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Thursday, July 21 2005 |
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Sunday we visited Grace Bible Church in Soweto. I have never heard such singing, such joyful worship. They sang in native language, but it didn’t matter. The Spirit of God was there, and we worshipped right along with them. It was Father’s Day, and the pastor gave a heartbreaking message—a call to the fathers to rise up and lead their families. The system of apartheid devastated men, devastated families. Now many men are emotionally disengaged from their families. And many others are violent. ABOUT SAHAC: The aim of the Southern Africa HIV/AIDS Collaboration (SAHAC) is to develop, pilot test and seed expansion of an innovative character-driven, community-based, holistic, Christian approach to AIDS prevention, first among the youth of South Africa and then spreading to youth in neighboring countries of Southern Africa. On Monday and Tuesday, the team met with leaders from a community in Soweto called Orlando East. This is the community chosen as the pilot for the SAHAC initiative. The community has 80% unemployment. Huge problems with crime—particularly violence against women and children. And one of the highest infection rates—38%. (Stop again and let that number sink in.) I don’t know that I’ve ever felt such a tangible sense of hopelessness in a community. Yet, at the same time, I had a tremendous sense of hope. The team led the group through the initial steps in identifying the problems and the resources in their community. Then we set up work groups to begin to take a holistic approach to issues in the community—jobs, care for people infected, the church, and youth. We met many champions—people who love God with all their hearts and want to see him move in their community. They are my new heroes. |
