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How can the church minister to people with HIV/AIDS?

Helen Grace Lescheid

Begin to talk about AIDS. Although the Goulds and Couillards find their churches wonderfully supportive, this was not the case with the Kasdorfs. “When I speak to pastors about the need for AIDS awareness,” Dena Kasdorf says, “They say something like, ‘Let’s just leave it alone. Our kids aren’t thinking like that.’ I want to say, ‘Come on, wake up, and smell the coffee.’ ” Terry adds, “Young people are curious. They’ll experiment. I’m a prime example.” If you are a pastor, preach on the topic. Preach in a way that will invite people in your congregation to admit their struggle so they will not have to suffer alone. Preach in a way that prepares your congregation to minister to people with HIV/AIDS. Bring someone in to talk about a personal struggle with AIDS so that your congregation can put a face on the issue. Develop an HIV/AIDS policy in your church. Pray. Pray that God will use this disease to glorify Himself through His church. Pray that ministries to AIDS victims will arise out of the church body. Make HIV/AIDS persons feel welcome in your church. “Often in our churches we wall them out,” Darrell Gould says. How do we do this? By avoiding them. By treating them differently than we treat other people. How could we make them feel welcome? “Talk to them. Shake their hand. Be natural, not super-nice,” the Goulds suggest. Recognize your prejudices, and develop a spirit of compassion. Is AIDS the judgement of God? This question often arises in Christian circles. In all of our lives, sin of whatever kind will inevitably have its effect. In some cases, sinful lifestyles were practised, and the results have been drastic. One recovering addict said, “To go back to using drugs means prison or death. To follow God means life.” Those of us who profess Christ have a choice of how we will respond. Will we sit back with our arms folded and say, “I told you so. You made your bed. Sleep in it?” Will we minister to them on the condition they first confess their sin and explain in detail how AIDS was acquired? Or will we roll up our sleeves and minister to them because we want to demonstrate how Jesus cares for them and wants to enter into an ongoing relationship with them? “I’ve discovered that I’ve never been able to lead someone to Christ if I despised them or looked down on them,” writes Carolyn Couillard. “It’s as we treat people with respect that they come to know Jesus.” Accept HIV/AIDS persons as you do other people. “Be honest with them. If something bothers you about their lifestyle, talk to them about it – but do it over lunch,” Barb says. One of those I interviewed asked, “Why is it we can accept other people without delving into their background, but with HIV/AIDS persons we want to know, ‘How did they get it?’ ” Is this a sign of prejudice or a valid question? Perhaps either or both. Of a person with lung cancer, we might ask, “Is he a smoker?” For that matter, in the case of any serious illness or accident, it’s not uncommon to want to know what causes contributed to it. It is probably legitimate to ask questions. Yet, we also need to ask Jesus for the grace not to let the stigma of this disease and how it is acquired control our response or involvement. Learn the facts and undertake an ongoing study of AIDS. AIDS ministry has changed significantly in the past decade. Because of powerful new drugs, available through medicare, death rates in Canada from AIDS-related causes have fallen by about 75%. Five years ago, at an annual candlelight vigil in a Vancouver downtown park, the names of 250 individuals who had died of AIDS that year were read; now, just over 40 names are read. “Many people are like me, flourishing physically,” writes Paul Couillard. “The greatest challenge for us is to reengage life, the world and lost careers with the insecurities and vulnerability brought about by a life-threatening illness.” Get involved in a local AIDS organization. In this way, you can begin to get to know actual sufferers and their needs. Many of them need someone to get them groceries or do laundry on a day when they are feeling too weak. Ask them how you can help. Let them tell you. Listen to God on how He wants you to be involved. Susan and John Chalkias are glad they became involved with HIV/AIDS children. Apart from taking universal precautions, they’re not worried about their children or themselves catching AIDS. “You know what’s contagious?” Susan smiles. “The feeling of helping others. It’s a wonderful feeling. You can’t stop. Nikki’s Seed is part of me now. I think it, dream it, talk it, work it. . . . I want to be where God wants me to be, to do what God wants me to do.” Barb Gould echoes the sentiment: “Not everybody should take people into their homes and care for them. It wouldn’t be smart. But when God gives the green light and you obey, it is the most rewarding experience of your life.”

Helpful reading HIV/AIDS A Christian Response, compiled by Ruth Thiessen (Mennonite Central Committee B.C., 1997, $10). When Someone has AIDS: A Christian Response (Canadian MB Conference Board of Faith and Life pamphlet). AIDS: Ministry in the Midst of an Epidemic, by Wendell W. Hoffman and Stanley J. Grenz (Baker Book House, 1990).

Helen Grace Lescheid is a freelance writer in Abbotsford, B.C. and a member of South Abbotsford MB Church.

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Last modified December 6, 1999.

© 1999 Mennonite Brethren Herald.
Published by the Canadian Conference of MB Churches.
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