HIV-AIDS

People who live in areas that have a larger number of Catholic and mainline Protestant churches live longer, a new study shows.

Troy C. Blanchard, an associate professor of sociology at Louisiana State University, found that mortality rates were lower in communities with these types of congregations because they have what he calls a "worldly perspective."

"Instead of solely focusing on the afterlife, they place a significant emphasis on the current needs of their communities," offered the study's author. more >>

The Willow Creek Association and World Vision for the second year in a row are inviting churches around the world to enter a contest that will award $100,000 to the church that best demonstrates “outstanding” involvement and effectiveness in the fight against the AIDS pandemic.

The Courageous Leadership Award will in total honor three churches with the two runner-up churches receiving $40,000 each. In total, $180,000 in award money will be given out by the contest.

"AIDS demands an active response from those who are called to be followers of Jesus Christ," said Bill Hybels, chairman of Willow Creek Association’s board and founding pastor of Willow Creek Community Church outside of Chicago, in a statement. more >>

The largest church conference on HIV/AIDS in the United Kingdom was held this past weekend, reaffirming the belief that churches worldwide are joining in the battle against the deadliest epidemic in the history of mankind.

More than 300 delegates gathered at Bracknell Family Church in southeast England to not only be informed on the HIV/AIDS issue and what churches worldwide are doing, but also to discover what they can do to help their own home church respond.

The Positive Church Conference, organized by Tearfund, featured Kay Warren, executive director of the HIV initiative at Saddleback Church in southern California, and David Peck, the Archbishop of Canterbury’s secretary for international development. more >>

President Bush made the case for his malaria initiative Monday by promoting it as the United States’ moral duty while visiting Tanzania amid his five-nation Africa tour.

The president, together with first lady Laura Bush, visited a hospital and mosquito net factory, handed out insecticide-treated bed nets, and gave out hugs to grateful Tanzanians on the mission visit meant not only to improve the health of the impoverished continent, but also to preserve Bush’s African health initiatives beyond his tenure as president.

"The disease (malaria) keeps sick workers home, schoolyards quiet, communities in mourning," Bush said about the disease which kills 100,000 people a year in Tanzania alone, according to The Associated Press. "The suffering caused by malaria is needless and every death caused by malaria is unacceptable. more >>

It was not long ago when the Church had the mentality that HIV/AIDS is a “gay disease” and that those infected should be shamed and isolated. Times have changed and now the Church and other Christian organizations have moved to the forefront in caring for victims and spearheading campaigns to remove the stigma associated with people living with the disease.

Dr. Scott Todd, a pediatric AIDS expert and director of the AIDS Initiative of Compassion International, is one such Christian leader working to care for victims of HIV/AIDS.

In a recent interview, Dr. Todd shared about Compassion’s efforts to care and raise awareness on the plight of millions of vulnerable children, mostly in Africa, whose lives have been ravaged by the epidemic. more >>