AIDS is one of those tragedies. With more than 34 million people living with AIDS in our world today – including 3.4 million children, and with more than 16.6 million children left orphaned by this disease (www.avert.org) it is time for Christians to take a stand.
Throughout history, the church has been the back bone of compassionate ministry. Through food banks, benevolence funds, and other community outreach efforts, the church has accepted Jesus’ call to love our neighbors and share our blessings.
Today the church is uniquely positioned to respond to the AIDS crisis. Our global reach touches outposts, ministry centers, churches, and ministries in nearly every community around the world. But to tackle a global blight such as AIDS, churches around the world must work together.
The church must begin talking about AIDS and the church’s role in the face of this crisis. Leaders must help de-stigmatize the disease so those infected with the AIDS virus feel welcome and supported by others in the church. Churches in developing countries must begin using their resources to reach out to those at risk of infection as well as those already infected. Local church leaders must work in their local communities and congregations to encourage behavior change in those at risk of infection.
That’s why, this year, World Renew is joining with several other denominations in Canada to put AIDS back on the agenda (worldaidsdayservice.ca). Will you join us? Why not make Sunday, December 2 (the day after International AIDS Day), a day to bring the AIDS crisis to the attention of your congregation? Perhaps you could set aside this first Sunday of Advent to remember the suffering of people around the world, lament the church’s insufficient response to AIDS thus far, and express our hope for a better future.
Below, you will find a number of resources to help your church address the AIDS crisis in the context of worship. Note that portions of these suggestions have been adapted with permission from the Advent AIDS liturgy prepared by the Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance (www.e-alliance.ch); from an Advent chapel service held at Kings University College, Edmonton, Alberta; and from a worship service at Covenant Christian Reformed Church, St. Catharines, Ontario. These materials are appropriate for use by churches in the United States or Canada.