In the 25 years since HIV/AIDS was first identified, there have been countless conferences addressing the pandemic from medical, social, political, and religious perspectives by health professionals, NGOs, governments, and para-church ministries.
We believe this Summit is strategically and historically unique. To our knowledge, no HIV/AIDS conference has ever been built entirely around a practical “local church-based” strategy designed to mobilize millions of congregations around the world for the prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS. This conference is first and foremost for pastors of local congregations in our Purpose Driven network looking for a practical plan of care, treatment, and prevention to use in their own communities and pass on to other pastors overseas.
One of several revolutionary ideas we're bringing to the table is that indigenous church members in local congregations can be trained to administer peer-to-peer treatment for HIV/AIDS. We refer you to the welcome page in your conference binder for the rationale behind this idea.
BACKGROUND
Around the world, 40 million people have HIV/AIDS; more than 1 million of those individuals live in the United States. Beginning in 2002, a series of circumstances convinced us that God intended for us to use whatever influence we might have to help those infected and affected by HIV/AIDS. At first, our hope was simple—to add another voice in speaking up for those who are being ignored. But as we studied the pandemic and the related problems such as the lack of a grassroots global distribution network for medicine and nutrition, and the need to mobilize millions of health care volunteers, we realized that the missing part of the solution was right in front of our eyes! The answer is local congregations!
Long before business ever began thinking of “globalization,” the Christian Church was already there. In fact, the Christian Church is the only truly global organization, existing in every country and in thousands of indigenous people groups that are not represented by the United Nations or any multi-national corporation.
With 2.3 billion people claiming to be followers of Christ, Christianity is the largest organization, the widest network, and the biggest volunteer force on the planet, larger than any country, government, or business.
This Summit was planned for one simple reason: The HIV/AIDS pandemic will only be eradicated by equipping the millions of local churches that already exist in villages around the world. There is no other grassroots distribution channel to compare with it. In many parts of the world, the Church is the only civil society structure. So this week, church leaders from around the world will gather with those living with HIV/AIDS, political leaders, and world-renowned HIV/AIDS experts. Together, we’ll examine why and how local churches can lead the way in caring for the sick the way Jesus did. Through strategic plenary sessions, practical workshops, and personal testimonies, we intend to launch a new paradigm and perspective on a pandemic that, up to this point, is only getting worse.
Our prayer is that this Summit will not only provide you with an insider’s view of our HIV/AIDS strategy but that you will be challenged and inspired personally to use your own influence to fight this global pandemic.
Rick and Kay Warren