For Immediate Release
Contact: Vicki Biggs
Director, Integrated Communications
The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
www.lcms.org
314-996-1236
314-556-3829 (cell)
You can help ‘Orange Out Malaria!’ with the Lutheran Malaria Initiative
ST. LOUIS, April 15, 2013 – Every April 25, the world observes World Malaria Day. This year, from April 21-27, Lutherans across the United States will come together to “Orange Out Malaria!” as part of the Lutheran Malaria Initiative (LMI).
Orange Out Malaria! is a weeklong push to increase awareness about malaria’s impact and raise funds to fight the disease with LMI. Taking LMI’s signature color as its theme, Orange Out Malaria! provides activities and resources to congregations, schools and individuals to make participation easy and fun.
Some resources provided for Orange Out Malaria! week include:
- Bible study and worship resources
- Fact sheets and bulletin inserts for sharing with congregations and other groups
- Ideas and instructions for fun and easy games, activities and fundraising events, such as selling LMI t-shirts or bracelets, or organizing a 5k race
- Postcards to sign and send to Congress advocating for funding for malaria programs
- A special prayer for World Malaria Day, April 25
“Every 60 seconds, a child dies from malaria, a completely preventable and treatable disease,” said Martha Mitkos, director of the Lutheran Malaria Initiative for The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. “It doesn’t have to be this way. We are motivated by the Gospel of Jesus Christ, called by Him to love and care for those who are suffering. In serving as Christ’s hands, we can bring relief in His name to those in need.”
Working through churches and other partners in Africa, the Lutheran Malaria Initiative educates people at risk of malaria about how to prevent infection, how to recognize the symptoms, and what to do if they get sick. One of the easiest ways to prevent malaria is to sleep under a bed net, which costs just $10. A $10 gift can save a life.
Visit the LMI Web page to download resources, and join LMI on Facebook and Twitter to share your own Orange Out Malaria! ideas and stories!
LMI is a partnership of Lutheran World Relief and The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod to mobilize U.S. Lutherans in the global effort to eliminate malaria deaths in Africa. LMI has been made possible through support from the United Nations Foundation.
About The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) is a biblical, confessional, witness-oriented Christian denomination with 2.3 million members in 6,200 congregations. Through acts of witness and mercy, the church carries out its mission worldwide to make known the love of Jesus Christ. Learn more at www.lcms.org.
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