wfn.org | Imagine No Malaria Officially Launches on World Malaria Day

[Worldwide Faith News <wfn@igc.org>]

Imagine No Malaria Officially Launches on World Malaria Day

> United Methodist Communications
> Office of Public Information
> 810 12th Avenue S.
> Nashville, TN 37203
> <http://www.umcpresscenter.org/>www.umcpresscenter.org

> FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
> April 19,  2010

Imagine No Malaria Officially Launches on World Malaria Day
Celebration Will Be Broadcast Live Via Streaming Video

Nashville:  On World Malaria Day, Sunday, April 25, 
<http://www.umc.org>The United Methodist Church will officially 
launch <http://www.imaginenomalaria.org>Imagine No Malaria, its $75 
million initiative to eliminate malaria deaths in Africa. To mark the 
celebration, a free concert event will take place in Austin, Texas, 
on the south steps of the State Capitol from 2-5 p.m. (CDT).

Christian rock band Jars of Clay will headline the festivities, which 
are open to the public. The event will also feature local music, 
family activities and food from local restaurants.

"United Methodists are taking on the fight against malaria in a big 
way, and we're excited about the potential impact of this effort," 
said the Rev. Larry Hollon, chief executive of 
<http://www.umcom.org>United Methodist Communications. "Malaria is 
preventable and treatable. It's a fight we can win if we all work together."

Austin is located in the Southwest Texas Annual (regional) Conference 
of The United Methodist Church, which served as the pilot project for 
Imagine No Malaria prior to the formal program launch. Although most 
of the initial support was driven by United Methodist churches, the 
entire community is invited to the launch event.

The event will also feature live music from Austin's Graham Wilkinson 
and the Underground Township, the Huston-Tillotson College Choir and 
a special family area with interactive activities.

"Our entire annual conference embraced the opportunity to lead the 
way by supporting Imagine No Malaria," said the Rev. James Dorff, 
bishop of the <http://www.umcswtx.org/>Southwest Texas Annual 
Conference. "We are excited to showcase this initiative to the Austin 
community and to the entire denomination."

For those not able to attend in person, the entire celebration will 
be broadcast live via streaming video on the Imagine No Malaria Web 
site at <http://www.imaginenomalaria.org>www.ImagineNoMalaria.org.