Killer in the Dark Study Guide
This study is based on the video “Imagine No Malaria: Killer in the Dark” (52:15 min).
During each of four sessions, your group can watch two short segments of the video and
discuss the questions provided. Be sure to open and close each week with prayer.
You can order a free copy of the “Killer in the Dark” DVD at shop.umc.org, or-- if you’ve
got good internet service in your gathering place-- play the video from Youtube.
Session One
Introduction: Go around the circle and have each person say their name, what drew
them to this class, and one thing they know about malaria.
Video segment 1: 0:00-6:14 (Filmed mostly in Sierra Leone, this clip covers the disease,
bed nets, and local volunteers.)
Discussion questions:
1.
2.
3.
What would you have said was the biggest killer of children in Africa?
Have you heard of bed nets before? Have you slept under one?
What do you think of the local volunteer approach?
Video segment 2: 6:15-10:54 (Filmed mostly in Sierra Leone and Democratic Republic of
the Congo, this clip covers community-based solutions.)
Discussion questions:
1. What do you think of an action-focused campaign vs. a faith-focused campaign?
2. Should evangelism be part of the program? Why or why not?
Summary: end by reading Matthew 10:7-8. What was one thing about today’s study
that shocked or surprised you? What was one thing that really impressed you?
Session Two
Introduction: What do you remember most from our last session?
Video segment 3: 10:55-20:26 (Filmed mostly in Democratic Republic of the Congo, this
clip covers Christian and Muslim leaders, house to house approach, myths, and how the
church is leading the fight.)
Discussion questions:
1. What myths or facts had you heard about malaria before this study
started? Where did you learn them?
2. How do you feel about Christians and Muslims working together to prevent
malaria?
3. Is this the church’s job or the government’s? Why?
Video segment 4: 20:27-25:54 (Filmed mostly in Kenya, this clip covers vaccinations, our
community-based approach, and research on mosquitos and parasites.)
Discussion questions:
1. What questions do you have about each of the approaches to dealing with
malaria?
2. What do you think of genetically modified organisms in this case?
Summary: end by reading Mark 2:1-5. Which way of fighting malaria appeals most to
you? Why?
Session Three
Introduction: What do you remember most from last week?
Video segment 5: 25:55-33:09 (Filmed mostly in Mozambique, this clip covers extreme
poverty, the costs of the disease, communication, and sustainable agriculture.)
Discussion questions:
1. What would it be like to live on $1 or $2 a day?
2. What do you think of the community-based approach for malaria or agriculture?
Video segment 6: 33:10-38:42 (Filmed mostly in the United States, this clip covers this
country’s historical fight against malaria, the beginning of CDC, and the use of DDT.)
Discussion questions:
1. How was the US approach different from or similar to the current fight in Africa?
2. Can we eliminate malaria in Africa as we did in the US?
Summary: end by reading Matthew 25:34-40. What difference does it make in fighting
malaria that Africa has such the extreme poverty?
Session Four
Introduction: What do you remember most from the last session?
Video segment 7: 38:43-45:12 (Filmed mostly in the United States and Sierra Leone, this
clip cover the Imagine No Malaria campaign and traditional medicine.)
Discussion questions:
1. Why do kids make such good advocates for campaigns like Imagine No Malaria?
2. What would you do to protect your children if you were an African parent?
Video segment 8: 45:13-52:15 (Filmed mostly in Sierra Leone, this clip covers treatments
and health systems, hurdles that this campaign faces, and how to keep it effective.)
Discussion questions:
1. Can you imagine being so poor that you have never had anything new?
2. How do we build trust in Africa? Here in the US?
Summary: end by reading Luke 9:1-2. Which ideas for action appeal to you? Should our
community do something more to engage with this campaign?