August 10, 2006

Sarah Adams, MCC AIDS Coordinator

Today was the beginning of our time in Toronto. Over the next week and a half, our small contingent of MCC delegates will join upwards of 25,000 people here for the International AIDS Conference. For the next two days, during an Ecumenical Pre-Conference, Christians from around the world who are passionate about HIV/AIDS are meeting to encourage each other to put our faith into action in the struggle against AIDS.

I started off the morning with a warm reunion with Ginwell Yooma, the HIV/AIDS project director for the Brethren in Christ Church in Zambia. Ginwell had hosted me in Zambia as I spent time visiting church-based AIDS projects. Now it was my turn to welcome him as a first-time visitor to North America. Ginwell and I had the privilege of presenting a workshop this morning. Our title – “The Pastor Said What? Responding to the Misinformed and Frustrating Responses of Church Leaders who don’t want to Address AIDS in the Church”. During the workshop, participants from around the world shared stories about how they have struggled to involve pastors in the fight against AIDS and then together we shared strategies for addressing these challenges. Read more details about the workshop. It was especially fun for me to meet two women from MCC’s HIV/AIDS partner in Papua, Indonesia. HIV/AIDS work in their area is new, so it is exciting that they have the chance to come here to interact with other HIV/AIDS workers from around the world.

In the midst of a full day, I have found myself continually reflecting on our opening session and worship time this morning. The theme of this year’s conference is “Keep the Promise”. As I prepared for this conference and reflected on the theme, I was sure I knew what it meant. We need to call on the U.S. government to keep its promise to provide $15 billion for AIDS work. We need to call on pharmaceutical companies to keep their promise to make affordable drugs available for those who lack access. We need to call on each other as mission workers and development workers to continue to serve those stigmatized and marginalized because of HIV/AIDS.

Then, in today’s opening session, there was a different message. During our worship time together, our prayers called on God to keep His promise.

Gracious God,
your promises are life giving,
but for many death is close at hand
lurking in their bodies.
waiting to make them defenseless.
The farmlands of whole villages have been turned into graveyards,
so widespread is the clutches of AIDS.
We pray for those for whom your promises seem remote,
for those without medicine,
without needed care,
without loved ones nearby.
God, keep your promises.

Can we really demand that God keep his promises? Do we even need to ask? And what exactly has God promised us in the midst of this pandemic?

This is a challenge for me, and for the church. What has God promised the world in the midst of HIV/AIDS? What has he promised people living with AIDS? What does that mean for me and you, as the body of Christ? What is our role in fulfilling God’s promise?