NEWS

Change the World Participation Makes an Impact First Year Success
Leads to 2011 Event

More than 100,000 people from over 1,000 churches united with a common purpose over a 48-hour period to make a world of difference in ways both large and small. United Methodists from 13 countries and every state in the U.S. energetically worked to build community locally and fight malaria globally during Change the World weekend, April 24-25, 2010. 

Congregations at local churches rolled up their sleeves and took to the streets to feed the hungry, aid the homeless, visit the lonely, and more.  From stocking food pantries and cleaning school grounds to washing cars and renovating homes, people of faith reached out to a world outside the four walls of their own churches.  They did it with work crews, talent shows, candlelight vigils, picnics, sleep-outs, food drives, etc. 

“The people of The United Methodist Church were on a mission to change the world in a hands-on kind of way – and we made an impact,” said the Rev. Larry Hollon, chief executive of United Methodist Communications.  In fact, said Hollon, enthusiasm for the 2010 Change the World event was so great that it will become an annual event.  

“Churches are already gearing up for round two of Change the World,” he said.  Next year’s event will be held May 14-15, 2011.  “The Change the World campaign has been a wonderfully amazing meeting point for vision and ministry,” said Neil Alexander, president of the United Methodist Publishing House.” It links God's abundant love and hunger for justice with our calling to live simply so others may simply live.” 

In addition to undertaking the Change the World worldwide event, the denomination formally launched the Imagine No Malaria campaign on the afternoon of World Malaria Day, April 25, in Austin, Texas.  Over 2,000 people turned out to celebrate, and many more joined in online to help kick-off continued efforts to eliminate death and suffering from malaria in Africa by 2015.  

With a goal of $75 million, Imagine No Malaria has already surpassed the $10 million milestone in giving for malaria.  United Methodist Publishing House contributed $50,000 to Imagine No Malaria, representing 5 percent of Cokesbury sales from April 7-10.  Leading up to World Malaria Day, thousands of people attended events in Lubumbashi and Kamina in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where they learned how to prevent malaria and responded to a call to use bed nets to save lives.  Local community organizations expanded their efforts to prevent malaria by reaching people who had never before been provided bed nets or instructed how to use and care for the nets and ways to prevent malaria.  The people of The United Methodist Church joined with partner organizations to distribute 30,000 insecticide-treated bed nets in the area.