By Debbie Legg
One woman”s church was expanding its missions program into India. Would it be addressing the AIDS issue? Two nurses had been on short-term mission trips. Could they get their congregation more excited about AIDS programs? A woman had lost her son to AIDS. Could she do anything locally for the AIDS community? A couple wanted to know, is there any good news in the battle against AIDS?
The answer to all of those questions was a resounding “yes” at the Your Church and AIDS conference, sponsored by Christian Missionary Fellowship International (CMF) and Fellowship of Associates of Medical Evangelism (FAME), held April 19 at East 91st Street Christian Church in Indianapolis. More than 180 people from as far away as Georgia and Maryland came together to focus on an issue that, in many ways, can seem far removed from our lives, yet is creeping insidiously closer all the time.
The facts are grim indeed (see sidebar at the bottom of this article).
The need for a conference like this was highlighted when Bill Hybels of Willow Creek Community Church interviewed Bono, lead singer of U2 and activist for world poverty and AIDS, in July 2006. FAME and CMF soon began fielding questions about what they were doing about AIDS and how churches could get involved.
These two mission organizations, both based in Indianapolis, previously had worked together on projects, but sponsoring this conference took their relationship to a whole new level. “There are very few conferences on AIDS in our brotherhood, and those that do exist are usually sponsored by churches,” says Doug Priest, executive director of CMF.
“There is movement in our churches to be more externally focused, more socially conscious,” says Priest. “Most all of our missionaries are seeing and dealing with AIDS, and so the churches are hearing about it from them. This conference provided concrete ways to become involved with or increase involvement with AIDS ministry.”
Restoring Communities
Heather Larson oversees Compassion/Justice Ministries at Willow Creek and previously worked for the Red Cross. When she would go to disaster areas she would often ask herself, “Where is the church?” She says churches must end the debate over whether or not to be involved with HIV/AIDS. God is there right now, with or without us. In Sub-Saharan Africa the churches are one of the most stable and influential entities in the culture. This stability encourages the formation of church-to-church partnerships with congregations in the United States. Governments come and go, but God”s people are restoring their communities, and we can help.
A quote on her desk says, “When the world asks, “˜What is God like?” we should be able to say, “˜Look at the church.””
According to Dr. Patrick Railey, director of medical ministries for Operation Mobilization, the stigma of AIDS is one of the worst aspects of the disease. Today 60 percent of the newly infected women in Sub-Saharan Africa have been faithful to their husbands. Yet even if their AIDS infection is “not their fault,” AIDS victims become outcasts of society, much as lepers were cast out in biblical times. If their family doesn”t cast them out, the community ostracizes the family. This is especially difficult for women, who have no rights and can”t provide for their families.
Railey said each church has a different heart, and each church must find its own way to get involved. “Christians should care about HIV/AIDS because this disease is entirely preventable, is stigmatized like no other, and we have a message of hope, restoration, and right choices based on God”s design that no one else can bring. Jesus would care, and does care, about these people.”
Dr. Suzie Snyder held a workshop based on her experiences as a missionary and doctor in Kenya. She showed that behind each statistic is a person with a name, face, and story. Using real-life examples, she described difficulties and cultural issues affecting prevention, care, and treatment of AIDS patients and their families.
There are many practical ways to help, including education, prevention, medical treatment, home-based care, even schooling and microenterprise for children and widows. Churches and individuals can partner with an organization that is already on the front lines. One method is the CMF-sponsored AIDS Partnership, where individuals can sponsor an AIDS patient.
“The AIDS crisis may be the world”s darkest hour,” Snyder said, “but it can be the church”s finest hour.”
While the medical side of the AIDS issue was well represented at the conference, workshops also addressed poverty, justice, and health care, including Community Health Evangelism. Other workshops focused on short-term trips, what various churches are doing in AIDS ministry, and how churches and other organizations in Indiana are addressing these issues locally.
Joining Forces
Another way CMF and FAME are addressing the AIDS crisis is by joining forces in Hope Partnership, a project to help transform the slums of Nairobi, Kenya. Rick Wolford, executive director of FAME, said 3 million people live in these slums. In the Kibera slum alone, 1 million people live in a square mile. That”s like 16 people living in a small, one-car garage. The AIDS infection rate is nearly 40 percent. Hope Partnership helps those living with HIV/AIDS to discover who they are in Christ and promotes physical and spiritual changes. The partnership is helping local people solve issues relating to medical care, prevention and treatment of malaria, clean water, sewage and garbage collection, child sponsorship, and even jobs.
Tom Moen and Rob Kastens from Mountain Christian Church in Joppa, Maryland, led a discussion group relating Mountain”s journey in missions, especially in AIDS ministry. Thanks in great part to visionary leadership, innovative programs like “No Donut Sunday” and “Operation Christ-mas” are awakening and encouraging their congregation in AIDS ministry like never before.
Ajai Lall, director of Central India Christian Mission, concluded the conference by reporting on the increase of AIDS in India and the challenges of working among the Hindu population. He preached from Mark 2:1-12, the story of the paralytic lowered through the roof by his friends to be healed by Jesus. “The paralytic represents those millions who are not able to help themselves. Our goal is to bring our paralyzed men, break down the barriers, and get them to Jesus,” he said.
The atmosphere at the end of the conference was uplifting, no small feat considering the grimness of the subject matter. New contacts were made, old acquaintances renewed, and ideas were exchanged. Sparks of hope are now equipped to become blazing fires. How fitting that the two major themes of the conference””partnership and hope””came together in the singular project known as the Hope Partnership.
As Heather Larson reminded us, “God does his best work out of darkness, and out of the darkness he continues to bring beauty into the world. He asks us to join him to dispel the darkness.”
Will you?
Debbie Legg is a speaker, writer, and member of First Christian Church in Fairfield, Illinois.
HIV/AIDS”“What Does It Mean?
HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) is the virus that causes AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome). HIV is in the retrovirus family, and two types have been identified: HIV-1 and HIV-2. HIV-1 is responsible for most HIV infections throughout the world, while HIV-2 is found primarily in West Africa.
AIDS is a disease of the body”s immune system caused by HIV. AIDS is characterized by the death of CD4 cells (an important part of the body”s immune system), which leaves the body vulnerable to life-threatening conditions such as infections and cancers.
According to a November 2007 joint report by the United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) and the World Health Organization (WHO), 33.2 million people are infected worldwide; 2.1 million people died from AIDS in 2007.
Every day more than 6,800 people become infected with HIV; and more than 5,700 people die, mostly because they do not have access to HIV prevention and treatment services. That means that for each AIDS-related death, another person becomes newly infected. UNAIDS refers to this as a “morbid equilibrium.”
AIDS orphans will number 25 million by 2010. For every person who begins AIDS therapy today, six new people become infected.
SEE THESE RELATED ARTICLES:
“The Human Side of HIV/AIDS” by Judy Fish
“Hope Partnership: A Way to Get Involved in HIV/AIDS Ministry”
“Learning to Share Hope” by Tom Moen
“Let’s See More Stories Like This One,” an editorial by Mark A. Taylor
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