May 18, 2012

CHICAGO – Kelsey Nulph is a college student passionate about joining the global fight against malaria, and she's not the only one.

Students from across the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) are coming up with creative ways to speak out against the disease, which claims the life of a child every 45 seconds.

To help cultivate that passion into action, the ELCA Malaria Campaign is awarding grants to ELCA campus ministries, colleges and universities to equip and inspire students in their efforts.

"The child that dies every 45 seconds is not just a number or statistic," according to Nulph, a student at Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa. "That child is our brother or sister in Christ. The ELCA's commitment to (help) eradicate malaria is one that is exemplary of what Jesus Christ calls us to do as his disciples."

Students at Wartburg "are extremely receptive to service and educational opportunities," said Nulph. "Education will be key in all that we do to bring attention to malaria – what it is, how the disease affects people and why it's important that we step up and eradicate it."

Malaria is a treatable and preventable disease. Working through Lutheran churches in Africa, the ELCA Malaria Campaign is uniquely positioned to provide mosquito nets, insecticides, medication, health care, education and more to help eliminate deaths from this disease for good.

To help support the campaign, students at Wartburg hope to raise between $30,000 and $35,000. "I believe that we're in a position to obtain our goal, regardless of the economy," said Nulph.

Students at ELCA colleges, universities and campus ministries have "approached us with a stunning array of creative ideas for raising money for the ELCA Malaria Campaign," said Jessica Nipp, coordinator for the campaign.

"Next year, students will be playing flag football to help fight malaria. They will be dancing, singing, watching movies and educating one another to raise money. And, at the same time, they will be making malaria history," said Nipp.

To date, the ELCA Malaria Campaign has awarded grants to nine ELCA campus ministries, colleges and universities:

• Augustana College in Sioux Falls, S.D.

• California Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks, Calif.

• Christus Rex Lutheran Campus Ministry at University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, N.D.

• This Far By Faith Campus Ministry at Kennedy King College, Chicago

• Lutheran Campus Ministry at Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, La.

• Lutheran Campus Ministry at George Mason University, Fairfax, Va.

• Luther College in Decorah, Iowa

• Lutheran Campus Ministry at Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Ariz.

• Wartburg College

"We look forward to watching the (students') great plans become reality," said Nipp, adding that some grant funding is still available.

Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis, she said.

Information about the grants is available at http://www.ELCA.org/Our-Faith-In-Action/Responding-to-the-World/ELCA-Malaria-Campaign/Malaria- Resources/Grants.aspx, and information about the ELCA Malaria Campaign is at http://www.ELCA.org/malaria/.

ELCA News Service