A New Generation’s Vision

By Shirley Brinkerhoff

The Aids crisis in Africa is one of the greatest catastrophes in human history. The statistics for this continent are staggering: five people die every minute; 7,200 every day; over 2.6 million every year. In South Africa alone, between six and ten million deaths from AIDS-related causes are anticipated in the next five years.

Casey Platt, Amy Wood, and Kyle and Heather Farran are new members of ABWE’s Durban Team, and will soon begin work in an AIDS-focused outreach there.

Using home-based ministries, the team will work with churches in Durban, reaching out to those affected by AIDS by teaching local believers to assess and care for the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs that result from this disease. Many AIDS victims live in poverty because they are too sick to work; many become social outcasts because of the stigma of the disease; and huge numbers of children are left to raise themselves after the deaths of their parents from AIDS. Twenty percent of the adults in South Africa have this disease, leading to feelings of helplessness, shame, loneliness, and fear. This situation creates an amazing opportunity for believers to display Christ’s compassion and for the gospel to be presented.

A close look at Christ’s example during His ministry on earth shows that He responded with compassion, telling people the truth and often reaching out to touch them. Team members feel strongly that they cannot have an impact for Christ in South Africa if they turn a blind eye to the one thing that affects their congregation and community the most. This ministry is directed to the whole person, with the greatest emphasis on the need for Christ, His forgiveness, and His mercy.

As part of the new generation of missionaries, the Durban AIDS Team is strongly committed to compassion. They look forward to working together to demonstrate Christ’s love in a tangible way by working one-on-one with AIDS victims and their families. It will take compassion to hold the hands of men and women who have just disclosed their HIV status, have recently lost family members, or who are dying themselves. It will need commitment and courage to use abstinence training in the public schools as a means of evangelism. The government of South Africa recently passed a law allowing people to openly share the gospel during these trainings, an exciting opportunity that doesn’t exist even in the States.

While the Durban AIDS Team outreach is a new ministry, members have received invaluable counsel from people such as Jerry Thacker, who has worked closely with the UN and is helping the team develop a cross-cultural, church-based AIDS ministry. Baptists for Life has provided training, as well as an entire curriculum for implementing a church-based hospice care ministry.

Today’s culture craves authenticity. To reach people suffering from AIDS, missionaries need to be authentic, to be willing to get into people’s lives, to meet them where they're at and minister Christ’s love to them, thus crossing cultural boundaries. The Durban Team AIDS ministry hopes to do just that.

Back to Top	Respond to this Article Email Article to a Friend Print this Article