HIV/AIDS

The Situation

UN AIDS and World Health Organisation day that today there are 46 million in the world who have AIDS or are HIV positive.  Others estimate 67 million in the world.  This is more than a disaster, because disasters come to an end.   There seems to be no foreseeable end.  "No war is more destructive than AIDS," says Colin Powell.  There simply is no precedent in history for this crisis.  AIDS has rewritten the rules. 

Sub-Saharan Africa is the hardest hit, with 75% of the worlds region.  There is reported decline in Kenya, Uganda and other areas.   If nothing happens in Swaziland, this nation will be extinct.  In Botswana, 34% are HIV positive.  We are talking about households losing their breadwinners, mothers fathers, children, cousins, neighbours.

AIDS has killed more people than all the wars in history. AIDS goes against God's people, God's program for humanity.  Because of AIDS we have child-headed households, we have widows. 

Loss of immunity to disease.  Early death. It knows no boundaries.

A second cycle is babies that are having AIDS.

Global spending on AIDS has increased to 5 billion US$ in 2005.  The need is for $20 billion in 2007. 

How Should the Church Respond?

False responses

• The attitude of the church can be described as apathetic. 
• Some say it is a judgement on people. But if the house is on fire we don't ask who started the fire we just rescue the people. What about these babies? What about those wives infected by their husbands?  Rather we must see it that "This happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life". 

Theological Basis for a Response

• We have to get our theology right.  What is God's perspective about people who are suffering today, marginalised, sick.  God commands us to do something about them.  To be treated kindly.  Prov. 28:27.
• James 1:27 to look after the orphans and widows, and to keep ourselves from being polluted
• Warn them that they should not die early.
• Presenting a seminar to church people
• As Pentecostals, when we read the book of Acts,  we see only the power of the spirit, but we do not see the caring for the widows, the needy, the orphans.  They looked at the social needs of the people.  Hence everyone wanted to belong to this community.  The early church had a feeding program for people who were hungry. It cared for widows. 
• Seek not only the gifts of prophecy, healing and wisdom, but also the gift of helps and mercy and administration imparted by the same spirit.

Opportunities in response

• HIV/AIDS provides an opportunity for churchplanting
• Destigmatization - giving hope to the infected.
• Adoption of HIV babies - some are turning from positive to being negative.
• Training seminars to empower churches in youth morality, "Sexuality, God's way", "True Love, Waits."  with commitments to promise God that they will be faithful in marriage.
• Training churches to open counselling stations in their own churches.
• Create a climate of love, acceptance and support.
• Target financial resources
• Provide condoms to HIV infected couples
• Utilise church buildings for training AIDS people in small business.

There is not enough resources for Africa, apart from the church.  Clinically there is no cure for AIDS, but as the church, we have the vaccine for AIDS in teaching people faithfulness and forgiveness in the cross.  In Kenya and Uganda the church has made a difference.

© Viv Grigg & Urban Leadership Foundationand other materials © by various contributors & Urban Leadership Foundation,  for The Encarnacao Training Commission.  Last modified: July 2010