SPECIAL OFFERINGS FOR 2008 CONFERENCE SESSION
The offering for Sunday night during the 2008 Louisiana Annual Conference will be given for the “Nothing but Nets” initiative. Nothing But Nets is a global, grassroots campaign to save lives by preventing malaria, a leading killer of children in Africa. Sports Illustrated columnist Rick Reilly challenged his readers to donate $10 for the purchase of an anti-malaria bed net, and thousands of people have joined the campaign. The people of The United Methodist Church, along with Sports Illustrated, NBA Cares, the United Nations Foundation and several other groups, are raising funds to purchase bed nets to end malaria. The Louisiana Annual Conference is joining the cause by contributing money for bed nets that will keep children and families safe. Every year, more than a million children die from this disease. Ninety percent of deaths caused by malaria occur in Africa. Malaria infects nearly 500 million people each year. Children who survive often experience health complications. Malaria is a preventable disease. By answering Jesus' call to "minister to the least of these who are members of our family," we can beat this disease and save future generations. Our goal for the Louisiana Conference is $124,000 ($1 per person), or 12,400 nets.
Monday evening’s offering is dedicated to the building of a Louisiana Plaza at our Jurisdictional Center in Fayetteville, Arkansas, Mt. Sequoyah. This plaza will be a visible, ongoing “thank you” present to the Conferences in our South Central Jurisdiction for the resources of money & volunteers given to us in the recovery of Hurricanes Katrina & Rita. We are asking our members at this session to give $5, $10, or $20 toward the completions of our fundraising for this gift of thanksgiving.
The offering for Tuesday evening’s Ordination Service will help with the cost of providing our ordinands with a tour to the Holy Land. Our Conference will be initiating a tour of the Holy Land every other year, with our new ordinands as our special guests. This experience will enrich the ministry of our new pastors during their time in ministry among us, and will enhance their spiritual journey of faith. |
