Evangelical churches find creative ways to respond to HIV/AIDS in Africa

In a major breakthrough for the Christian church in Africa, Evangelical Alliance networks from Namibia, Angola, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Swaziland, Malawi, Botswana, Lesotho, Mozambique, were hosted in Pretoria by the Evangelical Alliance of South Africa (TEASA) at an International Conference on the Church and Aids.

One thousand, five hundred delegates attended: it was the first time evangelical movements had gathered in these numbers to consider how they respond to the HIV/AIDS challenge.

Moss Ntlha, the General Secretary of TEASA reports that the churches agreed they were uniquely placed to respond to the needs,

? Being present in every section of the community, urban and rural ? Having the people resources and leadership base critical to mounting and sustaining HIV/AIDS efforts. ? Experiencing a spirit of volunteerism, which is at the base of churches sacrificial commitment to service and care. ? Having a proven track record of ministries of care and nurture of the vulnerable members of the community. ? Having a spirituality of moral rectitude critical to challenging youth to abstinence until marriage and faithfulness in marriage.

A RECENT REPORT ON THE HIV/AIDS PANDEMIC BY UNAIDS AND THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION OBSERVED THAT:

" Southern Africa continues to be the worst affected area, with adult prevalence rates still rising in several countries. But elsewhere also, in countries often already burdened by huge socio economic challenges, AIDS threatens human welfare, developmental progress and social stability on an unprecedented scale ."

The statistics capture something of the grim realities of the extent to which HIV/AIDS is devastating communities in the Southern tip of Africa: The percent of pregnant women testing positive at government facilities (2001 figures) are:

Botswana: 44,9 % Lesotho: 42% Zimbabwe: 35% Swaziland: 32,3% Namibia: 29,6% South Africa: 24,8%

The AIDS Conference Outcomes...

It was agreed at the Conference that the membership of the evangelical alliances is called to rise to the challenges and opportunities that HIV/AIDS presents and initiate programs that will make lasting positive differences in the lives of those infected and affected by the disease. They said, "We see members of the SADC Evangelical Alliances taking up the biblical mandate to care for the sick, support the widowed and orphaned, guide and counsel the children and the youth, model and teaching chastity before marriage and faithfulness in marriage and counsel the broken hearted to enable them cope with the impact of AIDS in their lives, families and communities. All this done in a spirit of cooperation and well coordinated."

NEXT STEPS...

* To develop mature Christian Leadership and a human resource base with professional expertise and excellence in HIV/AIDS work.

* To develop program expertise in planning for sustainable, holistic HIV/AIDS programs which will transform individuals and communities.

* To develop strategic alliances and networks.

* To implement excellent financial, reporting and accountability systems.

THE LONELY CHALLENGE! Moss Ntlha writes, "With the conference over, we at TEASA find ourselves in a lonely place in respect of meeting the budget shortfall, which runs to R450 000. Our immediate challenge is to raise R170 000. The shortfall happens as a result of the fact that a key partner in financing the conference is unable to provide the money as originally expected.

PARTNERSHIP IN THE BATTLE! Onlookers in countries outside of Africa, and especially those in affluent Western countries will be thankful and delighted that the first steps have been taken in tackling the most debilitating issue in Africa today; and thankful to see the church getting in there and prepared to have a "go" at the heart of it.

The possibility of raising the short-fall from the Conference within Africa is not great, but those who want to support Moss Ntlha, his wife Khumo and the team, are invited to see whether they might assist in defraying the cost, and in helping place the Evangelical Alliance and its work on a firm financial footing. For those who can help, the banking details are listed at the end of this article.

Moss Ntlha writes, "By God's grace, TEASA was instrumental in helping to focus the attention of the evangelical movement on finding creative ways to respond optimally to HIV/AIDS in this hardest hit region of the continent. We are convinced that it is an important pastoral and prophetic duty of the Church to respond compassionately to those hurting under the ravage of disease."

"We have reason to believe that the evangelical contribution in the war on HIV/AIDS in the SADC region will be significantly increased as a result of the conference. In the next six months, country-specific programmes will begin to roll out and we expect that Christian witness to be significantly enhanced as believers step up their efforts against the epidemic. "

In addition to the Conference, Moss' wife, Khumo does training for Christian women from neighboring African countries. Moss performs a key role in encouraging Christian pastors throughout the country and the region.

When apartheid ended hope rose, but the realities of poverty, human frailty and deeply rooted inequality and historic violence provide a framework in which strong moral leadership is urgently needed. A letter received in the past week from Moss indicates this need and the work that TEASA is doing to provide a lead. Moss wrote, "It is October the 7th, and I prepare for my networking meetings 500km to the north of Johannesburg, with black leaders. This takes place on 8th and 9th. The aim is to consolidate a countrywide network of black Christian leaders who, up till this point, have been fragmented, isolated, discouraged and feeling marginal in the process of rebuilding South Africa. This process of networking with this particular section of the Body has been going on for the last 12 months. Seven weeks ago I was in the Eastern Cape region, 1500 km away, south east, doing the same thing."