by Ms Crystal Oxner Rowe
Southeastern Synod Churchwide Voting Member
Member, Resurrection Lutheran Church, Marietta, GA
Every 45 seconds, a child dies from malaria. That's 80 children every hour. 1,920 children every day. 800,000 people every year. Most of them are under the age of 5. Would you believe me if I said it's possible to end all malaria deaths by the year 2015?
It's true.
Last night, the Assembly completed its first major work of the week: adopting the ELCA Malaria Campaign. Over the next four years, the ELCA will join other organizations and denominations in raising money to eradicate malaria. The adopted resolution invites all congregations, synods, and individual members of the ELCA to make a contribution to the goal of $15 million by the end of 2015.
The ELCA Malaria Campaign has already raised $1.5 million towards its goal through gifts raised in pilot synods and gifts from the leadership of this church. Can you imagine what the world might look like if we truly conquer malaria?
As I listened to the conversation on the assembly floor about the campaign, I felt as though this was really a no-brainer. Jesus calls us to help the least of these. Modern medicine and technology has given us the ability to stamp out malaria worldwide. We should be ashamed to sit back and do nothing.
The resolution launching the campaign passed with 98% support and received a standing ovation. At that moment, I was so proud to be a member of the ELCA. A church that cares for others. A church that goes beyond itself to answer the call of the gospel. A church that will change the world. A church that already is.
For more about the ELCA Malaria Campaign, go to http://elca.org/malaria.
You can read the official news release about the resolution that was adopted here.
It's true.
Last night, the Assembly completed its first major work of the week: adopting the ELCA Malaria Campaign. Over the next four years, the ELCA will join other organizations and denominations in raising money to eradicate malaria. The adopted resolution invites all congregations, synods, and individual members of the ELCA to make a contribution to the goal of $15 million by the end of 2015.
The ELCA Malaria Campaign has already raised $1.5 million towards its goal through gifts raised in pilot synods and gifts from the leadership of this church. Can you imagine what the world might look like if we truly conquer malaria?
As I listened to the conversation on the assembly floor about the campaign, I felt as though this was really a no-brainer. Jesus calls us to help the least of these. Modern medicine and technology has given us the ability to stamp out malaria worldwide. We should be ashamed to sit back and do nothing.
The resolution launching the campaign passed with 98% support and received a standing ovation. At that moment, I was so proud to be a member of the ELCA. A church that cares for others. A church that goes beyond itself to answer the call of the gospel. A church that will change the world. A church that already is.
For more about the ELCA Malaria Campaign, go to http://elca.org/malaria.
You can read the official news release about the resolution that was adopted here.
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