FAME and CMF have jointly sponsored a conference for the past three years entitled “Your Church and AIDS.” The first two conferences were held in Indianapolis and the latest one in Turner, Oregon at the request of the Oregon Christian Convention. The attendance was not what we had hoped for, but the quality of the conference was outstanding. The main speakers were LeRoy Lawson and Mary Kamau.
There were 8 different workshops offered. I led one of the workshops and got to participate in three others. Subjects included AIDS in America, ministering to the urban poor where HIV/AIDS affects 25% of the people, introduction to AIDS and how the church can be involved. The workshop that I most appreciated was the one led by Michelle, counseling professor from George Fox University. She had surveyed those with AIDS whom she has counseling, asking them to share comments for a group of church people such as would be attending the conference. Her comments to us were directly from a high school girl who developed AIDS. The girl’s parents also share their insights. This personal touch was very moving and each attendee learned so much.
HIV/AIDS effects a relatively small percentage of the population in America. Unfortunately, this means that many now view the problem as “something of the past.” It most definitely is not that, especially if one sees oneself as a citizen of the world. It is arrogant and unfeeling to think that AIDS doesn’t effect me when our very lifestyle keeps many people of the world in poverty where AIDS thrives.
In a week or two several of us from FAME and CMF will debrief, and one of our questions will be if we should continue this conference into the future. I invite you to submit an opinion on the question. Please, help us decide.
