Fidelity Urged to Fight AIDS

On average, pastors across sub-Saharan Africa bury 5,500 victims of aids a day, most of them young adults. Nine in ten aids orphans in the world live in the region, and three-fourths of the area’s hospital beds for children are occupied by those with aids, according to the World Health Organization.

AIDS has wiped out the benefits of the human development efforts of most tropical African countries this decade, and, because of it, the region is entering the new century with deteriorating child-survival rates, crumbling life expectancies, overburdened health-care systems, and in creasing orphanhood. The situation is so severe that global death rates could skyrocket (CT, May 24, 1999, p. 28).

But at long last, African politicians, bureaucrats, international technocrats, and church leaders are talking the same language: for this incurable illness, the most effective response is prevention, and that means “clean living.”

Echoing the words of Presidents Yoweri Museveni of Uganda and Ben Mkapa of Tanzania, new president Thabo Mbeki appealed to South Africans to change “the way we live and how we love,” and called for abstinence and fidelity.

In a strongly worded statement, this year’s annual gathering of the regional committee of Southern African Churches in Ministry with Uprooted People challenged churches to become “activists in society to combat the ignorance, apathy, and immorality, particularly among adults, that are aiding the spread of aids.”

The committee, comprising representatives of Protestant and Catholic churches and interchurch organizations from the 14 countries of the region, says aids is “pulling apart the fabric of our societies.”

The committee noted that churches often are the perpetrators in rejecting those infected with HIV. “People who are HIV positive become seriously up rooted with no place to turn to for help.”

Copyright © 1999 Christianity Today. Click for reprint information.

Also in this issue

The Triumph of the Praise Songs: As praise bands and worship teams replace organs and choirs, the boomer tastes that reshaped our society are ruling our worship as well.

In Brief: July 12, 1999

New Song, Familiar Tune

New & Noteworthy: Biography

Karon’s Agenda

Writing the Trinity

Christian Coalition Loses Exepmt Status

Praying for Movers and Shakers

Wiccans Practice on U.S Bases

Voucher Plan Draws Mixed Reviews

God Speaks to Commuters

Classic & Contemporary Excerpts from July 12, 1999

Religious Liberty Bill's Passage Uncertain

Bountiful Believers in the Bayou

In Brief: July 12, 1999

Evangelicals Resent Abandonment

Anglicans Recognize Papacy as 'Gift'

Slave Girls Find Redemption

Christians Held As Hostages

The Triumph of the Praise Songs

Letters

Pain Relief

Truth-Telling on Trial

The Ministry of Safe Play

Indianapolis: Graham Touts Muscular Christianity

Southern Baptists: City-Focused Evangelism Launched

The Biotech Temptation

Editorial

There Is Room in the Inn

Balkanized by Music

The Profits of Praise

We Are What We Sing

One Church, Two Faiths

Integrating Mars and Venus

Coming to a Neighborhood Near You

Stuck on the Road to Emmaus

Escape from Fantasy Island

A Cracked Code

View issue

Our Latest

News

Trump’s Path to Victory Still Runs Through the Church

The former president held on to the white evangelical vote while making gains among Catholics and Hispanic Christians.

What to Do After the Election

Prudence from Ecclesiastes and exhortation from Hebrews for the jubilant and disappointed alike.

The Russell Moore Show

Civility, Calvinism, and the Coming Judgment Day

Richard Mouw still believes in Christian “uncommon decency.” 

Paul’s Prescription for a Polarized Church

The apostle’s ethic of welcome challenges our personal, social, and political instincts.

Spain’s Oldest Protestant Publishing House Began Underground 100 Years Ago

Now Clie celebrates a century of equipping the church through dictatorship and secularization. 

News

Donald Trump Takes the White House Again

In his late-night victory speech, the former president says God gave him a mission to “save our country.”

News

Florida’s Abortion Amendment Becomes the First to Fail Since Roe’s Reversal

On election night, pro-lifers cheered the news that a 6-week ban enacted under Gov. Ron DeSantis will get to stay, with further wins coming in South Dakota and Nebraska.

News

Conservative Anglicans Call for Archbishop to Repent Over Same-Sex Relationships Stance

As the issue continues to divide the Church of England, Justin Welby spoke on a popular podcast about how his views have “evolved.”

Apple PodcastsDown ArrowDown ArrowDown Arrowarrow_left_altLeft ArrowLeft ArrowRight ArrowRight ArrowRight Arrowarrow_up_altUp ArrowUp ArrowAvailable at Amazoncaret-downCloseCloseEmailEmailExpandExpandExternalExternalFacebookfacebook-squareGiftGiftGooglegoogleGoogle KeephamburgerInstagraminstagram-squareLinkLinklinkedin-squareListenListenListenChristianity TodayCT Creative Studio Logologo_orgMegaphoneMenuMenupausePinterestPlayPlayPocketPodcastRSSRSSSaveSaveSaveSearchSearchsearchSpotifyStitcherTelegramTable of ContentsTable of Contentstwitter-squareWhatsAppXYouTubeYouTube