Bishop John Yambasu visited the set of Daytime on April 25 to talk about how The United Methodist Church’s Imagine No Malaria campaign is saving lives in Africa. His message was shared in more than 100 cities across the United States where Daytime is syndicated. Check out the bishop’s World Malaria Day interview with host Cyndi Edwards below:

Get invovled!
Text SWAT to 27722 and sign the petition to save lives. We will share your support of this life-saving ministry with church leaders, malaria partners and elected officials to let them know you care!

Tampa, Fla.: Imagine No Malaria announced today the commitment of 12 United Methodist annual conferences to support the denomination’s effort to end preventable malaria deaths in Africa. The annual conferences are part of the “Vanguard Wave” of the ministry’s effort to raise at least $75 million.

The Vanguard Phase of Imagine No Malaria features a balanced approach to engagement, with an emphasis on advocacy activities, major gift cultivation and local church participation. The following annual conferences have made the commitment to support Imagine No Malaria by planning activities and raising funds during 2012-13:

Efforts to date have cut malaria's impact in half. 12 new conferences are stepping up to keep the momentum going.

Arkansas
(Bishop Charles Crutchfield)

Baltimore-Washington
(Bishop John Schol)

California-Nevada
(Bishop Warner Brown, Jr.)

Dakotas
(Bishop Deborah Kiesey)

Desert-Southwest
(Bishop Minerva Carcaño)

Holston
(Bishop James Swanson)

Imagine No Malaria is an opportunity for everyone to get involved in the fight against malaria.

Iowa
(Bishop Julius Trimble)

Kansas East & Kansas West
(Bishop Scott Jones)

New York
(Bishop Jeremiah Park)

Pacific-Northwest
(Bishop Grant Hagiya)

“I salute the leaders of these Imagine No Malaria Vanguard annual conferences for their commitment to improving global health,” said Bishop Thomas Bickerton, who chairs the United Methodist Global Health Initiative. “It’s a very exciting time to be a United Methodist in the fight against malaria – progress is being made, funds are being raised and lives are being saved.”

To date, more than $20 million has been raised to support the fight against malaria. These funds are at work in Africa, providing more than 846,000 bed nets, establishing 12 health boards to ensure greater accountability of donor funds and training more than 5,000 local health workers since April 2010. The church’s mission has drawn widespread praise, most notably from philanthropist Melinda Gates during the World Malaria Forum sponsored by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in October 2011, Rear Admiral Timothy Ziemer, head of the President’s Malaria Initiative and the Sierra Leone Ministry of Health.

by Skyler Nimmons April 26, 2012 | TAMPA, Fla. (UMNS)

In 2008, Bishop Thomas Bickerton took $10 from his wallet and challenged the General Conference to engage in the fight against malaria by supporting Nothing But Nets. This action led the General Conference to affirm Global Health as an area of focus. Today, Imagine No Malaria is the fruit of this gesture.

To date, The United Methodist Church has raised $20.2 million to support the denomination’s Imagine No Malaria campaign and has made a significant impact on hundreds of thousands of lives.

On April 25, World Malaria Day, delegates to the 2012 General Conference entering the Tampa Convention Center were reminded of their commitment by volunteers dressed like the disease-transmitting mosquitoes. This action served as a visual reminder that the fight is not over and that the church should stay the course in its efforts to eliminate malaria as a source of death and suffering.

As the business of the General Conference resumed, a “surprise” flash mob took over the floor to mark the importance of this day for malaria education and awareness. The flash mob drew the almost 1,000 delegates into the life-and-death drama of how malaria is transmitted.

“What an impression it made (and I had to stop to Instagram) this morning to be greeted by a life-size mosquito for our morning session!” said Allison Lindsey, South Georgia Conference layperson.

“Flash mobs are quite the ‘buzz’ these days, and how creative to see it on the floor of General Conference,” she said. “The African beat, dance and the visual image of the mosquito taking lives will be something that I will not forget. It was awesome through the connection and partnerships to make a difference in this epidemic!”

“We’re trying to raise awareness in a unique way for World Malaria Day, today, April 25, especially since four years ago the GC established the Four Areas of Focus, (one of) which is global health and diseases and poverty,” said Elisabeth Clymer, a high school senior from Alexandria, Va., who serves as partner for the Imagine No Malaria campaign. “We really wanted to raise awareness and show the progress that’s been made. In just a few years we have cut malaria deaths in half. Just two years… very exciting! It’s great to be part of a large global effort and makes us proud to know that United Methodists are on the forefront of this.”

Clymer joined Bishop Thomas Bickerton, Pittsburgh Area, Bishop John Yambasu, Sierra Leone Area, and Michael Pajonk, the United Nations Foundation’s director of organizational partnerships, in announcing that The United Methodist Church is ahead of the game in the fight to end malaria. Bickerton provided background on the work of the campaign and the core areas that have supported the church’s success in recent years. Communications, community health clinics and ongoing education continue to be a driving force in “swatting” out this disease.

“It’s a joy to be a part of this campaign because I know what it has done for Africa, and for the first time in our denomination, we have all come together to wage war against malaria,” Yambasu said.

The work of the Imagine No Malaria campaign has been focused on Africa, primarily because 90 percent of the global malaria burden is in sub-Saharan Africa. Children and women, especially pregnant women, are the most at-risk group.

Malaria is a preventable, treatable disease that once claimed a life every 30 seconds. The United Methodist Church’s Imagine No Malaria initiative has reduced the rate to one life every 60 seconds. As a global health ministry, Imagine No Malaria empowers the people of Africa to build capacity and infrastructure to reduce deaths and suffering caused by malaria.

Continued support of United Methodist churches is integral to beating malaria. For more information, visit ImagineNoMalaria.org or text “SWAT” to 27722.

*Nimmons is a communications specialist with the Western North Carolina Annual (regional) Conference and a member of the United Methodist News Service team at General Conference.

Tampa, Fla.: On World Malaria Day 2012, Imagine No Malaria, a global health ministry of The United Methodist Church, is celebrating progress against the mosquito-borne disease and calling for a renewed commitment to end preventable deaths from malaria.

Earlier this year, the World Health Organization released its 2011 World Malaria Report, which cited a significant reduction in estimated annual malaria deaths – from more than 1 million in 2007 to 655,000 in 2010.

A mob invaded The United Methodist Church's General Conference on April 25, 2012 to raise awarenes for World Malaria Day

“When the Global Health Initiative was affirmed during General Conference 2008, it was a benchmark moment for the worldwide United Methodist church,” said the Rev. Larry Hollon, general secretary of United Methodist Communications. “It’s humbling to know that United Methodists have had a key role in reducing malaria’s impact by half – from a death every 30 seconds to a death every 60 seconds. More must be done, but our church is committed to this life-saving mission.”

Impact in Africa
The work of Imagine No Malaria is facilitated by the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR), which provides program support and technical expertise to create sustainable systems that help prevent malaria deaths.

To date, widespread support from United Methodists has enabled Imagine No Malaria to distribute 846,000 mosquito nets, train more than 5,000 community health workers and establish 12 health boards to oversee malaria programs in Africa.

The success of each country’s malaria program ultimately depends on the ability of the African people to effectively plan and implement at the community-level. In Sierra Leone, for example, more than 3,500 community health workers were trained to deliver, install and teach proper care for mosquito nets. This newly formed grassroots network also helps communicate messages about preventing malaria and tracks net usage rates to measure longer-term efficacy.

Changing The World
The people of Sierra Leone aren’t just receiving help, they are giving as well. Earlier this year, the Sierra Leone Annual Conference presented Imagine No Malaria with a generous donation following an offering taken at its annual conference event.

“Truly, we all have an important role in this fight against the killer disease, malaria,” Bishop John K. Yambasu, episcopal leader of the Sierra Leone Annual Conference, said. “Imagine No Malaria is changing lives in many ways in Sierra Leone.”

The work of Imagine No Malaria has also helped grow the United Methodist Church in Sierra Leone. In late 2010, following a nationwide mosquito net distribution in the West African country, Bishop Yambasu received several requests from tribal chiefs to create United Methodist churches where none existed previously.

More than $20.2 Million Raised
As of April 22, 2012, $20,202,778 has been raised for Imagine No Malaria programs in Africa. Donations have come from 61 United Methodist annual (regional) conferences throughout the world. The effort has set a goal to raise $75-$100 million for its role in the global response to alleviate malaria’s burden.

“Our goal of ending malaria deaths is bold and ambitious,” Bishop Thomas J. Bickerton, leader of the Western Pennsylvania Annual Conference and chair of the Global Health Initiative, said. “But, when we stand together as United Methodists, God can do more than we can possibly imagine.”

Churches throughout the connection have planned events to raise awareness and funds to support the Imagine No Malaria mission. From youth-led lemonAID stands, to community-wide 5K runs, Imagine No Malaria has captured the spirit and compassion of people of all ages.

One Million Mosquito Nets
Later in 2012, Imagine No Malaria will distribute its millionth mosquito net to a family in Africa. More information will be available as planning details are determined in Africa. Plans are underway for several net distributions on the continent, and more details will be available as they are finalized.

About Imagine No Malaria Imagine No Malaria is an extraordinary ministry of The United Methodist Church, putting faith into action to end preventable deaths by malaria in Africa. With a goal of raising $75 million to improve health infrastructure and empower a sustainable victory over the disease, Imagine No Malaria is our opportunity to rethink how we reach beyond our church, opening doors to those who need it most. For more information, please visit us online at www.ImagineNoMalaria.org.

It’s World Malaria Day.

April 25 is the one day each year when the global community truly stands together against the killer disease called malaria. It’s a day we celebrate our progress, remember those who have lost their lives and loved ones, and renew our commitment to ending deaths from malaria.

In 2008, United Methodists officially affirmed the Global Health Initiative, making it one of four focus areas of the Church. As the first tangible expression of the Global Health Initiative , Imagine No Malaria is a ministry putting our faith into action to raise at least $75 million to end preventable deaths from malaria in Africa.

Although, we cannot yet celebrate a malaria-free Africa, great strides have been made toward that goal. Because of the overwhelming support Imagine NO malaria has received, we’ve been able to do some amazing things in Africa – things that have earned our efforts praise from some of the world’s leading global health organizations.

Today, Imagine No Malaria continues to inform, inspire and engage the People of The United Methodist Church to do something about this disease. From annual conferences and local churches to general boards and agencies, imagine No Malaria is truly an integrated ministry of the entire denomination.

As a global church, The United Methodist Church is almost 12 million strong, transcending geography, economics, ages and races. Still, we recognize our Wesleyan tradition of helping those in need. And, in imagine No Malaria, we are living our faith.

Imagine No Malaria is the ONE BIG THING we are doing together to save lives.

Someday, World Malaria Day will be a time to look back at a disease that used to claim lives of children and pregnant women. And, The People of The United Methodist Church will have been a part of making that dream come true.

Will you help? Making a difference in this fight is as easy as using your phone!

To give $10, text MALARIA to 27722

To simply show your support, text SWAT to 27722 and sign the petition to save lives

Or visit the rest of this site, where we’ve got plenty of ideas and resources available for you to change the world.

Texting SWAT to 27722 will give children like John Blackie, from Kulando, Sierra Leone, a voice. UMNS web-only photos by Phileas Jusu.

By now, you probably know Imagine No Malaria is  a comprehensive approach against a disease that claims a life every 60 seconds.

You may also know that it only takes a $10 donation to save a child’s life in Africa.

But, this is a fight we cannot win without help. No individual or organization working alone will overcome malaria. It will truly take a global village of compassion and generosity to end preventable deaths from malaria.

This is the easy part!

You can add your name to the growing list of supporters by send a text message from your phone. Text the word SWAT to 27722, sign our online petition and speak up for the children of Africa.

The Imagine No Malaria petition to save lives will serve as a platform for United Methodists to show support for the global fight against malaria. This important tool will be shared with United Methodist Church leaders to reaffirm the work of this ministry, our malaria partners to show the breadth of support of United Methodist Church, and elected officials in Congress to urge continued financial support for global health and malaria programs.

That’s it. Simple. Your voice will be heard as we urge others to stay the course, renew commitments and increase support for the fight against malaria.

It’s a quick and easy way to say “I care about this effort and I’m willing to stand with the families in Africa against malaria.”

Becoming an advocate is a great way to get your friends, family and neighbors involved, too. Because when it comes to saving lives, we all have a part to play.

Learn more about becoming an advocate >>

Change the world – fight malaria!

Communities throughout Louisiana are participating in an amazing event, called the Louisiana Skeeter Run. The event, which consists of eight 5K and 1 mile fun walk/runs, will take place on Saturday, April 21, 2012. Proceeds from registration fees will benefit Imagine No Malaria, the United Methodist global initiative dedicated to ending preventable malaria deaths in Africa.

Learn more about the event and how you can get involved here >>

Ready to register? Visit changetheworldla.org today!

Participants

Students gather on Capitol Hill to support global fight against malaria

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Forty-five students and their leaders representing 15 colleges and universities have come here for an education and advocacy event called “Imagine No Malaria Student Days on the Hill.”

The College Connection is providing training on how to be an effective advocate to members of Congress. The group will then make visits to their elected officials to urge the U.S. government to continue its support of efforts to eradicate poverty-related diseases, such as malaria.

The event is co-sponsored by the United Methodist General Board of Church & Society (GBCS) and the Imagine No Malaria College Connection. Read more >>

Several students shared their thoughts about what it means to be part of a movement to end malaria deaths. Visit the gallery >>