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Energizing and Equipping Local Churches
in Making Disciples of Jesus Christ for the Transformation of the World
Change the World Event
1/26/2010
On April 24 and 25, your congregations is invited to participate in Change the World, an event that will reveal the many ways that faithful Christians everywhere are serving God.
During that weekend, United Methodist churches are encouraged to create and participate in a service or fundraising event that helps effect positive and long-lasting change, whether it’s revitalizing a food-pantry program, creating a new ministry to help the homeless, or increasing awareness of global health issues like malaria. Churches can utilize existing ministries or initiate a new outreach event. (See what the Watauga congregations is doing under “Faith in action.”)
On April 25, World Malaria Day, The United Methodist Church will formally launch a $75 million campaign called Imagine No Malaria to eradicate deaths caused by malaria. Churches are being asked to host events such as camp-outs to experience sleeping under bed nets like families in Africa who rely on mosquito netting for protection against malaria. These events will help raise awareness and funds that support Imagine No Malaria.
The Central Texas Conference will launch a regional initiative for Imagine No Malaria in the spring, and give special emphasis to it at the 2010 Annual Conference in June.
The April Change the World event was created as part of the Rethink Church campaign in partnership with the United Methodist Publishing House and Imagine No Malaria. The concept for Change the World originated with the Rev. Mike Slaughter, lead pastor at Ginghamsburg Church in Tipp City, Ohio, named one of the top 50 churches in the U.S. by Church Report. Last October, Slaughter hosted the Change the Word conference and authored a book by the same name that aligns with the vision of Rethink Church.
The way we love is by serving people, especially the poor and marginalized,” said Slaughter. “The church in the world needs the reputation of being a community that helps people … a community of people that gives hope and that functions as salt and light in its neighborhood.”
The Rethink Church campaign is seeking to utilize outreach events that embrace the concept of outward-bound church to make a positive difference in the world beyond the church doors. Rethink Church advertising will complement the April events, giving churches an opportunity to take advantage of the buzz generated by the ads.
Here are some ideas for getting started:
(1) Consider how your congregation currently impacts its community. Do you have a food pantry, a clothing closet, an ESL program, a tutoring program, etc.?
(2) Schedule an activity for an existing or new outreach ministry on either April 24 or April 25, 2010.
(3) Invite both your congregation and local community to be involved.
(4) Use the Rethink Church World Malaria Day (April 25) Sermon Starter coming soon to www.rethinkchurch.org/changetheworld.
(5) Collect a special offering to combat malaria.
For more information about Change the World or to learn how you can create an event for your church, go to www.rethinkchurch.org/changetheworld.