Learning from Nehemiah to fight HIV/AIDs
As I have been attending the Global Summit on AIDS and the Church this week I have been hearing details about the pandemic I had never heard before, I have been challenged in my faith and perception of compassion, and I have been processing the structure and strategies that have been presented in addressing the AIDs pandemic.Hearing that there are 33 million people in the world with HIV/Aids, that there are 12 Million orphans in Africa because of AIDS, that all it takes is medication that costs $4 to keep a mother with HIV/AIDs from passing the disease onto to her child at birth, and many other facts has prompted my heart to find a way that I can personally make a difference.
Even though I have always believed that the Church was God’s instrument to bring Hope to the world, I have never really thought it through and applied it to the major issues the world needs hope in. I felt this most during the session on “Traits of Real Leadership” by Rick and Kay Warren on the first day of the summit. Kay’s challenge to those at the summit was that you must be aware of what is going on, and then let your heart be stirred to be a advocate for the rejected, suffering, sick and poor who have no voice.It has been encouraging to hear the strategic approach of the “three legged stool”, where the Public sector, the Private sector and the Faith sector all have strengths that are essential to conquer the HIV/AIDS pandemic.
Senator Hillary Clinton spoke to this in her address during the session on the need for global leadership and how both a faith and works approach must be taken. She stated that faith without works is dead, referencing James 2:17, but that works with out faith isn’t sustainable - especially for the AIDS pandemic that will require a sustained effort across generations.This morning as I processed all I have heard and seen I realized how all of the teaching and strategies line up with the story of Nehemiah in the Bible. When you start in the first chapter you see Nehemiah being made aware of a catastrophe, the wall around Jerusalem was still in rubble 90 years after it had been destroyed - and all efforts to build it were pretty futile. The implication of this meant there was no protection for the people of Jerusalem, no security, no ability to rebuild the economy, no safety. Hearing this news breaks Nehemiah’s heart - and was cause for him to take action.
Through the rest of Nehemiah’s story he addresses building the wall through his government connections, getting all the resources he needs to build the wall in materials and support. He implores the action of people in Jerusalem to take action and build their piece of the wall at the same he points them back to their faith and Law of God. He even addresses the businessmen, to get them to stop charging people interest and to join in the process. If any one of these “sectors” would have been left out, the wall could not have been finished. All three had to be a part of the plan, but just as importantly it was Nehemiah’s faith and the faith of the people in Jerusalem that stirred them to action. Without their faith leading them, the wall wouldn’t have been finished.
For me this builds even more credibility into the message I hear coming from the Global Summit on AIDs and the Church. Even though it is new for the Church to be getting involved in addressing the AIDs pandemic - the approach being implemented is not new, but it is proven. Nehemiah became aware of a major issue, and let his heart open to how God could use him to lead an effort to address the issue. And through a “three legged stool” approach was able to do in 52 days what hadn’t been able to be accomplished in 90 years.Now it is our turn.
Three Primary Questions from the first day of the Global Summit on Aids and the Church
On the first day of the Global Summit on Aids and the Church there were three primary questions they sought to answer:
- What are the traits of a real leader?
- Who should be involved in the HIV/AIDS effort?
- Why should the Church be leading the AIDS effort?
It was an incredible day and I am looking forward to more!
John Ortberg at the Global Summiton AIDS and The Church
John Ortberg started off the evening session on Day 1 of the Global Summit on AIDS and the Church, hosted by Rick and Kay Warren.John taught on the topic of why the church needs to be the leader in the HIV AIDs efforts across the world. His teaching came from the parable in Mark 5 of the demon possessed man. Here are some bullet points from his teaching:
- Just as Jesus took the disciples across the lake to the Canaanite people, as we follow him he will always take us to people who are “on the other side”. Those we are not comfortable with, and that we even find offensive.
- The possessed man was alone, rejected and suffering. Jesus always goes to the rejected, alone and suffering.
- The possessed man doesn’t expect help from Jesus. What does that say about what people will expect from the people of the church when they come to help?
- One the people came and saw the man healed and his dignity - they were not excited for him, but rather scared by the contribution and power of Jesus. He was not one of them, and even though he had helped the man in a powerful way - they weren’t sure of his credibility. They asked him to leave.
- Jesus always wanted people to follow him, but he told the man to stay. He was best equipped to share with those people, and to hear about Jesus from him.
- If we are going to follow Jesus we are going to have to follow him to “the other side” where people are different, suffering, uncomfortable and even offensive to our traditions or senses.
- What the world need is the power of the Holy Spirit - which is why the church must lead.
- There is no power like the healing power of Jesus and his Holy Spirit on earth.
- If you follow Jesus, apathy on AIDs is not an option.
Man, just writing that out reminds me of the challenge and cost of being a disciple of Jesus - and how I am a couch potato disciple. How about you? I think we all need a reminder of the cost of discipleship - especially in regards to social status. And if our ministries are going to reflect disciples living at the cost of their lives to reach the rejected, alone and suffering around us and around the world - it MUST start with us.
It was always so easy as a youth pastor to teach my students to sacrifice and makes steps of faith, while through the week I was usually comfortable in my church office. It has to be the other way - in fact - I would say you should be teaching something unless you have the conviction of your own life to show as evidence. That is a pretty high bar - but don’t you think there is enough apathy in the American church that it is time for a different approach? This Summit and it’s challenge to be an influence for those suffering with HIV AIDS extends in the challenge to be a true disciple, and for a lot of us a Teaching Disciple of Jesus.
Three Legged Stool - the foundation to combat AIDS
During the opening session at the Global Summit on AIDS and the Church pastor Rick Warren spoke about the “Three Legged Stool” foundation he believes it will take to address the major issue of AIDS.
The three legs of the Stool are:
1. The Public Sector: Government and NGOs
2. The Private Sector: Businesses and Corporations
3. The Faith Sector: Churches and Faith Based Organizations
This is the same structure that the Summit has been facilitated in regards to the speakers, seminars and topics presented here.
This is why there are church leaders, business leaders and top level politicians like Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama coming together here at the Summit.
Five Traits of Real Leaders: Rick & Kay Warren - Global Summit on AIDS & the Church
This is the first day of the Global Summit on AIDS & The Church here at Saddelback Church. Here are my notes from the first session. The first session was centered on what it takes to have the “Traits of a Real Leader.” Both Rick and Kay Warren spoke during the session, but my favorite section was when Kay spoke on what it means to be a Leader and an Advocate.
Here are a couple notes from that point:
Real Leaders are Advocates
- “God does hear the cries of the needy.” - Kay Warren
- There are nearly 40 Million people who have AIDS.
- There are 12 Million children who have been orphaned because of AIDS.
- You are going to be faced with a moment when you are going to decided to be an advocate or not - whether the information and new reality you see will stir you to take action.
- You are either in or you are out. You will either use the influence you have to be a voice and support on behalf of people suffering from the AIDS pandemic, or you won’t.
- You do have influence, You do have freedom, You do have a voice, and you can lift it on behalf of the sick, the poor, and the orphan.
- Your advocacy will lead you to be an Activist!
- Intentional Action to bring about change.
- Your emotions must translate into action.
The Global Summit on AIDS & The Church at Saddleback Church, is hosted by Rick and Kay Warren. I will be live blogging and video blogging my experience here at the Summit over the next couple of days.
Time Changes
This is just a friendly reminder to be kind to the people who always mess up the time changes - especially on Sunday mornings. As a youth pastor I actually forgot the time change and showed up late to my own Sunday morning program - I thought it was funny….
Tags: youthpastor, youth ministry, christian, programs
Off the Map Live - Hear Connect Listen
Strategic Spirituality - Todd Hunter
The tag line of the Off the Map Live conference this week is Hear, Listen, Connect. Todd Hunter just came and lead a session speaking on how a strategy of listening or being “missional” must not be disconnected from a personal and corporate lifestyle of spiritual formation.
Here is a quote:
“Spiritual Formation is not something you just add to an already busy and overwhelmed life. Spiritual Formation is a way of rethinking your life that brings meaning and mission to your life.”
I think what he is saying is that we can’t just let the new realizations of how we as Christians need to interact with our world be a strategy, trend or method. We must realize the changes that these new realizations require of us need to be applied to our person and being.
Instead of employing a “listening tactic” with an unbelieving friend, I need to become a good listener. Instead of organizing programs to be more “missional”, I need to personally allow myself to be “sent” out to the people in MY life and the community I live in.
Off the Map Live - First Taste
Kerry and I talk about our “first taste” from the Off the Map Live conference here in Seattle.
Off the Map Live - Tony Steward and Kerry Mackey “Arrival”
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