Central Florida Episcopalian:
Feature story
Dear Diocesan Family,
Over the past several months a Select Committee, working under the leadership of Canon Nelson Pinder, has been considering the role the Diocese of Central Florida might play in addressing the Millennium Development Goals. As you are undoubtedly aware these goals were developed by the leaders of the world’s nations in cooperation with the United Nations.
And in two successive General Conventions The Episcopal Church has committed itself to the vision of eliminating extreme global poverty by working to implement the Millennium Development Goals. Each diocese has been asked to commit itself to addressing one or more of these goals.
One of the world’s most pressing needs is the elimination of malaria around the globe and, in particular, in East Africa where it is virulent, epidemic and lethal.
Here in the United States we virtually wiped out malaria back in the 1930s, but it still claims millions of lives around the world – especially in Africa. The statistics according to UNICEF are:
· Each year 350 million to 500 million people contract malaria.
· Nearly everyone in tropical Africa has a malaria episode every year.
· Malaria kills more than one million people every year.
· African children younger than five account for 75% of these deaths.
· For every child who dies hundreds more become sick or incapacitated often missing school and other opportunities.
You may be aware that Microsoft’s Bill Gates has called malaria “the worst thing on the planet” and he has donated hundreds of millions of dollars to the cause of eliminating it.
As Central Florida’s Millennium Development Goals Committee began to consider possibilities for our involvement in addressing these goals more and more attention began to focus on the east African country of Tanzania and, more especially, the Diocese of Western Tanganyika where The Rt. Rev. Gerard M’Pango is the Bishop.
Interesting enough, I have known Gerard for more than thirty years and I had the privilege of preaching at his consecration in 1981! Gerard and his wife Margaret were married in my parish in Virginia by the Archbishop of Tanzania, The Most Rev. Musa (“Moses”) Kahuranga a couple of months before that consecration (and I had the pleasure of assisting!)
Working Episcopal Relief and Development, it is the hope, prayer, and plan of the Diocese of Central Florida to enter into a special partnership with the Diocese of Western Tanganyika, focusing on the elimination of malaria in that country, and beginning with a special Christmas project this year.
A chemically treated mosquito net can be purchased through Episcopal Relief and Development at a cost of $12. This net will protect anyone sleeping beneath it from malaria-bearing mosquitoes for up to five years. Over a period of time if enough nets are in place malaria itself will die out, because in order for the disease to spread mosquitoes need to get to human blood.
Such a net - that can literally save a life - costs just $12!
We are asking that every family in the Diocese of Central Florida commit to a special Christmas offering of at least one net per family. Monies can be collected through your parish or sent directly to the Diocese of Central Florida. In either case the notation should be made in the lower left hand corner “Mosquito Net Project.”
- Perhaps you can give a dollar per day for the “Twelve Days of Christmas.”
- Perhaps you might be able to give one net per member of your family!
- Perhaps your congregation can give, above and beyond the contributions of individual members and families, a corporate Christmas present.
- Perhaps there are creative ways of raising money (a bake sale, a car wash, etc.) to participate.
This project will not end as of Christmas or Epiphany, but it is our desire to “kick it off” with this focused Christmas emphasis this year.
“God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whoever believes in him should not parish, but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)
May it be said of us that we so loved the children of God that we gave a few dollars apiece that they might know life here on earth without the curse of malarial illness!
Give a Net…Save a Life…Merry Christmas!
With love to you in our Lord,
+John W. Howe
