This September, while I am off to school in Dayton, three of my colleagues in HIV/AIDS ministries in our Annual Conference (UMC) will be attending "Just Save One: An Equipping Conference on HIV/AIDS" in Denver.
HIV/AIDS continues to be a global crisis, impacting all countries. HIV does not discriminate - it impacts every known population. It impacts somebody with HIV in all areas of their life - the physical, social-emotional, financial, and even their family structures. It is not uncommon for people diagnosed with HIV to be completely disowned by their families.
Specifically in the United States, there is a belief that HIV is a "curable" disease or is "manageable." Although there is some truth to the second statement, there are issues with long-term infection. Statistics show that by 2020, 70% of the 1.1 million (and increasing) infected in the United States will be over the age of 50.
What is true is that we absolutely need a new approach to ministering to those with HIV/AIDS. A diagnoses changes one's worldview and life-perspective. Being impacted by HIV changes the fundamentals of a person's interactions with the church and relationship with God. Our job as followers of Christ is to help people reconcile this new period of there lives with hope.
At the same time we need to invest people, processes, and our resources (including our finances) to bring awareness to underserved groups needing information to prevent further infections. In order to circumvent the growing population over the age of 50 living with HIV, we need to return our efforts to bringing awareness of HIV infection to our youth.
Finally, the stigma simply needs to stop. The shame that someone feels after being infected can be unbearable. By removing the stigma and shame, we help that person become whole and realize that they are loved as a child of God.
May God bless those attending and our church and faith community as we bring hope to the future of HIV/AIDS ministries.
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