Kids’ Doc in Jos

“I was challenged to love and also know that anybody can get HIV/AIDS, and to care for orphans because that is true religion.”

“I was challenged to come out of my weakness in caring for orphans.”

“I have a lot ahead of me in spreading the good news of Christ to people and to teach them about AIDS.”

“I can now counsel somebody with HIV/AIDS. I will, when I return to my office, teach some of my colleagues and friends.”

For the past two weeks, I’ve been part of an evaluation team looking at the SIM/ECWA HIV/AIDS Ministry (”TEAM” for The ECWA AIDS Ministry). One job I took on was going through stacks and stacks of reports from training workshops. I became more and more enthusiastic as I kept coming across comments like those above.

Most of the workshops are directed toward leaders: pastors, women’s, men’s, and youth (~young singles) fellowship leaders, denominational district chairmen and secretaries (all pastors) and so on. So the significance of comments like these is even greater, coming as they do from people who are leading their communities and churches.

One more comment from a participant in Bauchi:

“I had negative thoughts about those who were infected with AIDS. I ignored them and even refused to shake hands with them fearing that I would also be infected. My attitude was that of denying them love. But during the training I realized how sinfully I acted and how wrong my thoughts were. I have asked God to forgive me. Now I will show them love, care for them, visit them and eat with them. I thank TEAM for organizing such a rich training to help people get out of ignorance into the saving knowledge that comes from knowing the truth about AIDS and what God requires of his followers.”

This entry was posted on Sunday, November 6th, 2005 at 8:45 am and is filed under Mike's jottings. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.