United Methodists in Georgia Support Nothing But Nets

By Sybil Davidson
North Georgia Conference Communications Office 

Raising awareness—and raising money—to fight malaria are major components of the 2008 General Conference. This is especially fitting because Friday, April 25, is World Malaria Day. The United Methodist Church is involved in several anti-malaria initiatives including Nothing But Nets, which sends insecticide-treated bed nets to Africa.

Back at home in North Georgia, many United Methodists have joined forces with the Nothing But Nets campaign.

Chris Higgins, a freshman at McEachern High School, says he heard about Nothing But Nets from his dad, Rev. Jim Higgins (senior pastor of McEachern Memorial UMC), and began promoting Nothing But Nets in his youth choir group.

“I tell my friends, you don’t even have to give $10,” Chris said. “Whatever we give, we can put together and it all goes to nets.”

He collects donations every week and has even made a video on his home computer to show at youth choir practice to encourage other youth to give.

Athens First United Methodist Church got involved with the Nothing But Nets program during their "Great Month of Service" (which included a Great Day of Service).

“Every year we wear T-shirts and go out into the community,” said Carol Rymer, Director of Missions and Outreach at the church. “This year we wanted to add a global initiative, so we put the Nothing But Nets logo on our shirts and sold them for $15 or $20. That covered the cost of the shirt and we sent $10 per shirt to Nothing But Nets.”

For more information on Nothing But Nets, visit www.nothingbutnets.net. You can also download a free promotional poster at www.umc.org or download other promotional material at www.umcor.org.

General Conference Focus: Nothing But Nets

Throughout General Conference, delegates and visitors will raise awareness and raise money for Nothing But Nets. Below are some highlights.

  • Katherine Commale, age 7, has collected more than $40,000 to send insecticide-treated bed nets to Africa as part of the Nothing But Nets campaign. In the convention center arena filled with thousands of delegates and guests, Katherine told General Conference that she wants “everyone who needs one to have a bed net.”
  • William H. Gates, Sr., co-chair of the Seattle-based Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and father of billionaire Bill Gates, will speak to General Conference on May 1. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation provided a challenge grant to the Nothing But Nets malaria prevention campaign to match contributions up to $3 million—a goal that was reached in August due in part to a groundswell of support from United Methodist churches across the U.S. 
  • In Fort Worth on Saturday, the Dallas-based North Texas Conference will take on their counterparts from the Fort Worth-based Central Texas Conference in a fundraising basketball game. United Methodist bishops from throughout the world, including Africa, will attend the game. Each player pays $10 to compete, and tournament organizers want to present at least a half million dollars to Nothing But Nets.
  • Before General Conference, the Texas Conference “Nothing But Sweat” cyclists raised $156,144 with a four-day, 238-mile bike ride from Montgomery to Fort Worth. Houston Area Bishop Janice Riggle Huie, president of the Council of Bishops, and Bishop Benjamin Boni of Côte d’Ivoire, which will receive insecticide-treated bed nets purchased with the donations, were on hand to greet the riders April 23.