Rev. Ouk-Yean Kim Jueng

According to United Methodist General Commission on Communications, Imagine No Malaria announced last week that we, the United Methodists, have reached 80% of our goal of raising 75 million by 2015. Over 45 annual conferences have joined the campaign. Currently there are 19 annual conferences that are actively participating in the campaign, and four of them have already exceeded their goals. Soon, five more conferences are expected to launch fundraising efforts.

Since our denomination began to focus on saving lives at risk from malaria, a preventable disease that still kills a child every 60 seconds, the church has been working together with other major organizations who are global leaders in the fight against this and other diseases of poverty. As a result, the death toll has been cut in half, and nations in Africa recognize The United Methodist Church as a key partner in the worldwide health initiative.

First United Methodist Church of Arlington Heights joined the denominational effort in 2007, raising money for Imagine No Malaria, which was built upon the success of its original program, Nothing But Nets. As of February 2014, with our Valentine's Day cards sales, we have raised $33,313, including $5,452 this year.  

First UMC Arlington Heights hosts an Imagine No Malaria Valentine Day Celebration

The successful fundraising would not have been possible without the dedication of Pat and Ralph Peterson. Working with the Missions Commission of our church, they have created Valentine's Day cards and made a special appeal to the congregation every year.

This year, we are moving up our fundraising effort to a different level as we have made a pledge of $30,000 to the Imagine No Malaria campaign. The whole church family welcomed the news with excitement in the Imagine No Malaria Sunday worship service a couple of months ago. We are planning to meet our challenge by continuing the Valentine's Day cards sales and designating December mission offerings through Upside-Down Christmas campaign to this cause for the next three years.

Despite a mortgage to pay and another capital campaign to run for the second phase of a building project, the commitment of our church to save lives at risk from malaria is unwavering, for we strongly believe in the mission of our church and want to make a difference in the lives of the most vulnerable.

Imagine No Malaria is an extraordinary ministry of the people of The United Methodist Church, and many in our church conference have given for this important mission work. Funds have been raised one dollar at a time, one member at a time, one church at a time, ranging from coins from children to sizable gifts from adults. 

Bishop Sally Dyck has challenged us to make significant pledges toward Imagine No Malaria, and I hope and pray all of our churches will take the challenge seriously. Together, with God's help, we are moving mountains. Imagine the day we can finally say, "No more death from malaria!"