LCMS encourages special prayer on World Malaria Day, April 25
ST. LOUIS—April 20, 2012—In observance of World Malaria Day Wednesday, April 25, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) through the Lutheran Malaria Initiative is encouraging all of its congregations, schools and universities to remember those suffering from malaria by praying a special prayer.
One child in Africa dies every 60 seconds from malaria. In a single 24-hour period—one day—1,440 children in Africa will succumb to this disease. World Malaria Day is an opportunity to raise awareness and encourage people to join in the worldwide effort to end malaria deaths in Africa by 2015.
The LCMS has asked its congregations, schools and universities on Wednesday, April 25, to take a moment to pray at 2:40 p.m. local time (14:40 on a 24-hour clock) for those who suffer from malaria and those who will lose a child or other family member to the disease.
“You can help make a big difference for the people of Africa who are suffering from malaria,” said LCMS President Rev. Dr. Matthew C. Harrison. “Please join us in prayer on April 25th to lift up all those who are facing the devastating effects of malaria.”
The special World Malaria Day prayer from the Lutheran Malaria Initiative and other resources can be found at www.lutheranmalaria.org.
The Lutheran Malaria Initiative is a partnership of Lutheran World Relief and The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod to mobilize U.S. Lutherans in the global effort to eliminate malaria deaths in Africa by 2015. LMI is made possible through support from the United Nations Foundation and aims to raise $45 million by 2015 for the global fight against malaria.
An expression of our faith and of God's love for all, the Lutheran Malaria Initiative educates Lutherans about malaria, advocates for global health initiatives and raises funds to help combat malaria.
About The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS), is a mission-oriented, Bible-based, confessional Christian denomination headquartered in St. Louis, Mo. Founded in 1847, the LCMS has about 2.3 million baptized members in more than 6,000 congregations and more than 9,000 pastors. Two seminaries and 10 colleges and universities operate under the auspices of the LCMS, and its congregations operate the largest Protestant parochial school system in America. The church broadcasts the saving message of Jesus Christ over KFUO Radio, and it has relationships and active mission work in 89 countries around the world. In the last five years, the LCMS has awarded more than $35 million through more than 900 domestic and international grants for emergency response and disaster relief. Today, the LCMS is in full doctrinal fellowship with 33 other confessional Lutheran church bodies worldwide and is a founding partner of Lutheran Services in America, a social ministry organization serving one in every 50 Americans. For more information, visit www.lcms.org.
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