NetsforLife: Helping to Move Whole Communities from Sickness to Strength

You Are Golden

Last weekend, at the 196th Annual Convention of the Diocese of North Carolina, the Church of the Good Shepherd was publicly acknowledged for its exemplary contributions to the diocese's NetsforLife campaign to eradicate malaria in Africa with a "Golden Net" award. Golden Net status was given to those parishes, missions, ministries and schools of the diocese who met or exceeded their campaign goal.

Because of your generosity, Good Shepherd exceeded by 19 percent the goal set for it by the diocese. In all, CGS donated $11,001.06 to the campaign. That amount allowed Episcopal Relief and Development, which oversees the NetsforLife program, to purchase 917 mosquito nets. And here's the most meaningful number of all: up to 2,752 lives will be saved as a result of those nets being placed over the beds of people who live in sub-Saharan Africa, where malaria is a plague.

With the close of the convention, the diocese's NetsforLife campaign officially ended. The full list of Golden Net designees can be found at http://netsforlife.dioncmdg.org/.

Lisa Towle, CGS Net Rep
NetsforLife campaign
January 26, 2012

Campaign History

Every minute in sub-Saharan Africa a child dies from malaria, a deadly infectious disease transmitted by a mosquito bite. Just one life-saving, long-lasting insecticide-treated net can save up to three lives from suffering and death as in many homes multiple children share one bed.

JOIN US! The Church of the Good Shepherd has joined a diocese-wide commitment to fight malaria through the NetsforLife® program. All the people of Good Shepherd will be given the opportunity to learn about this program and what The Episcopal Church hopes to achieve by participating. Age-appropriate education and activities around the NetsforLife theme will happen throughout this year. Much time has been spent laying groundwork, but things will shift into high gear during Lent. For instance, the Sunday School program will be paying special attention to the Church around the world, with the theme coming from Romans: "We, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually we are members of one another..." (Rom. 12:5). Particular attention will be paid to those countries where NetsforLife serves. Meanwhile, our adult Christian formation program will offer a series of Sunday morning classes about how NetsforLife and the Millennium Development Goals, a related faith-based initiative, allow us to live the baptismal covenant.

Look to this website, the e-Shepherd's Staff, and the information table on the first floor of the Parish Life Center in the weeks ahead for information about what's happening with the campaign.

The hope is you will be inspired enough by what you hear and see to contribute to the diocesan goal of delivering 40,000 bed nets. That's one net for every communicant in the diocese. Good Shepherd has committed to 900 nets. Each net costs $12. This means we need to raise $10,800 by the end of 2011. The tally for all parishes, missions, schools and chaplaincies in the diocese will be announced at the diocese's annual convention next January.

For those who'd like to go ahead and purchase a net, here are the instructions for online credit card payment and a form for payment by check. PLEASE NOTE: To ensure both you and CGS are properly credited, we ask that donations be made through Good Shepherd only. If writing a check, make the check payable to CGS and write "nets" on the memo line. If giving cash, please place it in a sealed envelope bearing your name and the word "nets."

For more information about this effort, contact Lisa Towle, a member of the diocese's NetsforLife Campaign Steering Committee and the Nets Rep for CGS, at .