HIV/AIDS Global Gathering, Uganda, from 27 May

Day 5

"My pain became my passion," said Pastor Martin Ssempa, one of the foremost voices promoting abstinence and faithfulness in marriage to GenXers in Uganda. "I lost my older brother and sister, nieces, nephews, and friends all around me to AIDS. Now I'm in the business of convincing people that it's safer to abstain from sex." Martin later referred back to the NO to AIDS campaigns that occurred in Uganda between 1988 and 1992 that he credits with drastically bringing down HIV/AIDS prevalence in the nation in the years following. The method of the campaign was billboards broadcasting the message of sexual abstinence, each one specifically designed to reach people in particular spheres of society. "Uganda has had so much success in fighting HIV/AIDS that it has now become the battleground over AIDS policies that will affect the entire world" What I love about YWAM is that you guys are all about discipling the nations and the HIV/AIDS pandemic has presented us with many opportunities to disciple the nations," exclaimed Mr. Ssempa.

Commenting on the need for Christians to partner for change, Nigel Marsh from World Vision, challenged us with words of Micah 6:8, which says, "He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God." Mr. Marsh explained how the Church should be concerned enough to do something when they find out that 95% of the people living with HIV/AIDS are from developing countries. Nigel ended with a plea, "We as the Body of Christ need to take action on behalf of the millions of children who have been orphaned by AIDS and the only way to meet the vast needs is through partnerships. We are going to be held accountable! What are people going to say about our generation in years to come? What did we do for the AIDS orphans?"

Day 1, Day 2, Day 3, Day 4, Day 5, Day 6
Photos