Thousands of events around the world will mark World AIDS Day on Saturday, Dec.1, including many Christian-sponsored events as believers increasingly become engaged against the global crisis.
The theme this year for World AIDS Day is “Keep the Promise Take the Lead.”
“This is not the time for complacency nor apathy,” said the South African Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu, according to the World AIDS Campaign. “It is the time for compassionate leadership.”
At “Purpose Driven” Pastor Rick Warren’s Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, Calif., Christians will mark World AIDS Day with the church’s first-ever AIDS Youth Summit featuring First Daughter Jenna Bush.
The Youth Summit follows the Saddleback-hosted “Global Summit on AIDS and the Church,” where government, non-governmental organizations, and religious bodies met to learn from one another and strategize on how to tackle the epidemic.
Video messages from rock star Bono, pop artist Jordan Pruitt and the cast of TV show “One Tree Hill” will accompany a personal appearance by Jenna Bush. The summit will be simulcast to more than 200 churches nationwide.
“The Bible commands the church to care for widows and orphans,” said Rick Warren at the Nov. 28-30 summit. “With 143 million orphans in the world, I’d say that we have plenty of opportunity to make good on that mandate and demonstrate the love of Christ to children who have nothing to lose but hope. And we should never discount the power of hope.”
Overall, an estimated 33.2 million people in the world – one in every 200 – are living with HIV, and daily 6,800 people are infected with HIV and 5,70 people die of AIDS-related illness, according to the UNAIDS and WHO 2007 AIDS Epidemic Update. Furthermore, AIDS is still considered the leading cause of death in Sub-Saharan Africa.
More than 12 million children in Africa alone have been orphaned by AIDS.
To raise awareness about HIV/AIDS, mission groups e3 Partners (developer of the popular EvangeCube) and SIM unveiled the HIV/AIDS cube – a new tool for the global fight against the AIDS pandemic – at the Saddleback AIDS and Church summit. The cube explains how HIV is contracted, spread, as well as how to care for those living with the disease.
The developers reported positive responses from users of the cube and hope to put it into the hands of everyone involved in AIDS education.
“The demand [for cubes] is well beyond what we ever expected,” said Bob Blees, of SIM International, in a statement. “20,000 cubes have already been shipped, 10,000 of which are on their way to Africa. Another 20,000 have been manufactured and will be shipping soon.”
In addition, Christian humanitarian and development groups such as World Vision, Church World Service, Compassion, and Food for the Hungry have also taken a leading role in raising awareness, providing treatment, and advocating prevention methods.
“When you look at HIV/AIDS and you look at the devastation that it brings, it creates very real, very tragic brokenness,” said Ben Homan of Food for the Hungry, according to Mission Network News. “In that, there is an opportunity for hope to shine, even in the midst of darkness.”
Many of the Christian humanitarian groups are utilizing established networks of local churches to care for AIDS-affected communities and offering both physical and spiritual care.
“I believe now is the time for the church in the United States to stand up and say ‘We will be counted, and we will make this a priority,’” said Homan. “We will pray, we will give, we will advocate, we will be educated, and we will make a difference.”
On the Web: www.fh.org/aids/what/
Comments
How can God bless Rick Warren and his church when he puts a speaker in the CHURCH PULPIT who has openly stood FOR abortion, gay "marriage", anti-parental rights, etc, for YEARS? I believe that was a shame and a disgrace, and I hope he will openly repent of it.
mcfbc, I read first-hand reports (unbiased) of Warren's comments to the UN last year when he introduced his P.E.A.C.E. plan. Unfortunately, his comments to the UN contradicted the statements of belief you posted. I think that's the real problem, that he has moved from what he used to profess to believe. If the AIDS conference his church hosted had emphasized the saving Gospel of Jesus Christ as the only answer to the AIDS crisis, I could agree that it was in agreement with what you posted.
IF Saddleback believes in the Triune God, and God is creator of the universe ,and the Bible is the word of God. Why are they not wanting to save the souls of the perpetuators of this scourge? The Bible says for instance in:
Jhn 8:11 “No one, sir,” she said.
“Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.”
Is this the Saddleback version?-
go ahead and commit sexual sin but be sure you use a condom?
I wonder who these 'New Age Christians' are serving?
What are they trying to do? Just wondering.
am tired of reading silly second hand comments about Rick Warren's apostacy. So I thought I would go straight to the source. Here is Saddleback statement of faith, from their website. Enjoy. I had to remove the verse references to fit.
ABOUT GOD
God is the Creator and Ruler of the universe. He has eternally existed in three persons: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. These three are co-equal and are one God.
ABOUT MAN
Man is made in the spiritual image of God, to be like Him in character. He is the supreme object of God´s creation. Although man has tremendous potential for good, he is marred by an attitude of disobedience toward God called "sin". This attitude separates man from God.
ABOUT ETERNITY
Man was created to exist forever. He will either exist eternally separated from God by sin, or in union with God through forgiveness and salvation. To be eternally separated from God is Hell. To be eternally in union with Him is eternal life. Heaven and Hell are places of eternal existence.
ABOUT JESUS CHRIST
Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He is co-equal with the Father. Jesus lived a sinless human life and offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of all men by dying on a cross. He arose from the dead after three days to demonstrate His power over sin and death. He ascended to Heaven´s glory and will return again to earth to reign as King of kings, and Lord of lords.
ABOUT SALVATION
Salvation is a gift from God to man. Man can never make up for his sin by self-improvement or good works. Only by trusting in Jesus Christ as God´s offer of forgiveness can man be saved from sin´s penalty. Eternal life begins the moment one receives Jesus Christ into his life by faith.
ABOUT ETERNAL SECURITY
Because God gives man eternal life through Jesus Christ, the believer is secure in salvation for eternity. Salvation is maintained by the grace and power of God, not by the self-effort of the Christian. It is the grace and keeping power of God that gives this security.
ABOUT THE HOLY SPIRIT
The Holy Spirit is equal with the Father and the Son as God. He is present in the world to make men aware of their need for Jesus Christ. He also lives in every Christian from the moment of salvation. He provides the Christian with power for living, understanding of spiritual truth, and guidance in doing what is right. The Christian seeks to live under His control daily.
ABOUT THE BIBLE
The Bible is God´s word to all men. It was written by human authors, under the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit. It is the supreme source of truth for Christian beliefs and living. Because it is inspired by God, it is truth without any mixture of error.
"So Jesus wouldn't take care of sick people? Sorry - thought that was what this article was really about."
Yes he will. He will also save those living this disgusting lifestyle. But until they stop parading around in "pride" parades and repent, they will have to reap what they have sown.
I will say this as tactfully, and as lovingly as I can to all who side with Rick Warren in this ecumenical drive to unite the worlds religeons. Be warned, for this is what the Bible says: God is gracious and merciful, and will forgive those who turn to Him thru Jesus Christ with a repentant heart, and choose to fllow Him. However, He is the Righteous God, and He will judge those who deliberately turned their backs on Him and His Son - Jesus Christ because of their obstinate rebellion and continual rejection of His Son. Read the Bible in context, and then comment on it. We cannot, and should not have felowship with those who claim to be Christians yet don't obey His Word, and HIs Salvation Message. The post modern liberal Emergent church, and it's seeker sensitive counterparts want people to believe that if we all save the environment, and save the whales, the events of the Book of Revelation will not happen, and we can actually prevent it from happening. This similar social gospel which claims that we should make the world a better place, and usher in peace prior to Jesus' second coming, as well as unite with all people of faiths has been adopted by Rick Warren, and has caused whole splits in the Southern Baptist Convention, because he has gone down the Purpose Driven P.E.A.C.E Plan agenda, which by the way is a false doctrine my friends. These movements which align themselves with Bono from U2 and the whole COEXIST crowd have more in common with humanism, one world religeon, and the new age than what the Bible says will transpire. The problem today is that we have so many "Bible teachers" who are more motivational speakers than true shepherd's of the flock of God. No wonder the Body of Christ is split. The Bible talks of a great falling away in the end times. Men will naturally gravitate towards what their "itching ears" want to hear. What more itching do you need than what you hear on TBN, and the like: "find success", "you are the controller of your own destiny" "God will prosper you if you just have faith [and send me your money]". They take Scripture out of context to suit their own desires, and fleece the flock of God for their own matierial gain. OPEN YOUR EYES and STUDY the WORD IN CONTEXT; for Christ will return soon.
Real Christians who follow the ENTIRE Bible should beware of anything Rick Warren is involved in, period. The entire AIDS Conference, apart from the laudable and honorable intentions to stop the crisis, was DEVOID of any CHRISTIAN PRINCIPLE! I don't see how one can be addressed without the other. Oh the Warrens like to lecture Christians like us, without knowing what we do ourselves. Yet they would say nothing of the way the world conducts its bidness.
In the entire list of speakers, I can guarantee you there was not true message from a credible preacher about sin, lifestyles etc...Warren may have helped some people with his books at first, but where will be they be when the Trumpet Sound and Jesus Comes Again! His P.E.A.C.E. plans sounds eerily like some endtimes apostasy. How do I know that? The Name of Christ is NOT mentioned in its definition.
Thanks to the Christian Post for these awesome stories covering all aspects of Faith! This is the only place we see stories, from all angles, concerning our Faith!! GOD BLESS YOU CP!!
Shabbat Shalom!
When Jesus was on earth, He healed the sick, over and over. He also stressed the importance of being forgiven of sin and walking in obedience to the Father. He often told people to "Go and sin no more." I have no problem with Christians helping people afflicted with AIDS as long as they are truly balanced as Jesus was, emphasizing the need for people to repent of sinful lifestyles and walk in obedience to God.
So Jesus wouldn't take care of sick people? Sorry - thought that was what this article was really about.
I am convinced Jesus will return soon for His Bride, and we are living in the end times brother, and make no mistake about it, the "emergent conversation", the "emergent church", the COEXIST Movement, and BOno from U2 along with the Rick Warrens of the world with their social gospel are creating a "bridge" between Christianity and Eaastern as well as Catholic Mysticism wich is really new age.
Read up more on the social liberalism of the emergent church, and the many seductive false doctrines such as contemplative prayer (which is really eastern mysticism), the bringing back of icons to "feel" God move in people's midsts, you can eve read up on Brian Mclaren's (The man who is credited to being the founder of this liberal church movement) view, as well as many of their leaders views on hell and homosexuality, and you will see they are totally extra biblical. you can find more info on this at www.understandthetimes.org, and www.apprising.org.
The emergent church preaches an extra biblical gospel that is more in line with the new age than it is with Sound Doctrine based Biblical Christianity. Many of them - to mention one - Tony Campolo recently told a young reader how to have a born again experience thru contemplative prayer! Imagine that, the Bible says there is only one way to God and that is Jesus Christ, and here is a so called evangelical preacher (not really evangelical even though he calls himself this) and he is teaching an eastern mystical practice taught in the Roman Catholic Church and the Jessuit Order. Now imagine that, he is adoptig practices from a church that teaches the deification of Mary as being co-redemptrix with Christ. This is heresy my brother, and we need to exhort others in love, and pray for their eyes to be quickly opened to this deception in the church; that they may see this for what it is, and that the Holy Spirit in mercy and grace may convict their hearts to repent and come back.