OUR HEART
The tragic story of HIV/AIDS worldwide challenges the very ability to comprehend its magnitude. Someone dies of AIDS every eleven seconds. Another two are infected. Over 25 million people have died from AIDS related complications and another 33 million are HIV positive or living with AIDS. Women and girls represent more than half of all those infected. Children fifteen years of age and younger account for 20% of all deaths from AIDS. More than 15 million children live as orphans because of this pandemic.
Globally HIV/AIDS is most problematic in sub-Saharan Africa. Approximately 70% of all HIV/AIDS infected people, more than 23 million individuals, live in this region. Every African has been infected or affected – young and old, male and female. This medical phenomenon is unparalleled in modern history.
Believing that HIV/AIDS presents a unique challenge to the Church, both in Africa and in North America, Churches Together (CT) was birthed to build an alliance of North American churches committed to fostering grass-roots, African church-based ministry to African communities, families, and individuals infected and affected by HIV/AIDS. CT envisions North American churches and non-government organizations (NGOs) working cooperatively on African AIDS ministries in partnership with and under the guidance of the African churches. The motive is the overwhelming need to fight AIDS in Africa and the conviction that God purposes the Church to demonstrate His grace in this way. The timing is urgent because of the growth of the problem and the burgeoning interest in AIDS ministry.
OUR HISTORY
In 2003, four missions pastors, Tom Correll, Wooddale Church in Eden Prairie, MN; Tim Neet, Perimeter Church, Duluth, GA; Skip Lanfried, Mariners Church, Irving, CA; and David Stoner, Mars Hill Church, Grand Rapids, MI traveled to Rwanda.
While they were there, they:
- witnessed churches working together in communities to minister to those with HIV/AIDS;
- saw the possibilities of addressing the AIDS pandemic through connecting local churches into African communities;
- were impacted by the magnitude of the task and;
- determined to organize churches to work together to make a difference in Africa.
As a result of this experience, Churches Together (CT) was birthed. This unique and valuable resource is committed to help North American and African churches connect with African communities impacted by AIDS. In doing so, they will be strengthened and revitalized as well as help the African church and its communities. Together the churches, North American and African, can experience revitalization and community transformation.
CT started in earnest in February 2003. For two years, Gene Peterson, layperson with a vision for CT, led the organization as a volunteer. Through Gene’s coordinated and collaborative leadership and untiring efforts, CT began to expand in vision and partners.
In February 2005, Gary Edmonds, former Secretary General of World Evangelical Alliance (WEA), was employed by CT to serve as the Executive Director. The selection of Gary to this position led the way for CT to expand its North American base and created a platform for developing North American-African church based AIDS ministry models at a new level. However, Gary’s tenure with CT was brief; early in 2006, Gary left to launch his own ministry. His departure left CT with a leadership vacuum that stifled progress in 2006.
Late in 2006, the Board of Directors met in Phoenix, AZ to determine CT’s future. A newcomer, Robert Brown, was invited to attend the meeting. He believed that God was leading him to help the NA church and African church work together in mutually beneficial partnership. The board offered him the position of Executive Director; he accepted in January, 2007. Robert invested 2007 attempting to diagnose CT’s situation as well as to determine the best means for moving forward. God is blessing our efforts. The year of 2008 has seen new growth and vitality. We have several new board members and partners. We are convinced that our best days are ahead of us – especially as God continues to ignite hearts and churches to join us in our worthy cause.
OUR VISION
The vision of Churches Together (CT) is to be at the forefront of a movement of thousands of North American churches enabling them to establish effective, relational and mutually transforming partnerships with African Churches that assist them in their fight against the HIV/AIDS pandemic.
OUR MISSION
The mission of Churches Together (CT) is to call North American churches to action that transforms lives devastated by HIV/AIDS through a holistic expression of the gospel of Jesus Christ by catalyzing, coaching, and connecting both North American and African churches for partnership.
OUR CORE VALUES & GUIDING PRINCIPLES
1. God-centered
CT seeks to glorify God. Jesus prayed, “Glorify your Son that your Son may glorify you … I have glorified you on earth by completing the work you gave me to do.” (John 171-4) Paul referred to believers as the Body of Christ. As followers of Jesus Christ we, like him, seek to honor God. HIV/AIDS present perhaps the greatest opportunity today for being the hands, feet, and heart of God.
2. Church-based
CT is committed to ministry through local African Churches. Churches, local communities of believers, are the infrastructure that Jesus ordained to fulfill his ministry on earth. It is to churches that the Holy Spirit gives gifts for ministry. It is in the context of churches that the transforming work of the Spirit is affected and demonstrated (Acts 4:32-25) This is uniquely visible in Africa where the lack of public infrastructure leaves churches as the most viable means of providing care for those affected and infected by HIV/AIDS. Local churches offer the greatest potential for sustainable ministries as they will remain long after external organizations are gone.
3. Community-directed
CT will pursue ministries that benefit the broader community. Because Jesus instructed his followers to “make disciples” (Mt. 28:19) and to “love your neighbors as yourself” (Mk. 12:31), churches are mandated to serve the needs of the community – pursuing both personal and community transformation. Community input and involvement will be pursued. Ministries facilitated by CT will be those that serve the spiritual and physical needs of the community.
4. Person-focused
CT is mindful that each person is created in the image of God. (Ps. 139:13-14) We are committed to ministry in the name of Jesus without discrimination. Though formal and informal structures may be required to deliver services, the focus of ministry will be persons infected and affected by HIV/AIDS and persons at risk for HIV/AIDS due to poverty, unemployment, sexual abuse, drugs, mother-to-child transmission, misinformation, and related issues.
5. African-led
CT is committed to African churches providing leadership in interdependent relationships with North American churches; thus the primary responsibility for serving Africans infected and affected by HIV/AIDS lies with African believers and African churches. Their neighbors (Lk. 10:36-37), family members, friends, and church members are impacted. They see and feel the pain of AIDS. They know what needs to be done and they will be left to carry on ministry after others have departed.
6. North American-church-engaged
HIV/AIDS is an urgent worldwide problem and we believe that God is calling the whole Church Body to be engaged. The Church has AIDS. It is our responsibility to catalyze, coach, and connect North American churches so that they are effectively engaged in this battle against HIV/AIDS in Africa.
7. Volunteer-driven
Jesus came as a servant and instructed his disciples to do the same (Mk. 10:43-35). Only massive, grassroots, volunteer movements will stem the pandemic. Though there is a role for professional caregivers, leaders, and teachers, the vision of CT will be achieved only as God’s people choose to love their neighbors.
8. Partnership-enabled
CT is committed to partnership. Christians are called to work together to achieve goals by working cooperatively within the broadest spectrum of the Church of Jesus Christ. The goal is to maximize resources for the struggle and to demonstrate the unity for which Jesus prayed (Jn 17:21-23). Partnership recognizes the varying resources of partner churches but anticipates that all parties will be both givers and recipients of blessing.
9. Best-practice-followed
CT will continue to communicate and encourage the use of best practices in cross-cultural partnership and care for those impacted by HIV/AIDS.
OUR GOALS
To significantly reduce the incidence of new HIV infections
To significantly reduce the pain and suffering of those infected and affected by HIV/AIDS
To provide advocacy for those infected and affected by HIV/AIDS
To instill a spirit of hope and purpose through trust in the person and work of Jesus Christ
To develop locally sustainable ministry that is not dependent primarily on outside funding
To strengthen indigenous churches for holistic ministry
To identify and expand the number of North American churches engaged and effectively supporting African church-based initiatives on HIV/AIDS
To demonstrate the difference the Church can make as North American churches and African churches develop relationships and the blending of their gifts for mutual benefit and mutual transformation. When this difference is demonstrated, people will see our “good works” and glorify God. Our ultimate goal is to see the earth filled with the knowledge of the Glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea (Habakkuk 2:14)
