News

Heritage UMC pastor shaves head for Imagine No Malaria

Heritage UMC pastor, Rev. Russell Brown, has his head shaved in return for the congregation raising more than $3,000 for the Imagine No Malaria campaign. (photos by Cindy Svec) By Cindy Svec, special contributor The conferences of the Great Plains Area are raising funds for Imagine No Malaria, an initiative of the United Methodist Church to end the disease on the continent of...

Ideas for your church to raise funds for Imagine No Malaria

The United Methodist Church is working to eliminate malaria deaths in Africa through the Imagine No Malaria initiative. All local churches in Kansas have been asked to host a fundraiser to support this life-saving campaign. If you haven’t already started planning what kind of Imagine No Malaria fundraiser your church will have, here are some ideas to help your congregation.   Worship focus: Have a 10-week focus during worship on the Imagine No Malaria campaign and...

Pastor uses basketball prowess to raise funds to fight malaria

By Lisa Diehl, Kansas communications director The opportunity to play basketball brought a young boy to church more than 40 years ago. Today, the man, a pastor in the Kansas West Conference, is using those skills to save lives in Africa. Rev. Kip Ryherd, left, with Mirranda, who helped at Ryherd’s free-throw challenge that raised money for Imagine No Malaria. (photo by Julie Ryherd) Rev. Kip Ryherd,...

Parsons District basketball tournament a winner for Imagine No Malaria

The Parsons District recently hosted a three-on-three basketball tournament at Parsons Wesley United Methodist Church to raise money for Imagine No Malaria. There were 17 teams entered from seven churches in the district. Most of the teams brought along their own “cheering section” of spectators who supported them in their...

Bishop makes 360 free throws to help end malaria deaths

By Lisa Diehl, Kansas communications director Great Plains Area Bishop Scott Jones made 360 of 1,000 free-throw attempts in an hour and 40 minutes Feb. 23 to raise funds to end deaths as the result of malaria on the continent of Africa. Great Plains Area Bishop Scott Jones shoots free throws at Wichita Calvary UMC for a Shoot for No Malaria fundraiser. (photo by Lisa Diehl) ...

Shoot for No Malaria website launched

It’s not often you have the opportunity to save lives by shooting hoops, but this February, every church in the Great Plains Episcopal Area is encouraged to do just that. Bishop Scott Jones has called for every United Methodist church in Kansas and Nebraska to be involved in the challenge, Shoot for No Malaria, by hosting or participating in an event during the month of February. Churches are invited to be creative. Events primarily will be basketball-themed affairs, such as free-throw...

Taking time to save lives

Every 60 seconds, malaria claims another innocent life in Africa. Malaria is responsible for 655,000 deaths each year, and most of these are children. However, malaria is a preventable, treatable and beatable disease. With your help, The United Methodist Church, through the Imagine No Malaria campaign, is empowering the people of Africa to overcome malaria with prevention, treatment, communication and education. Encourage your congregation to support this life-saving ministry. Contact...

Kansas East Conference joins anti-malaria campaign

The Kansas East Conference is one of 12 conferences joining the Imagine No Malaria campaign to end preventable malaria deaths in Africa. The announcement was made during the 2012 Kansas East Annual Conference session at United Methodist Church of the Resurrection June 6-9. Kansas Area Bishop Scott Jones announced a goal of every congregation participating in raising funds for Imagine No Malaria by the end of 2013. “Every congregation can do something to fight this disease,”...

Imagine No Malaria initiative informs UMCOR work

Rev. Cynthia Harvey, associate general secretary at the General Board of Global Ministries in charge of the United Methodist Committee on Relief, was one of two keynote speakers at the Kansas East Annual Conference June 6-9 at United Methodist Church of the Resurrection. Harvey focused on the church’s international health ministries as she spoke to the assembly, which was meeting under the theme “The Church United: Working for Wellness.” “”When the United...