Congressional reception spotlights Nothing But Nets campaign

By Kathy L. Gilbert*

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.

"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.

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 players on the NBA's Indiana Pacers team who are helping organize 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.

More information the United Methodist Global AIDS Fund is available at http://new.gbgm-umc.org/umcor/work/health/hivaids/aids-fund/.

*Gilbert is a United Methodist News Service news writer based in Nashville, Tenn.