Cape Girardeau church concert to help global campaign against malaria

Grace United Methodist Church has a new mission -- a mission to help the Nothing But Nets campaign. The church has planned a benefit concert for the not-for-profit organization with folk and religious acts Derek Webb, Waterdeep, Sandra McCracken and Alli Rogers.

Nothing But Nets provides insecticide-treated mosquito netting for poor families in Africa. The nets help prevent the spread of malaria.

"It's a horrible disease," said Joshua Smith, youth coordinator at Grace United Methodist and the man responsible for organizing the concert.

Smith first recognized the need to address the issue when he attended a conference in Springfield, Mo. One of the focuses of the conference was the concern with social justice issues, especially in Africa. Those present were made aware of the extreme poverty, hunger, poor health care and inadequate education in various countries, especially the Third World countries.

"In the year 2000 the United Nations convened and discussed the need to end certain dangerous global problems," Smith said. "These undesirable situations included the lack of potable water, HIV/AIDS and so on."

The session resulted in a commitment from the U.N. for international cooperation to help solve the problems. The global project that came from it was called the Millennium Development Goals project. The aim was to reduce the problems by 2015.

The Nothing But Nets campaign arose through a cooperative effort between the U.N., the NBA and, later, the United Methodist Church.

One of the best ways to help prevent the spread of malaria is by fending off the mosquitoes that spread the illness. The nets are hung over the beds of families to protect them from being bitten while they sleep. Nothing But Nets is able to provide the treated mosquito nets to families in Africa for $10 per net.

Smith organized the concert to help the campaign.

"Not only will you spend an evening with five outstanding singer/musicians, but all the proceeds from the concert will go toward the Nothing But Nets campaign," he said.

Derek Webb and Waterdeep have made names for themselves in Christian music. Webb's appeal has spread to secular audiences as well.

"With the funds acquired from this concert, Nothing But Nets can be provided with enough money to protect several small villages," Smith said.

Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Nov. 5 at Grace United Methodist Church, 521 Caruthers Ave. in Cape Girardeau. For more information, call 334-1321 or e-mail youthcoor@sbcglobal.net.