There are 40.3 million people in the world today with HIV. Over half of the 6,000 people that become infected every day are between the ages of 15 and 24 years old. Every day more than 6,000 children are orphaned by AIDS (Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance, 4-5). AIDS is a serious threat to the world's young people and yet how are we as YWAM supposed to respond? A good place to start is in prayer'..

• Reflect on personal attitudes. Explain 6 emotions people might be experiencing. Allow a time of silence for people to reflect on one possible emotion at a time and pray out personally how they are feeling. Let us open up our hearts and ask God to search us. Ask yourself, how do I honestly feel about HIV and AIDS? What comes to mind when I think about AIDS?
  • Fear (afraid of getting involved – what if I get infected with HIV myself?)
  • Stigma (is it true that most people with AIDS brought this on themselves through sexual immorality?)
  • Disbelief (what if this disease is a result of witchcraft, or it is just being exaggerated by the West)
  • Anxiety (what if I am HIV positive - isn't it better not to know?)
  • Hurt/grief (am I feeling the pain of losing someone or several people close to me because of AIDS?)
  • Apathy (HIV doesn't concern me. Everybody has to die of something so why should I be bothered about AIDS?)
  • Overwhelmed (the problem is too big and people with AIDS are so needy. I don’t have the capacity to help them)
    Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See is there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. Psalm 139:23-24
• After this time of listening to the Lord, come together and have people share in pairs what they believe God is saying to them then pray together. There may be personal issues that you may not share in the group, but later share with a counselor or trusted friend who can pray with you.
• Create prayer stations around the room – one station for each issue you want to pray for. Here are some suggested prayer points:
  • Pray for the people who have lost family members, friends or neighbours – maybe due to AIDS or unknown cause of death.
  • Pray for those who are left behind e.g. widows and orphans. May they be cared for and know God's comfort
  • Pray for our youth that they will form God-centred healthy relationships with one another.
  • Pray for vulnerable youth – those who have lost their parents or street children that they may they know the love of their heavenly father and not look to the world for the wrong kind of love and affirmation.
  • Pray for the Church that it will rise up and take on the challenge to address AIDS. Pray for Christians to show love and compassion rather than being judgmental. May the Church not keep quiet but speak openly and teach how God wants us to live sexually.
  • Pray for those who are sick and suffering with symptoms of HIV – for daily strength, access to nutritious food & medical care, to be surrounded by loving family/friends – not rejected.
  • Pray for healthy marriages and godly families where father and mother will take up their role as husband/wife and father/mother.
• Prayer cards. Hand out a card to each person and ask them to pray into the HIV situation with the word they have on the card e.g. Hope, love, peace, strength, stigma, discrimination, death, fear, prejudice, pain, thanksgiving, Jesus Christ, resurrection, God, care, dignity, power, trust, healing, Holy Spirit, God the Father, faith, Saviour, God our provider, joy, fellowship
  

DEVELOPING OUR GREATEST RESOURCES!
Volume 3, Issue 4
Compiled by Randy and Jane Rhoades, Staff Development Facilitators, YWAM Africa.