African AIDS Initiative

“Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress.” James 1:27a

“Whoever oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors God.” Proverbs 14:31

1. Providing resources and partnerships.
2. Educating and equipping Willow Creek attendees to respond compassionately to this crisis, whether through Global Connections-directed initiatives or other ministry opportunities.

Why HIV/AIDS?

• Many world leaders have called the global HIV/AIDS pandemic “the greatest humanitarian crisis in history.”
• It is, without question, the greatest widow and orphan-maker in history.
• Worldwide, the face of AIDS is nearly 60% women and children.
• 40 million people are infected worldwide; 25 million of them live in Sub-Saharan Africa.
• 28.2 million deaths to date.
• 14,000 new cases reported each day.
• Over 14,000,000 AIDS orphans.
• Mother-to-child transmission of HIV/AIDS is the #1 killer of children in the world.
• In poor countries, the virus is wiping out the income-producing generation, leaving poor grandparents to care for destitute orphans. As teachers, nurses, carpenters, and farmer die, the economic infrastructure of a community collapses.
• It’s getting worse every day.
• If you address the issue of AIDS holistically, you end up addressing other great social needs: hunger, homelessness, literacy, clean water, medical care.

• Ravi Zacharias: “If the Christian community will respond compassionately and effectively to the global AIDS crisis, it will be the most powerful apologetic the church has ever offered to the watching world.”
• Bill Hybels: “The church is the hope of the world.” When it comes to AIDS, there is no organization on earth with the scope, the mandate, and the power to deal with an issue as big as AIDS.

• Presence: The church is the only “NGO” (non-government organization) as ubiquitous as the disease in Africa, with literally millions of motivated volunteers to engage this church-sized problem.
• Prophetic Calling: The AIDS pandemic in Africa is fuelled by ignorance (lack of sound medical information), immoral behavior (promiscuity), superstition (the practice of sexual cleansing), cultural practices (widow inheritance, female genital mutilation), poverty and stigma. The church is uniquely positioned to confront immorality, overcome stigma, challenge dangerous cultural norms, and teach healthy, integrated living in obedience to God.
• Pastoral Heart: The local church is uniquely inspired to extend compassionate care and hope to the vulnerable and dying in their community.
• Precedent: AIDS is the modern-day leprosy and the multiplier of widows and orphans. As in days of old the church has the opportunity to stand at the forefront of loving sacrificial service to the lost and forgotten.
• People-focus: The church’s focus is on people, not the disease; on transforming lives and communities, not just treating sickness.

• More HIV+ people than any other country in Africa
• More than 1.5 million children have been orphaned by AIDS.
• After years of distancing itself from the pandemic, the South African church is finally moving into the battle
• Through the WCA-SA, we have existing relationships with churches that are eager to serve those in their community who are infected or affected by the virus

• Zambia ranks as the world’s 14th poorest nation.
• More than 1 in 5 Zambian adults have HIV/AIDS, the sixth highest rate in Africa.
• Average life expectancy has dropped to 35 years.
• Nearly a million children have been orphaned by AIDS.
• 150,000 children under 15 are infected with the virus.
• The Zambian government is supportive of intervention.
• Zambian churches are eager to engage.
• English is the official language of the country.
• There has been a convergence of interest at WCCC.

Our Strategy:
Resources and Partnerships

1. Having identified South Africa and Zambia as our initial targeted countries, we would provide funding to under-resourced churches that have proven their commitment and ability to minister to those in their communities who are infected or affected by HIV/AIDS.
2. While our primary focus would be AIDS-related support, we would welcome continuing relationship with church leaders, if desired. Where appropriate we would consider moving into broader partnerships according to the model established in Latin America.
3. A secondary level of support would go to faith-based ministries which support the efforts of local churches in various communities (medical clinics, children’s homes, hospices).

Educating and Equipping

1. Through Main Stage and other teaching, uplift the values of justice, mercy, and compassion.
2. Through Global Awareness workshops, explore specific issues related to cross-cultural ministry.
3. Through partnering with Willow sub-ministries, provide opportunities for local engagement around this issue.
4. Mobilize volunteers, locally and globally.