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What has the potential to save the lives of 7,000 children in Zimbabwe? Nothing but Nets.

Bishop John R. Schol and 12 clergy and laity of the Baltimore-Washington Conference recently began the distribution of 7,000 nets, paid for in contributions from conference members and a matching grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

The Baltimore-Washington Conference is a 'pioneer' in the distribution of these life-saving, insecticide-treated nets, said the bishop, who was greatly moved by the impact the Nothing But Nets campaign is having.

Malaria is one of the most serious global health issues. Approximately 500 million people each year are infected and more than one million of those die. In Africa, malaria is the leading killer of children, accounting for 20 percent of all childhood deaths.

Last year, The United Methodist Church teamed up with the United Nations Foundation, the National Basketball Association and several other groups to fight against malaria.

The approach is simple. Malaria is transmitted by mosquitoes. Bed nets, treated with insecticide, can stop the mosquitoes from biting during the night and kill the mosquitoes when they land on the nets. Bed nets can prevent malaria transmission by 50 percent, the UN Foundation reported.

A net can be purchased for a $10 donation, which includes education for its recipients.

These nets were originally distributed through the Measles Initiative in Africa. The Baltimore-Washington Conference is the first United Methodist group to begin distributing the nets.

United Methodist churches and ministries throughout the continent are expected to begin to play a major role in ensuring that the nets get in the hands of needy children and pregnant women.

For more information about the Nothing But Nets Campaign visit www.nothingbutnets.net. The site includes a game plan for how congregations can participate in this program.

While in Zimbabwe, members from the Baltimore-Washington Conference also conducted a pastors? school for 300 of the clergy in that nation, most of whom have little formal theological education. 

The Washington and Zimbabwe Episcopal Areas are linked in a partnership of ministry.

As part of the school, the pastors were taught about the threat of malaria and how sleeping under the insecticide-treated nets can prevent the spread of the disease.

Before she left for Africa, Jo Chesson, who is managing the Nothing But Nets and Pastor School ministries for the conference, was struck by the fact that every 30 seconds a child dies from malaria.

In Zimbabwe, Chesson, as she distributed nets to children in a hospital, gained a sense of faith and purpose.

'The faith and love of Jesus Christ are so prominent here,' she said. 'It gives me such hope for a brighter future.'