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AIDS and the Church: World Vision to Sponsor the 2007 Willow Creek Award
October 31, 2006
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Every two weeks, one day is set aside to offer people living with HIV specialized care at this maternity ward in Zambia, funded by World Vision. Willow Creek Association and World Vision believe every church can, and should, do something to fight the AIDS pandemic, which is why the two organizations are in partnership to offer the Courageous Leadership Award.
The Willow Creek Association is set to grant the first ever Courageous Leadership Award next year. Sponsored by World Vision, the 2007 award will recognize three churches that most exemplify “the gospel in action” in their fight against AIDS.
God’s Question
“Because of living at this time in human history, God will ask us about how our church responded to the greatest humanitarian crisis of our day: the AIDS pandemic,” explains Bill Hybels, founding pastor of Willow Creek Community Church and Chairman of the Board for Willow Creek Association.
Of the three prizes offered, $60,000 will be awarded to the winning church, and $20,000 will go to each of the two runners-up. Invested in the churches’ AIDS budgets, the awarded funds can be used in any way the churches choose to apply them.
World Vision’s Focus: Most Vulnerable
In 2000, World Vision launched the Hope Initiative, its comprehensive approach to fighting AIDS, which includes serving those most vulnerable to its devastation — children and the majority of those infected, impoverished women.
Mobilizing Churches to join in the battle against AIDS is a primary component of the Hope Initiative.
“AIDS is not just another problem on the world’s to-do list,” says Richard Stearns, World Vision’s president. “This crisis calls for the church of Jesus Christ to rise to the occasion. The question hangs in the air, ‘What are we going to do about it?’ This could be the Church’s finest hour. Whether it is or not is up to us.”
Courageous Leadership Award winners will be announced at the annual Willow Creek Leadership Summit in August 2007.
What You Can Do
>> Pray for an end to the AIDS pandemic, especially for urgently needed aid to assist Africa’s most vulnerable to its ravages, women and children.
>> |  | 1-888-511-6548 : P.O. Box 9716
Federal Way, WA 98063-9716 Who Is World Vision?
World Vision is a Christian humanitarian organization dedicated to working with children, families and their communities worldwide to reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty and injustice.
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