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The condoms-dominant prevention strategy is also failing. Researchers are finding compelling evidence that people who engage in high-risk sex may gain a false sense of security anticipating the supposed benefit that condoms and ARV drugs provide. Without a renewal of biblical values, drugs and condoms alone will never stop this pandemic.

Defeating HIV is going to take generations of the faithful. How will Christians decades from now look back on what we did and did not do through our families, churches, and governments? What will they say about us when we Americans decided that $15 billion over five years was all we were willing to spend to defeat HIV globally? (Experts believe it will take $12 billion a year from all sources to defeat HIV globally.)

Look at what one organization has done to defeat one disease. Rotary International has been fighting polio since 1979. It has developed a global volunteer force to partner with health agencies to eliminate a single disease. In 1988, there were 350,000 polio cases. At the end of 2005, there were 1,670 cases worldwide—better than a 99 percent reduction.

There are 1.2 million Rotarians around the world. Imagine what 2 billion Christians might accomplish as one faithful force against one disease. Imagine the possibilities for proving church-mocking skeptics wrong. Imagine closed doors opening for the gospel. Imagine the lives saved. A world in the ever-tightening grip of HIV doesn't stand a chance without us.

Copyright © 2006 Christianity Today. Click for reprint information.

Other Christianity Today articles on AIDS include:

Warren, Hybels Urge Churches to Wage 'War on AIDS' | Hundreds of evangelicals attending Disturbing Voices conference repent, refocus on outreach to outcasts. (Dec. 5, 2005)

On The Record
Why We're Losing the War Against HIV/AIDS | Harvard's Edward C. Green says health officials undermine abstinence and fidelity programs in Africa. (March 7, 2005)

Q&A: Deborah Dortzbach | The international director of HIV/AIDS programs at World Relief talks on our progress, and regress, with AIDS. (Aug. 16, 2004)

Cry, the Beloved Continent | Don't let AIDS steal African children's future. (March 04, 2004)

Confronting Moral Horror | It's a witness even the most jaded find impressive. (Feb. 04, 2004)

As Complicated as ABC | Condoms and abstinence can both play a role in AIDS prevention. (Feb. 04, 2004)

Beyond Condoms | To alleviate AIDS, we must sharpen our moral vision. (June 10, 2003)

A Strategy for Progress | Unless prevention of HIV/AIDS becomes a clear priority, things are only going to get worse. (May 2, 2003)

Civics for Gay Activists | We may see more die from HIV/AIDS because gay activists are intolerant. (April 10, 2003)

ABC vs. HIV | Christians back abstinence-fidelity plan against deadly virus. (March 10, 2003)

Jerry Thacker: Politics Muddies Fight Against AIDS | The politics of homosexuality has made it easier to battle the disease in foreign countries than domestically, says a former nominee to the Presidential Advisory Council on HIV and AIDS. (Feb. 07, 2003)

Bono's American Prayer | The world's biggest rock star tours the heartland, talking more openly about his faith as he recruits Christians in the fight against AIDS in Africa. (Feb. 21, 2003)

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February 2006, Vol. 50, No. 2