Bruce Wilkinson, the popular author of a little book called The Prayer of Jabez, was speaking to over 1000 Christian leaders in Kenya a short time ago. As a part of his talk he asked people to stand if they had an immediate family member who had died of AIDS. Everyone stood. Wilkinson was stunned by that response. Then he asked a second question: “Stand if you have preached at least one sermon on AIDS.” Only three people stood in response to that question.[i] 

The fact is, there is a global AIDS pandemic right now. It is especially powerful in Africa. It is growing rapidly in India. It is probably the worst health crisis the world has known in over 700 years. It may be the greatest humanitarian crisis in history. HIV/AIDS is a wild fire raging across the continent of Africa. The disease is consuming people at a rate of 6500 per day.  

Yet we don’t hear much about it. We hear a lot about a possible Bird Flu pandemic. That disease has made the front page news of both newsweekly magazines I receive in our home. But there have been only a few inside stories about HIV/AIDS. 

Someone has said that we Americans have ADD. That usually stands for “Attention Deficit Disorder.” In this case it stands for “Africa Attention Deficit Disorder.” Periodically, cataclysmic episodes in Africa appear on our radar screen. But in between upsurges of attention, we almost forget Africa exists. 

AIDS has virtually wiped out a whole generation in many countries. Only the children and grandparents are left in many villages. Don Messer, a retired United Methodist theological school president, met a grandmother near Durbin, South Africa. He reported that she struggles to care for her six grandchildren—all of them orphaned by HIV/AIDS. Now she faces a new dilemma: should she accept two more orphaned children who have nowhere else to go? 

The problem is huge. The statistics are staggering. 

John Wesley gives us some direction out of the 18^th century. Wesley understood the Christian faith was embedded in real-life issues of health and illness, life and death. He was so moved by illness and suffering among the poor that he decided to practice medicine himself. Wesley opened dispensaries where he diagnosed and treated people once a week. Doing something about AIDS is in our Methodist DNA. This is especially true if the need is among the poor—which it definitely is in this case. 

George Will, a conservative Roman Catholic columnist, wrote this a few years ago: “What the world desperately needs is a new John Wesley.” 

I should tell you that a few good and worthy faith-based things are happening. Rick Warren is the pastor of Saddleback Church in California. He is also the author of the hugely successful best-selling book, The Purpose Driven Life. Warren about blew Larry King away one night on King’s show on CNN. Larry King had the audacity to ask Warren this question: “What are you doing with all the money from your book?” Warren very calmly responded, “My wife and I are doing several things. First, we are taking no salary for the ministry of the church. All the salary goes for other ministries. Secondly, we are living on 10% of our income, and giving 90% of it away. And thirdly, with some of the 90% we started a foundation for children with AIDS in Africa.” Larry King was so speechless that he had to cut to a commercial.[ii] 

Then there was Bono, from U2, who apparently has a deep and abiding active Christian faith. Bono has toured the U.S. to raise awareness and funds in churches. At one point he said, “The church in our generation will be remembered in history for how it responds to this devastating epidemic.” 

The United Methodist Church has established a global AIDS fund. It was actually established here in Pittsburgh at the General Conference in 2004. The plan was to provide an 8 million dollar fund, 3 million raised from apportionments and 5 million raised from special appeals. However, the first part of the resolution failed. It was disappointing but not devastating. Now the entire 8 million dollar amount must be raised through special appeals. That special appeal is a key part of our missional outreach right now. 

So what can we do? What can you and I do? Millions are infected; millions are dying. What can one person or one church do? 

There is an old South African proverb that says, “How do you eat an elephant?” And the answer is, “One bite at a time!” There is another African proverb that says, “When is the best time to plant a tree?” The answer is, “20 years ago.” So you ask, “When is the second best time to plant a tree?” And the answer is, “Today.” 

One writer puts it this way: “In an interconnected universe, every act of love makes a difference.” 

Another Christian writer has paraphrased our New Testament gospel reading for today from Matthew 25. Listen to these words.

I was sick with AIDS and you did not visit me. You did not wash my wounds, nor did you give me medicine… I was stigmatized, isolated, and rejected because of HIV/AIDS and you did not welcome me… I was a dispossessed widow and an orphan and you did not meet my needs. Truly I tell you, just as you did not do it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did not do it to me.[iii] 

What can you and I do? How can we take one bite out of the elephant? Let me offer two responses. 

ERASE THE STIGMA 

First of all, lift the stigma! Erase it! Remove it from our hearts! AIDS is sometimes uncomfortable to discuss. It is often linked to intravenous drug use, homosexuality, and sexual infidelity.  

But let the presumed shame of HIV/AIDS not be a part of our makeup. AIDS is not some punishment wrought by God. It is no more a punishment than the tsunami or Hurricane Katrina last year here in the United States. We cannot condone a theology of condemnation and indifference. 

I was amazed to read a few years ago that a survey of Christian people in this country revealed that only 14% would contribute to the education and protection of those with AIDS. Even more startling was this statistic: only 17% would financially support AIDS orphans. The church still blames the problem on the victims. 

We must change that. We can turn that around. What do you suppose it would mean in the world if Christians were best known for lovingly running AIDS shelters? And if they were best known for tenderly caring for AIDS victims down to their last breath? 

The church offers faith, hope, love, forgiveness and grace to all. I saw a sign on a billboard on Banksville Road this past week. A young woman was pictured on the sign. Around her were these words: “The best advice I ever received: live generously.” We should be generous in our financial giving, yes. But also generous in our attitudes. If there is to be any judgment, that is a matter for God. If there is to be mercy and compassion, that is a matter for believers. 

ALLOCATE RESOURCES 

The second way we can be involved is to allocate resources. Today is a start on behalf of that effort. You can give this morning in the special envelopes provided through the United Methodist Global AIDS Fund. In the display in the Christian Life Center you can provide money for AIDS prescriptions for women in Kenya. In another display you can buy some beads made by women impacted by HIV/AIDS in Uganda. It is also my hope that we can establish an AIDS treatment component at our United Methodist Hospital in Nyadire, Zimbabwe. 

Listen to a verse from Proverbs in Eugene Peterson’s “The Message.”

Rescue the perishing; don’t hesitate to step in and help. If you say, “Hey, that’s none of my business,” will that get you off the hook? Someone is watching you closely, you know—someone not impressed with weak excuses.  (Prov. 24:11-12) 

Or consider the text for today from Isaiah 58:10:

If you spend yourself on behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness. 

We must be proactive and persistent. There’s a story about a boy named Jimmy who wanted his first wristwatch. He kept asking and asking. His parents kept saying, “Not now, Jimmy. Not now.” But the boy was persistent. He nagged constantly. He was tiring and even angering the whole family. Finally his father forbade him to mention the watch again. 

The next Sunday at dinner the children were sharing Bible verses they had learned in Sunday school. When it came to Jimmy, he shared his memory verse from Mark 13:37 in the King James Version, “What I say to you, I say unto all: watch!” 

We must be proactive and persistent. We can take one bite of the elephant. 

A French saint from several centuries ago said,

While most of us think our lives should be about doing great things, we rather are called to do small things with great love.[iv] 

When you and I respond to this crisis, “Light will rise in the darkness.” Spend yourself generously for a great human need, and the Light that outshines all darkness will break through.