What is the Church?
Jubilee Centre September 7th, 2009
The mid point review of the impact of HIV and AIDS on all the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) has revealed that HIV and AIDS is complicating Zambia’s efforts to meet the MDGs. The report from 1990 to 2008 shows that HIV and AIDS had devastating effects on all aspects of life (see the Post, Saturday 19 September p5). A Zambian who read this article or attended the review meeting must know that life as usual can be no more. Any person or institution that receives donor money to fight the HIV and AIDS pandemic must not go about this task as if business is usual. It isn’t. This task requires a response addressed with a thoughtful reverence born out of love, pain, and brokenness.
One would think that this report would shatter complacency in our nation - the greatest enemy in our fight against this calamity. But how many Zambians will see this report? How many Zambians know the depth of the problems of HIV and AIDS on our education system, child mortality rates, other diseases, poverty, and environment? Will the government through National AIDS Council (NAC) make sure that this report is distributed throughout the nation? Will the government working with interested stakeholders come up with new strategies to address this pandemic with the seriousness and urgency it deserves?
Most critical, will the church see this report as a challenge to Christians to use this terrible news as a
wake-up call to focus on the hope of the gospel? Does the church have what it takes to use this disaster to bring hope for the present? Will this be a time to call couples to the purity of marriage beds and singles to life of personal holiness and revival? Will this be a time to give dignity to orphans, people living with HIV and AIDS and widows? Does the church have what it takes to give hope for the future – not just for this life, but also for heaven and the life to come?
Jeff Lockyer, lead pastor at Southridge Community in Toronto recently told Zambian pastors that the church becomes the hope for hurting communities when its definition does not end with a people gathered for Sunday worship but also includes people in the community whom the church serves throughout the week. Mrs. Prisca Kambole, Chairperson of Jubilee Centre board quoted Proverbs 11:11
“Through the blessing of the upright a city is exalted …” and then asked the 150 invited guests who recently came to witness the opening of a conference hall at Jubilee Centre, “Where is the good influence of righteous in our nation? Where are the men and women who desire that justice, mercy and compassion is served and material prosperity of the nation benefit all? Are the city leaders valuing the church role in our communities? Is the community grateful for your church, and is the community praising God for change happening because of your church involvement?”
Lawrence Temfwe
