Rick and Kay Warren on HIV/AIDS

With more than 25 million people dead from AIDS worldwide and at least another 40 million currently living with the disease, the HIV/AIDS pandemic continues to outpace the global response. Even if the medication that could save lives was universally available, distribution is still a major barrier. A grassroots, worldwide distribution network to deliver medication and nutrition has never been identified and mobilized.

Dr. Rick and Kay Warren believe the solution is already in place, but has been overlooked by governments, businesses, and NGOs. The answer is the millions of local churches that already exist in millions of villages around the world.

With 2.1 billion people on Earth claiming to be followers of Jesus, the Church has the largest network, the widest distribution, and the greatest volunteer force on the planet. The Church is larger than the population of China, speaks more languages than the United Nations, and has more volunteers than all the NGOs in the world combined.

Through the Purpose Driven P.E.A.C.E. Plan, the Warrens are mobilizing churches worldwide for the battle against AIDS in six practical ways. The “C.H.U.R.C.H.” strategy is training local churches to Care and comfort, Handle testing and counseling, Unleash volunteers, Reduce the stigma, Champion healthy behavior, and Help with nutrition and medications. More than 7,000 members of Saddleback Church have participated in the P.E.A.C.E. Plan in 68 countries in the past two years.

The Warrens believe the global HIV/AIDS pandemic is the greatest opportunity to demonstrate Christ’s love today. In an article for CNN.com, Kay Warren said, “It's past time for those who claim to be Christ's followers to join the struggle against the devastation that HIV brings.”

Each November, the Warrens host a summit on AIDS. The only event of its kind, the Global Summit on AIDS and the Church equips congregations with a specific five-point global strategy and a six-step local plan that every church can use to help end AIDS.

The two-day summit is held annually on the 120-acre campus of Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, Calif. It brings together the leading authorities from health and relief organizations, governments, international agencies, and ministries to interact with pastors and church leaders from around the world who are modeling reproducible programs.

2006 Global Summit on AIDS and the Church: Race Against Time >>

HIV/AIDS Caring Community >>