Mosquito Bytes

The Official
Newsletter of
Imagine No Malaria

Dec 2009

Use Video To Tell

Austin Churches Surpass Goals The Story
AUSTIN, Tex.– Two churches in the Austin district
recently completed their Imagine No Malaria
activities to outstanding success.
Wimberlry UMC had set a goal to impact 2,000 lives,
and after Nothing But Nets activities and generous
pledges from members, they collect $27,053 in gifts, Video clips can help tell
enough to save 2,700 lives. the malaria story in a
Oak Hill UMC nearly doubled their goa, raising personal, compelling
$117,434 raised to save nearly 12,000 lives. Efforts way. For available
included an Impact 100 reception and a youth-run resources, please check
‗LemonAID‘ stand. our Web site and
YouTube channel.
We lift up the people of Wemberly UMC and Oak
Hill UMC for answering the call by engaging the
entire church in the ministry of Imagine No Malaria.
65% of Impact 100
gifts have been
one-time donations of
$1,000 or more.
Bastrop UMC Rocks!
BASTROP, Tex.—On November 8, the congregation of First UMC of Bastrop hosted a Chili
Supper, followed by a special Praise and Worship Experience. The event was held in down-
town Bastrop and featured music from
The Praise Team from the Edge at Lake
Travis UMC. The band, led by pastor and
musician Paul Vick, provided high-powered,
Christ-inspired music for the evening.
―We call this a praise and worship experi-
ence because the band from the Edge is so
full of energy, talent and Spirit,‖ says Bas-
trop pastor Andy Smith. ―All who attended
the event were moved in powerful ways.‖

Malaria Outbreak Hits Virginia

ATLANTA, Ga.— The publication Vaccine News Daily recently
Follow us online:
reported an alarming spike in malaria cases in the U.S. Ten cases were reported
www.ImagineNoMalaria.org during the same week in October, including four in Virginia. Each year,
approximately 1,000 malaria diagnoses are made on American soil.
Not to worry, though. The vast majority of U.S.-based malaria cases are in travelers
returning from overseas.
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Dec 2009 Page 2

Dec. 6: Schertz UMC:
Sunday To Save Lives
Dec. 18: Round Rock UMC
youth lock-in
January 2010: Activity
begins in W. Pennsylvania
and North Texas Annual
Conferences.
April 25, 2010:
World Malaria Day
An Angel Shines
AUSTIN, Tex - Parker Lane UMC is She helped plan a fundraising dinner, and
developing Christian leaders. You found church members excited to
need not look further than twenty-year participate.
-old Angel Campolo for
Angel stood before the congrega-
evidence.
tion to teach and ask for help
―I just felt compelled to do fighting malaria.
something about malaria,‖
Her church family responded with
Campolo said.
pledges and gift that lifted Parker
And she did. After hearing Lane UMC to raise $11,190, well
about the devastation beyond their goal.
caused by malaria, took
Angel and Parker Lane UMC
action. Working closely
continue to support Imagine No
with Pastor Tina Carter,
Angel Campolo answered the Malaria, planning several events
Angel began personally call for Parker Lane UMC. for the coming year.
asking church members if
they would help save lives
in Africa.
At A Glance: 2009 Death Toll (Worldwide)*
H1N1 VIRUS 5,000
MALARIA 830,000

Pastor Endorsement Inspires Success

By Virgillio Vasquez-Garza Christian faith to the working class? What for?
District Superintendent, But he tried and he succeeded!
San Antonio District
I was in love with the prettiest girl in my church.

Imagine No Malaria… Being

a child who has been around
this earth for quite some time,
I want to put the music of
John Lennon‘s song to this
phrase. But this would be too
controversial because the first line of Lennon‘s
song is ―Imagine there‘s no Heaven‖ and I am
not willing or ready to discuss that line.
Now that I have your attention: Imagine No Ma-
laria; it is easy if you try. Is your congregation
trying? Are you trying? Unless we try, nothing
ever gets done.
John Wesley, founder of the Methodist move-
ment, tried several things that seemed impossi-
ble at the time he was trying. Preaching outside
the church? It was a scandal! Taking the
I did not think that she would be interested in a Malaria
guy like me, poor and skinny, politically and
religiously weird. She was and is nice, sweet, Fact:
beautiful, thoughtful, patient and very popular
Of the
with the guys. I decided to go for it. Hey! We are
going to celebrate 40 years of marriage in one million
December. If I had not tried, if I had not said, malaria deaths
―Unless I try, I will not know,‖ my life would each year,
have taken a different turn.
more than 90%
Imagine no Malaria; it is easy if you try. Every occur in
effort to eradicate Malaria makes a difference.
Do not sell yourself or your congregation, short. sub-Saharan
You are going to be surprised about what God Africa.
can do with the efforts of all the people. We will
make a difference because we have tried.
If you are already trying, PRAISE GOD! If you
are still thinking about it, ―it is easy if you try.‖