|
REACHING OUT AND MINISTERING TO PEOPLE INFECTED AND AFFECTED BY HIV/AIDS PANDAMIC IN AFRICA by
Rev. Peterson Sozi NOTE: This paper was prepared for the WRF Africa Regional Conference in September of 2008 Introduction I would like to take this opportunity to thank the organizers of this Africa Regional Assembly-2008 who invited me to present a paper on Reaching out to people infected and affected by HIV/AIDS pandemic in Africa. This is the area of ministry where by the grace of God, I was led by God to vigorously participate in fighting against the pandemic from 1987, operating from the Nation of Uganda.
Uganda and the neighboring countries of Rwanda, Burundi, parts of Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya and Tanzania have tested a mighty out powering of God’s Spirit which allowed Spiritual Revivals. These revivals started in the early 1930s with the famous East African Revival whose influence reached Europe and other parts of the world. The East African Revival emphasized the importance of repenting and confessing ones sins and determination of living a separated and unique godly life. The adherents stood out in communities and they were called “Balokole”, the saved ones. Growing up in Uganda in the 50s, 60s and 70s, I witnessed many transformed communities in the Lake Region created by this revival.
Overlapping the east African Revival, in 1960, Pastor Hue Lesley was particularly instructed in a vision to come from Canada to Uganda to preach “the Powerful Gospel” in which miracles, signs and wonders accompanied the preaching of the Word. It was a struggle to get permission from the colonial masters ruling East Africa at that time but when God opens the door no one can shut it. The adherents were called “Abo’Mwoyo”, the 'Pentecostals' and many new congregations were opened in communities. This Pentecostal Revival was characterized with stress of loud prayer, fasting, preaching the Gospel, loud praise and worship and casting out evil spirits. Unlike the East African Revival which basically spread among the socially established Anglicans (Protestants),the Pentecostals concentrated mainly on spiritual things. So when Idi Amin came to power it was easy for him to abolish and close the Pentecostal Churches and as a result he put many in prison and also killed some. As Idi Amin was persecuting the Church in Uganda, politically there was an agitation from European colonies in Africa, calling for a change, Africa to be for Africans and nationals governing themselves; in the church some nationals were campaigning and demanding that ‘Missionary Days Were Over’, they wanted to reach God as purely Africans . Indigenous Africans were starting Indigenous Churches and there was a need to contextualize a number of things in the church.
While all this was going on especially in Uganda, the West put an embargo on Uganda exports. As a result the oppressed people started experiencing biting poverty, medical services were run down and then an unknown disease showed up , killing people from the youngest to the oldest
God Speaks
Reformed Faith officially came to Uganda in 1980 when the First Presbyterian Church in Uganda was started and I was blessed to be the founding pastor who was busy training on job, at the same time planting new congregations. Back To God Evangelistic outreaches started in 1983 to call people to faith in the Lord Jesus, evangelizing and helping to raise disciples of Christ inter-denominationally. Throughout the 80s, there was an unknown disease, killing people who were malnourished and had become mere skeletons. Medical science had no help and there was no known cure The South Western Districts of Uganda were most hit and there was a rumor that people had stolen property from neighboring Tanzania and they were bewitched to die in such painful and desperate conditions. The rumor came to be believed by some superstitious people because in some places it was killing entire families
In 1987, I had a dream and in this dream a young man, a colored, was pleading with me to preach the Gospel everywhere and at the same time teach people about this terrible disease which was killing people all around us. I did not know what to teach and there was scanty information about this disease. I, together with the team from Back To God Evangelistic Association, started looking for information about the pandemic. What we found out at that time was that the disease was called ‘slim’ because whoever died of it was small and emaciated. It was also called ‘Kaveera’ cellophane paper, it is believed that when a cow eats the cellophane paper, it has to die, so were the people who contracted this disease. It was also called ‘Kanyebwa’ ; kanyebwa is a garden weed which can not be eliminated by known herbicides; this was to say that no medicine could cure this rampant illness. The sickness was also called ‘signing’. This is because who ever contracted the disease was regarded as one who had signed a death warrant. There were many other names which just described the behavior of this pandemic. There were all sorts of superstitions and fear related to the disease. Some people thought it was carried around by mosquitoes, bed bags and all other human parasites. It was also believed that one could contract the disease, through hand shake, sharing utensils, sharing toilets and clothing or even staying in the same house with the infected person. This resulted into harsh stigma. The only answer to all this was the Blessed Gospel and the Christian message of love your neighbor as you love yourself.
Eventually we started getting more information about the disease and we got to know that the disease was mainly sexually transmitted. We started teaching masses the Biblical principles about sex and marriage. Traditional unbiblical practices in which relatives shared spouses, inherited widows, practiced illicit sex and polygamy were discouraged. People were encouraged to abandon such practices because Christ’s teachings forbid them. There was a need to educate about a quick sexual behavioral change just as the Bible taught. It was also discovered that direct contact with contaminated body fluids spreads the disease. Our teachings included telling people to be aware of using un-sterilized piercing instruments, un-sterilized circumcision knives and we warned against dirty knives and sharp objects which were being used by witchdoctors to administer herbs into bodies of even the family members. Traditional embalming of the dead bodies had to be done using hand gloves and those with open wounds on their hands were discouraged from taking part. Cannibalism was another issue where those who practiced it were warned. In fact this was the time to Christianize members in communities some of whom claimed to be Christians but still practiced the unbiblical wicked traditions and habits.
The name is HIV/AIDS
More information came in and we were told that the pandemic was being spread by a virus called HIV and there were different types of HIV; the virus could not be killed in known normal conditions. We were also told that the virus does not kill but it creates a condition which leaves the body without protection called AIDS and the victim would be killed by any disease which he contracts because the body which has acquired an AIDS condition can not respond to any medication. This scientific discovery brought no hope to us at all except to know that the pandemic was a pestilence which is going to wipe out the whole population. We stepped up our Gospel preaching activities and HIV/AIDS awareness. There was now enough information about the pandemic and all leadership at any level in society was encouraged to use their influence to spread the information. Church leaders, political leaders, school teachers, family and traditional leaders all ganged up to fight the pandemic. The Christian message is what went out to communities to effect a change in early 90s, way, before the use of the almighty condom was introduced in Uganda to be one of the means to fight the disease. The first machine in the country to screen the anti bodies and detect the virus was received in 1989, when the whole population infection was almost 36%. I remember reading in National Geographic magazine a World Health Organization (WHO) report, predicting that by the year 2000 Uganda could be extinct.
God’s direct intervention
In that desperation, we totally turned to God; we started holding prayer meetings in stadiums and public places repenting and asking God to heal our land. We knew it was only God who could change the situation. Scriptures like 2Chro. 7:14 were being recited; If my people who are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. We brew the trumpet like in Joel 2:15- 27; Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly; Gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children, and those that suck the breasts; let the bridegroom go forth of his chamber and bride out of her closet."
The success story of Uganda bringing down the HIV/AIDS prevalence should not be credited to any human being, politicians, medical scientists or the condom but to GOD himself He came down answered our desperate prayers and healed our land. I know of individuals who had full blown AIDS and the ARVS were not there to relieve the condition and no Ugandan could meet the costs but through prayer their cello status turned from HIV+ to HIV- because they travailed in prayer to God. A good number of those who wrote detailed descriptions of what happened to them were called "Lazarus" and a friend of mine, Pr. Ruth Birabwa Mwagalwa, now leading an HIV/AIDS Widows’ intercessory organization in Uganda, gave me a video of her testimony to bring with me. Betty B. whose husband died of AIDS in 1989 was found with full blown AIDS in 1996. She attended a Joint Clinical Research (JCR) program where her blood was drawn regularly to see the behavior of her infected cells. She was prayed for in the name of Jesus Christ and God healed all her opportunistic symptoms but she remains HIV+. She is alive today after 12 years since she was prayed for and because of the mighty hand of God in her life. In fact, it was her testimony that enabled the Back To God Ministry to start a primary school in the largest slum in Uganda and a medical clinic to take care of those infected and affected with HIV/AIDS. As a result of Betty’s testimony, a 7-story building construction was started and at the moment three levels have been constructed and the Primary school was transferred from the slum to this new better facility
Bible Centered Africa
Africa South of the Sahara is grossly infected and affected with HIV/AIDS and the situation demands that we Christians reach out by calling upon God to give solutions to seemingly impossible circumstances. After all, we SAY we believe that, with God, all things are possible. There will be another great spiritual revival in Africa if Christians can take at heart the HIV/AIDS pandemic and use it as a means of reaching out to souls for salvation and bodies for healing and relieving pain from the infected and affected. This huge task needs a lot of money, human resource and combined well networked effort. We need to share our experience and unselfishly encourage one another across nations. God knows what is going on and he, according to His word, expects us, his ambassadors, to act. In Uganda we have just started an effort of what we call "travailing prayer" that God would guide is and use us. We do this because because we remember this is how Uganda was pulled out of the pit of political and economical mismanagement. And this is why HIV/AIDS prevalence in Uganda has been reduced from 36% to 6%. In Uganda, "travailing prayer" is taking place on a 400 acre farm where people come to be ‘Alone With God’ in prayer for God's intervention and blessing. Will you pray? And will you do what God directs you to do?
Pastor Peterson Sozi,
Director/Founder of Back to God Ministry
Member, The Board of Directors of the World Reformed Fellowship
E-mail: Peterson.sozi@gmail.com
 
|
