No Matter What

WORLD AIDS DAY ... You may not be aware that December 1 is world aids day. On this day it seems appropriate to remind us of the horrible statistics: 40 million currently infected and massive epidemics preparing to erupt in India, China, and Russia. The World Health Organization says that only one million people in poor countries are getting the drugs out of the six million who will surely die soon without them.

As I have shared previously, a group from Crossroads Church recently traveled to Kenya. Poverty in Kenya averages 56%, which means that 15 million people live on around $0.80 a day. Nairobi Kenya has the largest slum in sub-Saharan Africa. Kibera is a sprawling shantytown of approximately 600 acres with an estimated population of 800,000 people, most of whom live in makeshift huts – and lacking sanitation, running water, and electricity.

In addition to the absence of even the most basic amenities, the residents are severely afflicted by the AIDS epidemic; it is estimated that one in six Kenyans is HIV-positive. As in all of sub-Saharan Africa, the number of orphans in Kibera rises daily while the social services needed to look after them are all but nonexistent. There are other countries on the African continent where the situation is even more dire.

It is encouraging to see that evangelicals are paying more attention. Nearly 2,000 pastors traveled to Orange County’s Saddleback Church today for a national conference that coincided with World AIDS Day on Thursday. Areas of discussion: How to start local AIDS ministries and free HIV testing in churches.

Leaders of the conference, including Pastor Rick Warren believes this attention represents a shift among evangelicals. He states, "Many have sidestepped the AIDS health crisis because of its association with homosexuality." What will you do? I encourage you to become educated and get personally involved! Carry the passion and light of Christ to a hurting world. -Craig