Conference Churches Invited To Change The World

3/10/2010

To view a video trailer for the book, please click here.

Change the World Links

Change the World Event site (for more information and to register your event)

Change The World Resources (from Cokesbury)

Change the World, a denomination-wide event, is taking place on Saturday-Sunday, April 24-25. All United Methodist Churches are encouraged to participate in the event to make a difference by building community locally and fighting malaria globally. For churches in the Detroit Conference that are interested in participating in the event, information about Change the World and the various ways to participate can be found below.

Build Community Locally

During the weekend of April 24-25, churches are encouraged to create and participate in a service or fundraising event that helps effect positive and long-lasting change in their community, 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 to coincide with the dates.

All churches are encouraged to list their event at www.umcom.org/changetheworld. All Change the World events worldwide are being displayed on a Google Earth map to indicate the global nature of the event.

Building community locally is a component of the Rethink Church campaign, which began last year. The Rethink Church campaign seeks to utilize outreach events that embrace the concept of outward-bound churches to make a positive difference in the world beyond the church doors. Rethink Church advertising will complement the Change the World event, giving churches an opportunity to take advantage of the buzz generated by the ads.

Fight Malaria Globally

On April 25, which is World Malaria Day, The United Methodist Church will formally launch a $75 million campaign called Imagine No Malaria to eradicate deaths caused by malaria. Imagine No Malaria builds on the existing Nothing But Nets program and seeks to eradicate malaria deaths by 2015 by raising $75 million and providing training for health workers to provide community based health solutions.

In addition to the community outreach events, churches are also encouraged to host events such as sleep-outs to experience sleeping under bed nets like families in Africa who rely on mosquito netting for protection against malaria. Events like sleep-outs can help raise awareness and funds that support Imagine No Malaria.

To download instructions for how your church can conduct a sleep-out, please visit imaginenomalaria.com. Sleep-outs can be conducted indoors or outdoors depending upon weather conditions and are a great way for your groups to raise awareness about malaria.

Another resource that can be used to raise awareness of the effort to fight malaria globally is the documentary film “When the Night Comes,” developed by the United Nations Foundation. For more information, and to obtain a copy of the film, please visit http://www.whenthenightcomes.com/.

Change The World … The Book

The 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. In October 2009, Slaughter hosted the Change the World conference and authored a book by the same name that aligns with the vision of Rethink Church.

To order a copy of the book, as well as copies of a small group study booklet that is based on the book, please visit www.cokesbury.com.

Resources for Local Churches

Worship resources are available for local churches to highlight the Change the World event and World Malaria Day on Sunday, April 25. These resources can be downloaded by visiting www.umcom.org/changetheworld. Worship graphics, bulletin covers, sermon starters, and prayer resources are available on the site.

Change the World clothing is also available for churches that plan to conduct an event on April 24-25. Change the World t-shirts and hats can be ordered through www.cokesbury.com.

All churches are encouraged to participate in this event and join the United Methodist Churches around the world who will be building community locally and fighting malaria globally. If your church is planning on participating in the Change the World event, please register your event at www.umcom.org/changetheworld and notify Paul Thomas, Director of Communications.

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