By Debra Smithdeal
St. Martin's Episcopal Church, Charlotte
I just continue to be awed when God puts people in my path. The idea just popped into my head - challenge our parishioners to give $15 to send an insecticide-treated mosquito bed net to Africa. Then, knowing that Bishop Michael Curry was in negotiations with Bishop Trevor Musonda Mwamba of Botswana to form a new companion diocese relationship with the Diocese of North Carolina, I thought, wow, we will just designate them for Botswana! Being the Millennium Development Goals Coordinator for the Diocese of North Carolina, I knew that we could also address Millennium Development Goal # 6: Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases.
After approaching our Stewardship Chair (at St. Martin¿s, Charlotte), John Munce, with this idea, the plan began. We met with Scott Duffy and the Mission Board and got their cooperation and-the Nets for Botswana campaign was set!
We announced the campaign would be for a period of four weeks - May 6-June 3, hoping to raise $3000 for 200 nets. The money would be sent to Episcopal Relief and Development (ERD) and from there the nets would be sent to Botswana. Teams were formed; one for marketing, one for speaking and education, one for manning tables and collection¿the response was fabulous! Young and old were excited and ready to do what they could.
I spoke to the congregation on Sunday mornings, educating everyone about malaria; about how many die each day from this deadly disease (2,880); about the nets and prevention; and that ERD not only provides the nets but also the training to use and to maintain them-all for $15! One of our ladies, Terry Ertel, made two banners that were covered with 2,880 handprints, representing the people who die daily. One Sunday I gave out black paper circles with a time on the back, asking that the person stick the circle on their back at that specific time during the morning service. During the announcement time of the service I asked all of those folks to stand and announced that 90 people had died since our service began. I was very specific about who received the circles; picking a good representation of our parish and then asked people to think what our community would look like without these folks in it. All of this was very moving, and people began to really think about how we would all feel if we were subject to this (or any) deadly disease. The catalyst, though, I think, was that everyone knew that their $15 would help someone. It is not a lot of money; some gave $15; some gave hundreds. But each $15 helped prevent someone from getting malaria.
Halfway through the campaign a very generous parishioner offered to match what we raised, dollar for dollar! That just encouraged us even more!
St. Martin¿s Episcopal Church in Charlotte has sent ERD a check for $17,460!! 1164 mosquito bed nets for Botswana!! We are very happy to be the first parish of the diocese to send a gift to our new companion diocese.
I am so overwhelmed and proud of the people of St. Martin¿s for their participation (and also friends and coworkers) in this campaign. Results far exceeded expectations. Never underestimate what God can do when one little seed is planted!
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