WORLD EVANGELICAL ALLIANCE ONE BODY, ONE VOICE? JOHN 17:23 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 1, 2005 Top representatives of the World Evangelical Alliance urged its member churches to more aggressively engage the battle against HIV/AIDS and called on governments, businesses, and civil societies to recognize the key role of churches in fighting the global pandemic, during an International Council meeting in Bad Blankenburg, Germany on World Aids Day. 'On this day we are acknowledging that this pandemic is having a growing and significant impact on each of our regions,? Geoff Tunnicliffe, International Director of the WEA, said Thursday. ?We believe the local church should be seen as a strategic alliance to curbing and reversing this growing trend, so we are asking churches to fully engage, embrace, and respond compassionately to those living with and affected by HIV/AIDS.' International Council members took particular note of the need for the global Christian society to intervene in Sub-Saharan Africa. 'More than 26 of the 40 million who are living with HIV/AIDS are from Sub-Saharan Africa,' explained Ndaba Mazabane, the chairman of the International Council, from South Africa. 'The statistics are clear that the African church, in partnership with the global Christian community, must stand together and increase its engagement with those who are infected and affected by the scourge of the pandemic.' Mazabane also extended his challenge to civil society and to governments. 'There must be a multi-sectoral approach,' said Mazabane. 'This pandemic is so large that the government, business, civil society and church must collaborate at all levels if victory is to be achieved. 'On the ground, thousands of Evangelical churches across Africa are engaged in providing for people living with HIV/AIDS and educating those who are most at risk,' Mazabane added. 'We are caring for the afflicted and for the 14 million that have been orphaned in Africa by the virus.' Website: http://www.worldevangelicalalliance.com/ * Shalom! Rowland Croucher * * http://jmm.aaa.net.au/ * (16250+ articles, 3500 clean jokes/stories)
top of page