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Observe World Malaria Day on Sunday, April 29
Malaria kills 800,000 people each year, most of whom are children under 5. One child dies every 45 seconds from this preventable -- and treatable -- disease.
We have a unique opportunity to reverse these statistics -- for good. Our church has committed to raise $15 million for the ELCA Malaria Campaign and join hands with 11 African companion churches in the global effort to prevent, treat and contain malaria by 2015.
Our work is just beginning. Your help is needed now to educate communities, distribute mosquito nets, and train health care providers. World Malaria Day is April 25, and it’s also the perfect time for us to ramp up our efforts in the fight against malaria. Join us by observing World Malaria Day on Sunday, April 29, in your congregation.
Here are some ideas:
- Screen the five-minute ELCA Malaria Campaign video with your congregation. (A shorter version is on its way!)
- Conduct a Bible study on malaria by using the ELCA Malaria Campaign Bible Study Leader Guide.
- Share an ELCA Malaria Campaign bulletin insert.
- Start a fundraising campaign in your congregation or synod with a special offering on April 29. Use ELCA Malaria Campaign offering envelopes to collect your offerings.
- Order and sell ELCA Malaria Campaign buttons to raise money for the campaign, or distribute them to the entire congregation.
New from ELCA World Hunger
New toolkits for your congregation
Looking for educational material, activities and games to teach your congregation about hunger and related issues? Check out the hunger education toolkits with themes like food, climate change and water. Mix and match them until you find the perfect, custom experience for your congregation or small group. Brand new are toolkits "Gender and Hunger Connections" and "Water and Hunger Connections."
 Congregation Connections
Find sermon starters, ideas and inspirations to help your congregation take action against hunger and poverty now through July 2012 in this issue of Congregation Connections.
Download | Order
Give it a try
Buck-a-Chick
 This Easter, join congregations from across the country by having a Buck-a-Chick sale. Members can purchase and decorate a paper chick for themselves or in honor of a loved one for one dollar -- the cost of providing a chick to a family experiencing hunger.
Your gifts can help provide families living in poverty with chicks for a source of eggs, food and income. Hang colorful chicks in a prominent spot and announce the fundraising total on Easter Sunday. To date, congregations have raised more than $83,000 to support this effort -- allowing ELCA World Hunger to connect families to the resources they need to escape hunger and poverty for good.
Find the coloring page at www.elca.org/hunger/lent.
Is your congregation, synod or community active in the fight against hunger and poverty? Tell us what you're up to. Email laury.rinker@elca.org. |