Church Leaders Emphasize Role of the Faithful in Battle Against HIV/AIDS
Four faith leaders said that churches bring faith to the table of solutions in addressing the HIV/AIDS pandemic at the new Saddleback Conference, ''Disturbing Voices.''
LAKE FOREST, Calif. – Four faith leaders said that churches bring faith to the table of solutions in addressing the HIV/AIDS pandemic at the new Saddleback Conference, "Disturbing Voices."
“One of the things that the church brings to the table is it brings faith,” said Rick Warren at press conference for the Nov. 29-Dec. 1 gathering in Lake Forest, Calif.
Since the 1980s, various governmental and health organizations have tried addressing the AIDS problem from a purely physical perspective, but the new Saddleback Conference on Church and HIV/AIDS addresses the spiritual dimension.
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Warren recognized that the disease is preventable if only one had enough faith.
“It’s hard to be faithful without faith,” said Warren during a press conference.
Sexual purity and fidelity are two ways to stop the pandemic. However, “faithfulness requires faith,” he said.
The statement was made in response to a question posed by The Christian Post on what churches can do as a means of prevention.
Kay Warren kicked off the press conference by stating that it is time for the church to wake up.
She urged pastors and other church leaders to “repent for the fact that we have largely been absent from the fight.”
“Just go ahead and admit it. We have largely not been there,” she said. “We have to take a moment to say that we were wrong. We know that God cares about people with HIV/AIDS. We believe the church has a significant role to play.”
Other than Kay and Rick Warren, megachurch pastor Bill Hybels of Willow Creek Church in South Barrington, Ill., also spoke on the need for the church to preach about sexual purity.
The local church has the advantage and that is the authority that comes from the Bible, said Hybels.
“It’s true that the local church has the advantage if you will,” he stated. “It has a biblical message that has been passed down through the ages. But it has to be preached, and it has to be preached unapologetically. And it has to be preached to the culture.”
We have now arrived at an era where the consequences of not preaching about sexual purity “could be death,” he added.
“We must not just talk about following Christ with your mind but also following Christ with your body and sexuality as well.”
Bishop Charles E. Blake of West Angeles Church of God in Christ church in Los Angeles, meanwhile, speculated how much worse the world would be if the church did not exist.
In continuing the dialogue, Warren stated that the difference between churches and the NGOs is that NGOs are usually specialized and can address only one issue, whereas churches are not reigned in, but can pursue a holistic ministry in caring for and preventing the disease.
Kay Warren revealed that Saddleback is developing new curriculum for children prevent the disease holistically.
She believes that there are millions of churches waiting to be mobilized.
