The Killer in the Night

Growing up at Mack Morris Scout Camp and Lakeshore United Methodist Assembly, I spent a lot of time swatting mosquitoes.  They made me itch, and calamine lotion was the order of the day.

However, across the continent of Africa, and other underdeveloped countries, the buzzing sound of the mosquito brings harbingers of death - a death that is preventable.

It takes more than a net.  It takes a whole system of health care delivery with clear guidelines and compassionate workers to protect these children.

This week, I was given the opportunity to gather in Washington, D.C. with 100 other United Methodists at the Board of Church and Society to learn how we are killing this killer of children.  We were blessed to be given time in the busy schedules of our congressional leaders.  Gerry Campbell and I had the opportunity to meet with Senators Alexander and Corker and their staff.  They listened carefully, and gave us the time to make our points:

1.       Over 5 years ago, Bill Gates partnered with the United Methodist Church, the United Nations, and other faith-based organizations to create a network to lower the death rate of children from malaria.

2.       In the first year, a child died every 15 seconds from malaria,

3.       By the middle of the work, one child died every 30 seconds,

4.       Currently, one child dies every 60 seconds.

5.       We have created accountable clinics to provide nets for children’s beds which are treated with a powerful, yet safe, insecticide.  Education of families to the threat of the mosquito’s bite, coupled with medications to fight those cases which have already begun has started a revolution in world health care.

Your church is taking the lead in this battle to save children.

Please pray for this ministry.  To learn more, visit http://www.umc.org/site/c.lwL4KnN1LtH/b.5303261/.  Each of us can do something to stop this epidemic which is robbing hope from families and nations.

If your heart hasn’t been touched by saving children, think about this:

When hope fails, there is always someone there to blame the powerful countries for doing nothing.  Older children are drawn to groups who want to take revenge.  If you need a case in point, watch the children carrying AK47 weapons giving allegiance to Al Qaida.   The $10 net is much more effective in stopping the process of violence than drones and military action.

We have the opportunity to answer the biblical call to beat our swords into plowshares.  For us, it looks like a web tent that protects from the silent killer in the night.  Join me in providing ways to grow this ministry.

·         Brother Simeon