HIV = Human Immunodeficiency Virus. To be HIV positive means that the virus is present in my body, as demonstrated on an HIV test. Though HIV positive, I will look well and act normally in the first few years, depending on how well my immune system copes with the virus. However I can infect others.
AIDS = Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. I have had the virus in my body for a number of years and it has reduced my immune system to the point where my body cannot defend itself. Harmful organisms present in the environment can attack and destroy my body in many different ways.
HIV/AIDS is incurable and no vaccine is likely in the next few years. However with careful treatment (available in countries like Australia) health can be maintained for well over a decade. Those with a poor level of health who receive no treatment usually die within 7 years, and babies within the first 12-24 months.
Return to Questions List
What is the HIV/AIDS pandemic?
In the 20 years since the disease was recognised, it has killed 20 million people and infected another 40 million, most of who will die during this decade. Approximately 3 million die of AIDS causes each year, and 5 million are newly infected. At least 14 million children have lost a mother to AIDS.
Two-thirds of those infected live in sub-Saharan Africa, and another quarter in south east Asia and other developing countries. The path of transmission is generally heterosexual intercourse and spread from infected mothers to their babies.
Return to Questions List
What is the overlap between SIM's world and the HIV/AIDS pandemic?
The rate of HIV infection in adults in SIM's Southern African countries varies in most cases from 20 - 35 percent.
High rates are also found in SIM countries such as Kenya, Ethiopia, and Ivory Coast.
SIM countries with large populations such as Nigeria and India concern us.
Half of the world's HIV positive people live in SIM countries.
Medical ministries in Africa have been hit hard by HIV/AIDS, with large numbers of HIV positive patients requiring hospital beds and treatment.
SIM ministries among children and youth are feeling the impact from HIV/AIDS with escalating numbers of orphans, child-headed households, abuse, street children. Half of all new infections occur in those between 15 and 25 years of age.
Pastors in churches which relate to SIM spend much of their time at funerals.
Communicants in the churches relating to SIM are at risk.
Members of many target groups SIM is aiming to reach are at risk.
Return to Questions List
Why has the pandemic spread so quickly?
Though not highly contagious, the HIV virus has been transmitted over the past 20 years to 60 million people.
Yet even now, most people including Christian leaders are unwilling to discuss the issue, which contributes to the spread.
Those who are known to be HIV positive or related to someone HIV positive are frequently stigmatised.
Most of the 40 million currently infected do not know they are infected. They look and act normally, and pass the disease on to others.
In Africa, HIV infection generally occurs through heterosexual intercourse and from infected mothers to the babies. The rate of spread depends on the number of partners an infected person has, the "degree of risk" of sexual practices, and the presence of sexually transmitted diseases in each person.
In many developing countries, spouses are commonly separated for long periods of time due to work and seasonal migration.
Some cultural traditions such as widow inheritance and initiation ceremonies spread the virus. In urbanisation, famine and war, traditions promoting fidelity break down.
Ignorance and myths about AIDS play a role. So does worldview, with fatalism contributing to a lack of concern for consequences and the future.
The sexual revolution in the West has heavily influenced people in developing countries.
Return to Questions List
Why should SIM get involved in AIDS ministries?
- Christ's example of compassion
- The need of millions affected and infected by the HIV virus.
- HIV is not curable but it is care-able
- SIM's flexibility to respond with its resources
- SIM's strong relationships with national churches, providing links to the grassroots and a structure that facilitates SIM involvement
Return to Questions List
How are children infected and affected?
Return to Questions List
Why should I be concerned?
- HIV/AIDS is destroying millions of lives
- HIV/AIDS is affecting the church in many ways. Members are becoming infected and dying; The sick and grieving are looking for answers and help; Widows and orphans are needing care.
HIV/AIDS is undoing the gains over recent decades in life expectancy and well-being in our SIM countries.
- Christ is the only source of hope in such a context.
Return to Questions List
Aren't condoms the answer?
The promotion or rejection of condoms often defines the secular versus Christian-Muslim positions.
A common teaching in AIDS Awareness is the A-B-C-D rule: - practise Abstinence
- Be faithful
- Use Condoms
- Face Death.
Those promoting condoms often ignore the well established evidence that condoms offer limited protection against HIV and a number of other sexually transmitted diseases, even when used correctly every time. So, consistent condom use is frequently the (only) explicit or implicit message of AIDS Awareness (Information-Education-Communication; Behaviour Change Communication) campaigns.
Despite the extravagant claims made of 100 percent condom campaigns effectively halting the AIDS pandemic in countries such as Uganda and Thailand, evidence is lacking that condom promotion can reverse the trend.
The reality is that most people are not committed to condoms, for a variety of reasons, even when they perceive HIV as a real threat.
Unfortunately instead of communicating skills in abstinence (such as the Why Wait? campaign) and marital faithfulness, many Christians take an anti-condom position.
Where sero-discordant couples (that is, one is HIV positive, the other HIV negative) couples decide to continue to practise intercourse, condoms should be used to reduce the risk to the negative partner. Where both are HIV positive, condom use reduces the likelihood of reinfecting one another.
Condoms do reduce the probability of infection, but "a piece of latex can't protect your heart."
Those who cannot abstain or be faithful should use them.
Unfortunately in the common scenario of the faithful wife who suspects that her husband is HIV positive, she has no options to avoid infection, despite international cries for the empowerment of women and promotion of the female condom message.
Return to Questions List
Are Christians infected too?
Obviously they represent varying levels of commitment to Christ and his ways.
Some are nominal, professing Christ but living ungodly lives.
Some who come to Christ later find they are HIV positive, while some who come to Christ do so because they are HIV positive.
Some are committed Christians but get caught up in immoral behaviour.
Some are faithful to their spouses who are HIV positive (for the reasons already mentioned).
Rape and abuse happen to Christians too.
Babies may be infected by their HIV positive mothers.
Sadly those known to be infected or related to someone who is infected are often stigmatised, at times by Christians and churches. Those HIV positive--Christians and non Christians--are often said to be under God's judgment.
Some churches claim that Christians cannot have HIV, and others that HIV/AIDS can be cured by faith healing.
Return to Questions List
SIM's response varies tremendously from country to country, with the response bearing little correlation to the severity of HIV/AIDS in the particular country.
AIDS initiatives in the past have tended to be the expression of a concerned individual or small group. Increasingly SIM councils and leadership are taking the initiative, as reflected in strategy statements, personnel requests, and projects.
In 1999 30 people (SIMers and church) attended the 11th International Conference on AIDS & STDs in Africa (ICASA) in Lusaka and subsequent SIM workshop to begin deliberate networking and strategy development, followed up in 2001 by an equivalent group at the 12th ICASA in Ouagadougou.
In 2000, Phill & Diane Marshall took on the role of AIDS Consultants to SIM AIDS Related Ministries (ARM). A recent "roll call" of SIM related people involved in AIDS work (part-time and full-time) indicated around 90 people.
Windows of Hope is developing from a field initiative as a multi-country strategy with distinct projects having a common vision, guidelines and evaluation procedures. New projects and personnel requests for AIDS ministries are constantly appearing for SIM.
Return to Questions List
How are churches responding?
"Christians are denying the facts and misery of AIDS." Anglican Archbishop Makhulu (Central Africa)
"Our fear is being wiped off the face of the earth." Joyce Seitei (Botswana Christian Council)
Evangel Fellowship, SIM's partners, indicates the response it desires from member churches?
EVANGEL FELLOWSHIP INTERNATIONAL: REFLECTION AND ACTION POINTS FOR MINISTRY IN THE CONTEXT OF AIDS
Reflections by Evangel delegates
Through the HIV/AIDS virus we are losing church members and witnessing untold suffering among our own believers and also in the community at large.
The immediate effect of this has been physical, emotional and psychological fatigue. We are too busy with death and funerals, with visiting the sick and caring for orphans left behind.
Fear and suspicion prevail, with the result that those who are infected are often shunned and rejected. We confuse the disease with sin itself, and thus block the way to forgiveness and eternal life in Christ.
Sadly, false promises of "miracle" healings have often misled our people infected with AIDS, and have compounded the misery, guilt and the spread of the virus.
We have often been very passive in the face of mounting evidence that this problem will not just go away until and unless we get involved. A true understanding of the gospel provides hope in the midst of the suffering of AIDS.
We believe that the HIV/AIDS virus exposes moral weakness in the church, since we have seen both church members and pastors affected. Our concern is for the testimony of our Lord Jesus Christ and the integrity of our testimony as believers. It greatly affects our ministry in this way.
On the other hand, this HIV/AIDS problem has had some positive effects. It has forced us to slow down and to reflect on our ministry. We have seen greater numbers of people coming to our churches searching for answers. We have seen that when given love and acceptance, those who are HIV infected are often very open to the hope of eternal life in Christ. In many cases the pandemic of AIDS has provided an opportunity for various denominations to work together in new ways to combat the suffering.
Response
We believe that through this suffering, and even despite it, we are being called by the Lord to ministry in new ways. We have been called together to reflection and action. Some of the responses we have considered include:
- The quality of our messages, including our pulpit messages, must reflect the holiness of God. We must recover again the strength of the convicting power of preaching the gospel of grace. Too often we have been following the world and our message lacks convicting power.
- We as leaders must live lives that are exemplary and model what it means to live together with Christ.
- We must be willing to change our attitude towards those who are infected, showing compassion and fighting stigmatization. AIDS is not sin, and must not be confused with sin. Sinners can be embraced with love while sin can be forgiven. Sometimes it is the innocent who are affected, and they too need to be ministered to with grace.
- We must combat false teaching about healing with the truth of the Word of God. Also, those who believe they have been "healed" of the virus should be tested by a laboratory.
- We will make our people aware of this disease and a Biblical response by seminars, workshops and various kinds of education.
- We wish to incorporate HIV-AIDS teaching in every aspect of the life of the church, not just to those who may be called to an AIDS ministry.
- However, we believe that the Lord may call some believers to AIDS ministries of various kinds. We encourage this, and encourage volunteers in ministries which include visitation and home-based care. Others will be trained in counseling.
- We resolve to strengthen marriages and families by all means, as the family is God's primary means for instruction of the child, including instruction about sexuality and relationships. We will encourage the youth who are taking a renewed interest to keep themselves sexually pure. Chastity and virginity must again be our passion.
- We will respond in love and compassion to the orphan and the widow.
We will become peace-builders where our countries are in conflict, since the horrible effects of war include the potential to spread this virus
Johannesburg, South Africa, December 2000
Return to Questions List
Who are SIM's ministry partners in HIV/AIDS?
- Partnerships vary from formal written agreements to networking at the personal level. Some relationships relate to funding. It is impossible to list and categorise all these here.
- In some sending countries, partnerships are being pursued with groups such as AIM, TEAM, World Relief, Missions by Modem International, Compassion, TEAR Fund, World Vision, depending on the vision of each organisation. SIM relates to funding agencies such as AusAID, CIDA, TEAR Fund, Samaritan's Purse, philanthropic groups and USAID.
- In field countries, partnerships exist with churches and organizations sharing a common vision. If a partner church exists, dialogue on AIDS ministries and initiatives commonly reflects the nature of that relationship. Good associations may be enjoyed with government bodies , such as the Ministry of Health, and NGOs (Non Government Organisations).
- In South Africa, for example, SIM relates to the Evangelical Seminary of Southern Africa in its AIDS programme (ECAP) (with AusAID funding). In India, SIM Australia helps with funding for the AIDS Control & Treatment project based at Duncan Hospital.
Return to Questions List
How can I help a person living with HIV/AIDS?
Accept them: What the person with HIV/AIDS needs most of all is love and acceptance. Many blame themselves rightly or wrongly for the disease. They may feel under God's judgment for having the disease (as compared to behaviour which may have contributed to the disease). The may be in denial, anger, or depression, or contemplating suicide. For many people, a diagnosis of HIV is a death sentence, and life loses all hope and purpose. The majority face discrimination and rejection of some sort. They need unconditional love.
Help them develop positive living skills: Learning skills in positive living gives the person the opportunity to extend their lifespan for months or years, enough time to help children (develop their survival skills, find a foster family, take them further in their schooling, sort out their legal documents, write a will, design a "memory book" for them). If you do not know these skills, get help. They should be relevant to the person's situation, for example, medicines and nutritious foods within their financial reach. Consider such issues as nutrition, hygiene, dealing with other infections and illnesses, sexuality (avoiding infecting others and reinfection), disclosure of HIV status, dealing with stigma.
Help make a difference in the pandemic: Communicate skills to the other members of the family by your actions and words, such as touching, listening, and the principles of home based care. Teach others in the family how, by the power of the Holy Spirit, to avoid HIV infection themselves and to teach others.
Encourage them to draw closer to God: Help them to develop a vital relationship with God. Deal with issues such as prayer, confession, forgiveness, assurance of salvation, hope. Remember that there is no greater hope than dying with Christ (Phil.1:21-23).
Helping someone with HIV/AIDS takes time, commitment (with less for other ministries), emotional energy, physical support and money. Consider carefully ongoing commitments after your friend dies. Find someone to mentor you as you go through the process of helping a dying person.
Return to Questions List
What does the Bible have to say to HIV/AIDS?
While the Bible does not mention the HIV/AIDS plague explicitly, plagues are found on a number of occasions in the Old Testament. These were sent by God as judgments on pagan nations or to bring a disobedient Israel back to him. In each case his name was glorified. The psalmist wonders, "When the foundations are being destroyed, what can the righteous do?" (Ps.11:3) and Proverbs 24:11 has, "Rescue those being led away to death; hold back those staggering toward slaughter."
In the New Testament, the focus shifts toward compassion on those who suffer, given that we are all sinners (Lk.23:40-43; Jas.5:19). God will judge the nations (Revelation 6 - war, famine, plague), but for now the responsibility of the church is to demonstrate God's compassion and mercy (Matt.25:31-46).
We are called to preach Christ crucified for sinners, holding out the word of life to those who are perishing. Many AIDS workers state how open HIV positive people are to the good news.
The Bible addresses human suffering in a positive way that other religions do not. Disease and suffering are not to be denied nor accepted fatalistically; instead the sufferer should turn to God for healing. God's word emphasizes confession, forgiveness, peace, hope and joy; these are absent from the secular AIDS agenda.
Local congregations in many countries are in a ideal situation to share hope in word and deed to those facing death from HIV/AIDS. They are to care for the widow and orphan and live godly lives (Jas.1:27).
Above all, Jesus' treatment of the stigmatised of his day should motivate us to "rescue" those facing death from AIDS.
Return to Questions List
Why has HIV spread so rapidly in Africa?
Return to Questions List
Why was Windows of HOPE for AIDS created?
· HIV/AIDS strikes at the core values and purpose of SIM
· The growing concern and call from fields (mission and churches) to more effectively and strategically address AIDS
· SIM works with churches in the countries forming the epicenter of the epidemic
· SIM must develop new and broader mechanisms to build on ministry successes and learn from successes and failures
· There was limited capacity within the SIM structure to develop an intentional, coordinated and strategic response due to the overwhelming nature of the problem
· The proposed ministry framework allows for adequate monitoring and evaluation
· The proposed ministry framework promotes field developed strategies backed by clear leadership and consultative support
· A planned approach will position SIM to operate strategically in this region in an environment which will predictably deteriorate socio-politically over the next 10-20 years
· We believe we can make a difference by God’s grace
Return to Questions List
|
