Application forms for the Bluff Park United Methodist Higher Education Scholarship grants for the 2014-2015 academic year are now available in the church office.
Nominations for the Victor Harbor Community Service Scholarships for entering college freshmen can be submitted to the church office.
The deadline for applications and nominations is August 1, 2014.
Our student team closed out their tour last night at Camp Sumatanga, leading their summer staff trainees in an evening of worship. This was a very special experience for several of our students who will be returning in a few weeks as campers. [Read more…]
Our youth praise team performed the closing set at the Battle of the Youth Bands yesterday. Then they toured the youth wing at Trinity UMC in Homewood to learn what other students are doing and to get ideas for Bluff Park. Tonight they will lead worship for the Camp Sumatanga summer staff trainees. [Read more…]
The Bluff Park UMC Youth Band kicked off their summer tour on May 31st in Henagar, AL (a rural community on Sand Mountain.) In addition to a great night of worship, there were also some great finds at Unclaimed Baggage in Scottsboro. [Read more…]
You can make a donation online right now. Click here to visit our secure online payment page. Chose the amount you would like to donate (every $10 will provide the resources to save a life) and then select “Imagine No Malaria” from the drop down menu at the bottom of the donation form.
Imagine your child, your spouse, a parent or friend suddenly overcome with chills, fever, headaches, vomiting and fatigue. What seems like case of the flu quickly becomes worse and there is a very real possibility it will end in death – specially for children, pregnant women, and the elderly.
That is reality for people living with malaria.
According to the World Health Organization (World Malaria Report 2011) malaria claims one life every 60 seconds in Africa. That means that 1,440 people per day; 525,600 people per year die of a preventable disease.
It wasn’t so long ago that malaria was a global problem. Until the early 1900’s people didn’t even know what caused the disease. Malaria deaths peaked worldwide in the 1930’s at just over 5 million per year. But, by the 1970’s the disease had been eradicated from the United States and Europe.
Malaria is now a disease of poverty.
In a February 2009 TED Talk presentation, Bill Gates said that the road map for eradicating malaria is a strong and sustained effort of medical treatment, mosquito control, and education that requires the commitment of the global community.
Imagine a world where people come together to fix a problem we know how to fix.
For almost 200 years the United Methodist Church has operated hospitals and clinics throughout Africa. Our church serves in many hard-to-reach places, places that are beyond the reach of many aid organizations and sometimes even governments. Our church is determined to put this 200 year old network to good use by helping to eliminate deaths from malaria.
The United Methodist Committee On Relief (UMCOR) has begun a global health initiative called Imagine No Malaria.
As partners in the Imagine No Malaria campaign, Bluff Park United Methodist Church has set a bold goal to save the lives of 2,500 people threatened by malaria. We will do so by providing funding for mosquito nets, malaria medication, laboratory tests and educational outreach. It is an ambitious goal, but we are not working alone. We are joining with the other churches of the North Alabama Conference to raise 1 million dollars toward the fight against malaria in Africa.
Our portion of the total amount is $25,000 to be raised over three years. According to estimates from the Imagine No Malaria campaign, every $10 raised provides the resources needed to save one life. That means that Bluff Park UMC will be directly responsible for saving 2,500 lives. Through our commitment we will ensure that a child is returned to her mother that a mother is saved for her children that a father is there for his family. This will happen 2,500 times over because of our efforts.
The campaign to raise our part of the funding will begin in September of this year. Most of us are rarely given the opportunity to directly save a life. The Imagine No Malaria campaign gives us that opportunity. Never could a mere $10 do so much.
In the coming weeks we will share more about the disease of malaria and the Imagine No Malaria campaign.
Start to support this project now. Please begin to pray and consider how you will respond to this amazing opportunity to save lives.
You can make a donation online right now. Click here to visit our secure online payment page. Chose the amount you would like to donate (every $10 will provide the resources to save a life) and then select “Imagine No Malaria” from the drop down menu at the bottom of the donation form.
Due to weather concerns, we will be cancelling all midweek activities on February 12, 2014.
We’ll see you Sunday when the Bishop preaches in both services!