Christians Fight HIV/AIDS

HOST: During the summer of 2001, one hundred eighty nine countries met at the United Nations to draw up the first, ever, global strategy for the war on HIV/AIDS. The New Life Station’s Mike Osborne spoke with two directors of a Christian ministry invited to contribute to the plan.

MIKE: For Dr. Peter Okaalet, the war on HIV/AIDS is personal. He’s already lost one brother to the epidemic and fears that other members of his family may also be infected.

OKAALET :14 seconds "So in my own family there is also a spiral of pain, loss and maybe death, just beginning. It is just a question of time before we begin to respond to more challenges in my family too."

MIKE: But at the 2001 U. N. AIDS conference, Doctor Okaalet was able to strike back at a disease that continues to ravage his family, his nation, and the world. As African Regional Director for the Christian medical mission, MAP International, Dr. Okaalet made a presentation at the world seminar encouraging the U. N. to draw on the strength of the Christian community.

OKAALET :16 seconds "We need to work at the grass roots with the local pastors, those who are with the people on a day to day basis, because people respect pastors. So if the pastor says something and it carries weight, then it will make a difference in people’s lives."

MIKE: Dr. Okaalet speaks from experience. Several years ago MAP created a series of very effective HIV/AIDS educational tools that draw on the strength of scripture and the local church. Michael Nyenhuis is the ministry’s President.

NYENHUIS :16 seconds "We have been involved in HIV/AIDS programming, in Africa especially, since 1994, primarily in the area of prevention, but also in care as well. In Africa and also a smaller but also important program in Latin America."

MIKE: After much discussion, the several ministries attending the U. N. conference outlined for the world body four vital weapons that faith based organizations can bring to bear on the epidemic.

NYENHUIS "Local churches and religious organizations exist in communities all over the world. They have deep roots in these communities and therefore are effective grass roots community organizations from which to work. Another is the experience and the capacity of faith based groups to deal with health issues. There are countries in Africa where the church provides half the health care in a community. Half the hospital beds are run by the church."

MIKE: Third on his list, but perhaps most importantly, Nyenhuis says only the church can address the spiritual issues involved.

NYENHUIS :30 seconds "That’s something unique that we have to offer the other groups don’t have. And faith based groups have a proven record of sustainability in these communities. The U. N. and its agencies have only been around for a short time, faith communities have been around forever. We made a strong case that the religious community has a vital role to play and I think that voice was heard very well by the delegates who were there. So it was real encouraging for me.

MIKE: MAP has also completed a new set of Bible centered AIDS educational tools for seminary students. Titled, Choose Life, the new material from MAP is based on the Bible passage Psalm 31:24, "Be strong and take heart, all you who have hope in the Lord." Dr. Okaalet points out that, with thousands dying of AIDS daily, a young minister’s first task after graduation will most likely be a funeral, not a sermon."

OKAALET :26 "That therefore means that they need to be equipped, before they graduate from theological school, and then go to serve the many people who are being widowed, the many kids who are becoming orphans, and others who are becoming widowers. So we really need to train a body of students so that they can be equipped to serve in a context like ours where many are succumbing to this virus."

MIKE: Want to learn more about the work of MAP International? Visit the ministry’s website for the latest news from the war on HIV/AIDS.

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