As of May 28, the Illinois Great Rivers Conference is closing in on the $2.5 million mark as receipts have narrowed the gap to a mere $14,153.
The Third Annual Bishops’ Open generated $13,000 May 16 and contributions from the local churches and individuals sending in their offerings provided more than $32,000 during the month of May. A special offering at the opening worship service of Annual Conference is expected to put the conference “over the top.”
As of May 16, there was $20,672 in outstanding church goals and an additional $136,700 in outstanding pledges yet to be paid.
The original $2.3 million was raised by the 2013 Annual Conference session to $2.5 million. Since Jan. 1, more than $200,000 has been remitted to close the gap to its present amount.
The nearly $2.5 million is the second highest amount raised for Imagine No Malaria within the United Methodist denomination. The Minnesota Conference, meeting at its annual conference, celebrated the completion of a $2.7 million campaign. Bishop Gregory V. Palmer, who served as Bishop of the Illinois Area from 2008 to 2012, has challenged the West Ohio Conference to raise $3.5 million. All three conferences are a part of the North Central Jurisdiction.