Practical Help

Imagine a scared young woman sitting in a doctor's office waiting for the results of an HIV test.  The nurse returns and says "the result of your HIV by Rapid HIV-1 Antibody Test was positive for the presence of antibodies to HIV."

What does this person need?

Leading through love

+ People with HIV need to have the invisible God made visible

+ People with HIV need acceptance and love

+ People with HIV need hope

+ People with HIV need support & friends who will suffer with them

+ Children affected by HIV need a family and a home

+ People with HIV need our presence

Six Ways Your C.H.U.R.C.H. Can Minister to People living with HIV and AIDS¹

CARE for and comfort the sick

          Churches are commanded to care.  It is their calling.  Love leaves no choice!  Local congregations are the only caring organization found in almost every community around the world.  Members can offer physical and emotional care in their homes.

Local Opportunity: Visit House of Joseph II

HANDLE testing and counseling

          Churches are often the most trusted organizations in communities so people may be more willing to be tested and counseled there.  Just being tested has proven to promote healthier behavior.  Members can be trained to give medical, emotional, and family counsel to those receiving results from their testing.

Local Opportunity: Become certified to perform HIV Testing & Counseling

UNLEASH a force of volunteers

          Churches have the largest volunteer labor force on the planet - over 2 billion members.  What if even half of those could be mobilized?  There aren't enough professionals in the world to teach prevention, administer treatment, and offer care to those who need it.  There is an enormous pool of untapped talent and energy sitting unused in churches waiting to be mobilized.

Local Opportunity: Coordinate a Personal Products Drive

Local Opportunity: Volunteer at the Annual AIDS Delaware Walk

REMOVE the stigma

          Churches must embrace those infected.  They can replace rejection with mercy.  The church must remove abuse and alienation.  They offer faith, hope, love, forgiveness, and grace - spiritual support, which neither business nor government can offer.

Local Opportunity: Host an HIV 101 Session at your church

CHAMPION healthy behavior

          HIV/AIDS is complex and yet preventable.  Churches have the moral credibility to challenge high-risk lifestyles and to offer moral imperatives for the family and teach the moral motivation for abstinence and faithfulness.  To resist peer pressure and relapse, faithfulness requires faith.

Local Opportunity: Join the Awaken Hope AIDS Walk Team

HELP with nutrition and medications

          The church has the largest distribution network on the planet.  It's already in place worldwide!  Millions of villages have a church, but nothing else.  For treatment to become universal, we must develop church-supported treatment models.  Organizations come and go, but churches are permanent community fixtures.  Members can be trained to distribute and support HIV/AIDS medications and support essential nutrition.  The church can offer pre-treatment preparation, treatment education, adherence support, direct observation therapy (DOT) and treatment coaching to the entire family.

Local Opportunity: Coordinate a Food Drive

1-Copyright 2006 by Saddleback Church - www.hivandthechurch.com

To get involved or learn about practical ways to help people living with HIV and AIDS view our Calendar or Help Page.