1. Joys and challenges of mobilising church communities to respond to HIV by Anna Kaura

2. Defining Mobilisation
To move into action
i.e. the process of moving the churches into an action
For responding to the epidemic of HIV

3. Why church communities?
It is the church’s mandate from God to not only preach the gospel, but to also care for the orphans, widows, the poor and the suffering. A well- balanced church must minister in word and deeds in the lives of those it touches. Jesus ministered in this way during His time on earth.
The church is part of the community and vice versa, what affects the community affects the church as well.
A church is supposed to be a place of Hope, known by its love and support to the desperate.
The church must accompany people and communities living with HIV on their journeys of faith.
African churches need friendly feet to journey with individuals and communities living with HIV and AIDS, warm hearts to demonstrate compassion…. .( Ezra Chitando)
Stigma and discrimination mostly originated in the church where people living with HIV were condemned by the church.
The church can reach more people than any organization

4. The process of mobilisation
A church community should have its attitudes challenged in the initial stages of mobilisation, while its level of knowledge is deepened at the same time.
The church should be continuously exposed to the realities of HIV and AIDS by informing them about what is happening in their area with regard to HIV and AIDS.

5. Mobilisation process should start small and grow bigger
Mobilisation process should start small and grow bigger. Churches must be taught to start with small successful interventions to avoid being overwhelmed on the way.
Information session should be continuous in the church to keep the members abreast.
The results of a mobilised church community are a deepened understanding of the disease, growing commitment to prevention, care and support, accompanied by members’ understanding of how and why they should get involved.

6. Mobilisation- Process of moving into action?
The following are examples of church responses:
Ministry
Identifying team leaders to implement HIV and AIDS elements
2. Care
Identification of chronically ill people in the church and finding ways to provide care and support for them
Identification of orphans and vulnerable children who might need support and developing strategy to help and support them.
3. Prevention
teach value-based education to the youth
Marriage enrichment, pre marriage counseling support
4. Support counseling
No church should be without enough counselors to help people with coping with HIV and AIDS in their families and communities

7. Joys of mobilising church community
Social involvement is part of what God expects a church to do. A well- balanced church must minister in word and deeds in the lives of those it touches. Jesus taught His disciples to minister in this way during His time on earth(Mat:25:37-40). Ezra Chitando in his book Living with hope states that: “African churches need friendly feet to journey with individuals and communities living with HIV and AIDS, warm hearts to demonstrate compassion and anointed hands to heal.”
( Chitando:2007,5).
The church must accompany people and communities living with HIV on their journeys of faith, giving them hope
An abiding presence of the church in the community

8. Joys continued… Collaboration as opposed to competition
Seeing people come together for a common cause.
Creation of dialogue on HIV in churches
Promotion of fidelity and abstinence
Turning our commitments into action
Being a resource person for the area you work in.

9. Finally….
Helping church leaders not to miss their purpose in life, by enriching many lives and advancing the kingdom in the process.
75% of the comments we received from the first training this year reported that they did not know that HIV is not a punishment from God and that AIDS is not a sin, but only a disease.

10. Challenges?
Nothing would be done at all if we waited until we could resolve all the challenges.