Breeding them should improve the local herds.

A year after her first visit to Pisgah United Methodist Church to talk about the Dream Dairy, Dorgan came back. Alyssa was ready for her with a check for $1,000. She also had a picture of herself, pulled from her father's wallet, for Dorgan to take to Africa to show the orphans. "So they'll know who I am."

Winstead said the church likes the project. "We like the idea of helping people help themselves instead of just giving them money. This is something the people there can build on."

"I'm proud of our church," Fields said. "Our people love everybody and are concerned about everybody. One little lady told me when I first came that they've loved every pastor they've ever had. They don't talk bad about anyone. And if there's a need, they'll find a way to help."

When Dorgan headed back to Africa University this November, she carried with her a $1,000 check, a picture of Alyssa, and the memory of a little church that cares.

Africa University opened in Mutare, Zimbabwe, in March 1992 as the country's first private, pan-African university. The mission of the United Methodist-related project is to provide quality education within a pan-African context through which individuals can acquire general and professional knowledge and skills, grow in spiritual maturity, and develop sound moral values, ethics and leadership qualities.

*Farmer is director of communications for the Memphis Annual (regional) Conference of the United Methodist Church.

A Thanksgiving to give

By Stewart Orell

It’s early in the morning and the turkey and dressing are almost done, and the smells are definitely enough, to make anyone’s mouth water. It’s another Thanksgiving at Gerald Hall behind Saint Gregory Catholic church and Lynn Smith is giving instructions to a first time couple who are going to deliver some Hot Thanksgiving meals, as she points out the location on the map and gives some information about the color of the house, she makes sure no detail is overlooked.

When she gets done with that she’s off taking care of some other important detail and to some it may look like confusion but to those who have been here before, they know that this is a well oiled operation that grows each year.

There are some amazing things going on in this little house behind the church, this is the business of being the church, Gods people are coming together to share the gift of food and fellowship with those who may otherwise have a lonely day and not much too eat.

This all started 13 years ago at Lynn Smiths House with ten people to serve and as word got out now it’s 130 plus to serve, and it takes 120 pounds of turkey, 45 lbs. of potatoes, cases of fruit, bread, cookies, baskets, maps and volunteers.

It is great to see the diversity of the volunteers with different denominations, races, ages, occupations that have come together to show their love on this day of Thanksgiving, but the enthusiasm of the youth to want to get the job done and when set to the task of making 130 bag lunches then 130 fruit baskets is so great, they go from one task to the next with ease, all with the help of many volunteers who have prepared the assembly line. All of the Thanksgiving food is assembled in short order, and now the last task before the distribution, a prayer is offered, then all the hot food is assembled and all the cars start to load up and deliver the gift of love that has been prepared once again by Gods grace.

This truly is a cooperative ministry that represents the many members of the body of Christ Churches represented are, Saint Gregory Catholic Church of Smithville, Saint Stevens Catholic Church of Nashville,Allens Chapel United Methodist of Smithville, New Short Mountain United Methodist of Woodbury, 1st Baptist of Joelton, Hickman Baptist, Whorton Springs Baptist of Smithville, Smithville Church of Christ, Smithville Church of Nazarene and Mt Hope of Smithville.

Where Christ’s lessons of compassion, love and being one Body and of one accord are being fulfilled and taught to the next generation because if we don’t who will? A hot meal is also offered on Christmas eve, the day after Christmas and New years day.

If you are interested in volunteering, know someone who could use a hot meal or want to support this ministry Contact Lynn Smith at 1-615-597-5662 and leave a message.

Commentary by Martha Taylor: God’s hand is all over Nothing But Nets campaign

A UMNS Commentary By Martha Taylor*

Moments of clarity are gifts from God. For some, they come as naturally as breathing. For others, they are few and far between.

My moments stand out in my memory. Years ago, I was in an exercise class when I heard a voice say, "Go home!" I immediately left class and hot-footed it to the house. My son had fallen from a second-story balcony and had a head fracture. He fully recovered, and today I still vividly recall that insistent voice. I was not a practicing Christian then, but I now recognize what I heard came from God.

I have conviction about my position as the conference communications director. Accepting this position was easy, even though it involved leaving a job I loved and a community I called home for 13 years. I knew with certainty that all I had experienced in my personal, professional and church life had led me to this point, time and place. A moment of clarity.

I had that same certainty about God's involvement when I heard about Nothing But Nets and The United Methodist Church's involvement. Nothing But Nets is a partnership between the people of The United Methodist Church, Sports Illustrated, NBA Cares, the National Basketball Foundation, the United Nations Foundation, Measles Initiative, Millennium Promise and other global partners. How did the church get to the table with such notables? God's hand is all over it.

In May 2005, Rick Reilly, the noted Sports Illustrated columnist, wrote about the critical need for insecticide-treated bed nets in Africa to stop the spread of malaria, a killer that causes 3,000 deaths each day. In his column, Reilly urged readers to donate funds for bed nets. In two weeks, he raised $1.2 million.

Simply put, Nothing But Nets is a campaign to eradicate malaria in Africa. This can be accomplished through the distribution and proper use of bed nets. One net can cover a family of four and will be effective for many years. A $10 donation will purchase one net, and 100 percent of that $10 goes toward that purchase. There is no overhead or administrative costs, since a philanthropist donated $1 billion to cover those costs.

Any individual or church can give to Nothing But Nets, but United Methodist youth should be particularly excited about getting involved. Youth groups that raise money for Nothing But Nets will be eligible for prizes at Youth 2007, an international event for United Methodist youth in Greensboro, N.C., July 11-15. Fund-raising awards will include a trip to Africa to distribute bed nets, a trip to New York to tour the United Nations and a variety of NBA gear.

A cell phone text-messaging network provides campaign updates to youth. They can send a text message to 47647, type "Nets" in the text field, and hit "send" to be added to the network.

The Arkansas Conference is partnering with The Buzz 103.7 FM radio station in Little Rock for the "High School Basketball Game of the Week." Beginning in January, we will have commercials airing with a message about the Arkansas United Methodist Church and Nothing But Nets. The talent for the spots is Joe Kleine, former Razorback and NBA star.

During each halftime, a local church youth minister will be interviewed about the positive impact the United Methodist Church is having on youth in local communities. Arkansas young people will also have an opportunity to tell what their youth groups are doing to raise funds for Nothing But Nets.

How can you get involved? Go to www.NothingButNets.net and create a team for your family, friends, basketball or soccer teams and leagues, Sunday school class, youth groups, church, women's and men's groups. Challenge one another. You can track fund raising online. Join or sponsor another team. Think of creative, fun fund-raising events and involve the youth in your community. Make a gift this Christmas in honor or memory of a loved one.

To read Rick Reilly's Sports Illustrated article or learn more about Nothing But Nets, go to www.NothingButNets.net. The Nov. 28 edition of Sports Illustrated also has an update from Reilly, "Nothing But Thanks," describing his recent trip to Nigeria to distribute bed nets. Staff with United Methodist Communications accompanied him on that trip and shot photos and video.

One last note. Years ago, Reilly had the opportunity to go to Tanzania with his family. While there, they played soccer with a group of kids. The ball was a taped-up wad of newspaper, and two rocks were the goal. When he returned to the United States, he sent some soccer balls and nets. Here's what Reilly wrote last May:

"I kick myself now for that. How many of those kids are dead because we sent the wrong nets?" A moment of clarity. Don't let us miss our moment.

*Taylor is director of communications for the United Methodist Church's Arkansas Annual Conference.