How to Build a Ministry Bridge to Those Who are HIV Positive

“Bring health to the sick. Raise the dead. Touch the untouchables. Kick out the demons. You have been treated generously, so live generously.” (Matt. 10:8 MSG)

“I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.” (Matt. 25:36 NLT)

When God touched my heart for the HIV/AIDS pandemic, I began talking about it almost nonstop and praying that God would send people with similar hearts my way. He did, and with those people I formed an HIV task force for Saddleback. None of us were experts, but we had willing hearts and worked hard to learn how we could minister effectively. Here are some ideas you can try:

• Share about HIV/AIDS from the pulpit. It is most critical that the pastor and senior leadership of the church lead the way in charting a course for your church’s HIV/AIDS ministry. Related: Essentials for pastors starting HIV/AIDS ministries
• Assemble a prayer team to pray for those affected by HIV and for your church’s involvement.
• Form care teams who can work with HIV providers in your area to befriend those who are HIV positive. Related: Caring for people with HIV/AIDS: What small groups considering this ministry need to know
• Create support groups within your church for those who are HIV positive and their family members. Related: A Christ-centered approach to HIV/AIDS support groups
• If your church has a Celebrate Recovery ministry, offer groups for people struggling with sexual addictions or gender or lifestyle confusion. Related: Celebrate Recovery
• Hold a Christmas party at a clinic for those who are HIV positive.

4. Allocate resources
At Saddleback Church, HIV is becoming a “signature issue.” It’s not just one of 150 other ministries, but it’s one of just a few issues that distinguish our church. That means that we’re making changes in our budget, staff, calendar, and church emphases. But those church resource allocation changes also must be reflected in a shift in our personal priorities. If caring for those who are HIV positive is going to be a priority for me, I must adjust how I allocate my personal resources – like my time, energy, creativity, and, yes, even my finances.

5. Become an advocate
On the other side of ignorance, stigma, and fear are courageous folks who are willing to speak up on behalf of those who have no one to speak up for them. King Solomon asked God for more riches, more power, and more influence so that he could be a voice for those who have no voice. We must be willing to do the same. Women around the world have very little influence; children, especially girls, have even less influence. Being an advocate means that we will speak for those with no voice and that we will identify with those who suffer. We will bring up their cause at every opportunity; we will stand with those who are hurting.

6. Advance God’s Kingdom
Why, ultimately, do we want to build a ministry bridge? We want to help those who are marginalized, ostracized, abandoned, forgotten, stigmatized, or far from God to find his love and mercy. We want them to know that, while others have abandoned and forgotten them, God has not. While their cultures, their communities, and perhaps even their own families and churches have hurt them, those actions do not reflect the heart of God. Instead, he has a heart of mercy, compassion, justice, and love. As we are open and generous with our lives – as we as a Church show who Jesus is and share his message of forgiveness, salvation, and a place to belong – people are able to see that he is not like those who have hurt them, and they are more likely to enter into a relationship with him.

I encourage and urge you to begin building a bridge of ministry from your church to those affected by HIV/AIDS. Don’t wait for your church culture to change before beginning that bridge. Two thousand years ago, Jesus changed the whole world with 12 individuals. He can do the same today.