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Christianity Today, April, 2008 |

Seriously Disturbed

Wiping out HIV

It's good for the soul to fight the virus.

Kay Warren | posted 4/28/2008 08:34AM

Five years ago, I became a seriously disturbed woman. Through a single magazine article about AIDS in Africa, my attention was captured and a sense of shock, horror, and doom awoke within me.

How could ...

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David Miller, AIDS Treatment Activist

Posted: April 30, 2008 9:42 PM

continued) Fighting HIV (the services lagging behind the course of the epidemic for 25 years, the lack of money for studies to find a CURE, the stigma and biogtry and hate and stupidity, the public policies that rip at the soul of anyone who is willing to see the results-25 million (or more) dead, 50 million (or more -no one really knows )infected. Rick and Kay (and the countless people at Saddleback and other churches I've met want to and are getting into the fight..Imagine 30 million Christians fighting this PLAGUE the way another generation fought facism-so what do so many people do? ...throw rocks-I saw Kay leading dozens of pastors, priests, ministers on Capital Hill to get PEPFAR approved this past Fall. She hates doing legislative meetings-SHE DOES IT ANYWAY-There were people who argued against rescuing jews during the Holocaust in the U.S -read history-This is a natural disaster perpetuated by public policy, by rank stupidity and by a lack of understanding God's (continued)

David Miller, AIDS Treatment Activist

Posted: April 30, 2008 9:04 PM

Hi I'm writing to you in the loving grace of our Savior and the faith found in his word. its meant as guidence and clarifacation for some posters here who seem to have some bizzare ideas that I'm somehow not still fighting pharmaceutical companys that oppertunize on the AIDS crisis ( IKonwbetter.Now and Henk Gort-do I know you folks -and DO YOU KNOW ME?-one of the biggest problems in the AIDS crisis is the lack of service and care-compare how many chruches there are in the Bronx (Miami, Chicago, LA,etc) to how many AIDS Service Organizations and then look at how many people are living with the virus, how many are now getting infected and desperetly need help. The Ryan White CARE Act expires within the next 36 months -WHERE DO WE GO THEN (do you know anything about Ryan White-have you ever been to AIDS Watch in D.C trying to get another dime for anyone with the virus?) I accepted Jesus in my life as my Lord and Savior-not to turn away from the fight BUT TO BECOME STRONGER (continued...

Henk Gort

Posted: April 29, 2008 8:15 PM

The title "Wiping Out AIDS" is NOT addressed at all this is an article is not about wiping out AIDS it's about silencing those who have AIDS. Its not about "It's good for the soul to fight the virus it's about ensuring the status quo. If it was about fighting the disease the Warren's would be lobbying the governments and drug companies to do something and make the medicines available to everyone at a cost that can be afforded by the poorest of the poor. Fighting AIDS is not about warm fuzzies for the people helping them!!! SHAME ON YOU!!!!!!!!!

revronvegas

Posted: April 29, 2008 12:09 PM


OK ... I cried. Now, Lord, turn my tears into specific aggressive compassion for one and/or many.

Ephrem Hagos

Posted: April 29, 2008 6:53 AM

If everyone who had been bitten in the desert by poison snakes would look at the bronze snake on a pole and be healed (Num. 21: 4-9), how many more could be healed today just by looking at the actual source of resurrection and life, i.e., Him who they pierced (John 8:28; 11:25; 19: 30-37))!!!!! Christians need to make fresh attempt to refocus on the all-sufficient cross with the inherent supernatural power all the Apostles were familiar with and privy to in their ministries. There is more than enough divine power in the cause and effect of Jesus' death not only to heal AIDS patients but also to recreate the whole world in God's image! (www.the2keys.com)

James Reid Ross

Posted: April 29, 2008 3:47 AM

well said Lyra we all need to remember our Lord's instruction to pay to Ceasar what is Ceasar's and later of Paul instruction of those in authority. God bless President Bush and grant understanding to Senators Obama and Clinton of the value of life of the unborn. Evangelicals should listen to the liberals about love of the afflicted aids homosexuals prisoners and liberals should listen to evangelicals about respecting God's Word the life of the unborn and living a life as free from sin as possible. "IF YOU LOVE ONLY THOSE WHO LOVE YOU WHAT GOOD IS THAT EVEN SINNERS DO THAT" listen to our Master , our Lord, our King and Creator and love even those that seem unlovable. God bless in HIM James Reid Ross

Paul Wangai Jr M.D,PhD

Posted: April 29, 2008 12:44 AM

David's changed life is one of many of my patients living with the virus who have come to an experience with the Saviour. He has healed their souls, even as He works on their bodies. A handful have fully seroconverted negative and miraculously healed. One of them is now 15 years with viral load absent, CD4s high and seronegative for HIV repeatedly; whereas he was dying with TB, Herpes, meningitis, CD4 50 and Viral Load of over 1 million copies. Whereas a few have been healed from physical HIV, many have been healed spiritually and now live a life of honor and exuberance confidence and assurance of eternity. May the body of Christ arise to the open doors:HIV as an opportunity for ministry world wide. Jesus told His disciples, "Cleanse the leper.."Today He calls us to do the same. (Pardon my poor analogy with leprosy) This is done by helping them "cleanse the sin-ravaged souls" and find a new life in Him. We as His disciples have no alternative. It is a command! Nairobi, Kenya

Discerning Believer

Posted: April 28, 2008 9:51 PM

Praise God for David’s changed life! Wonderful to see the Lord work in this way. As someone with a heart for Africa, I too care about the AIDS issue. Regarding Saddleback Church’s 2006 AIDS conference, though, it was a serious mistake to invite Sen. Barack Obama to speak in the pulpit of your church. It was an implied endorsement that many Christians felt would be used politically by Barack Obama. And that he did. Obama’s campaign has used photos of himself at Saddleback Church with your husband to give the impression that he’s a Christian. Obama had a brochure prepared for Southern voters claiming he is “a committed Christian.” However, 20 years after his conversion, Barack Obama contests John 14:6 that Jesus is the only way to heaven, he doesn’t know if he’s going to heaven, and he doesn’t believe in eternal judgment. He has voted it’s OK for a baby to be murdered as the baby is being born. He has promised to give homosexuals more rights than any other president.

Lyra	Posted: April 28, 2008 9:46 PM

"IKnowBetterNow," allow me to respond to you. Please do not perceive my comments as condemnations or judgments. You say that we "will profit from using his debilitating illness as a little tear jerker Christian propaganda so what do you care?" All people may inevitably benefit from David's story (considering how inspiring it is, and how it testified to Jesus Christ’s love), but the one who benefits the most is David himself. David was a bitter man when Mrs. Warren first met him. Much of that bitterness was justified. He wasn't succeeding in his activist work, and he’d been spurned callously many times. Nevertheless, through the Warrens, Jesus found a way to soften David’s heart, and he responded joyfully. As for “why” we would care about AIDS victims – well, we care because God commands us to care, to love others as He has loved us. Kay and Rick Warren are role models for all us - their aim to eliminate AIDS forever. I do hope this clears up any misunderstanding. God bless.

Polycarp

Posted: April 28, 2008 6:35 PM


What a wonderful testimony: Rick and Kay please could you draw the attention of the rich West to the havoc of malaria in the developing countries. A child dies of malaria every second. This is worst than the impact of Aides which is mainly a lifestyle issue. Is it not time a vaccine for malaria is developed?

IKnowBetterNow.

Posted: April 28, 2008 4:44 PM


HELLO!!!! David STILL has AIDS and now instead of fighting and voicing out against corporate pharmaceutical criminals he's swimming in a baptismal pool; Instead of contacting his congressman he's just letting it go. All you've done is shut him up till he dies. But I guess you guys will profit from using his debilitating illness as a little tear jerker Christian propaganda so what do you care?

Loren

Posted: April 28, 2008 4:34 PM

Praise the LORD ! Giving visible evidence of God's invisible presence through your deeds and words certainly does elevate The LORD"S reputation. Nature does THAT; Scripture does THAT; and We get to do THAT, also. What a nice way you have, Kay Warren, of expressing yourself and the Truth. I'm humbled to be in the Family of God alongside of YOU and OTHERS who reflect The Lord Jesus so very consistently ! THANK YOU for this testimony! I'm encouraged that you and Rick do these things in a loving way for The LORD and in a loving way for People. How refreshing THAT is and how genuinely GOD IS GLORIFIED!!! David Miller is worth MORE than all of the wealth in all of the world.

Journeyman

Posted: April 28, 2008 3:45 PM


Hallelujah and Praise to His Holy name. WOW !!!!!!!!!!

Joe Chip

Posted: April 28, 2008 3:19 PM


What a touching, uplifting and hopeful article. Would that more Christians exhibited the sort of attitude displayed by the Warrens. Theirs is the kind of life that leads the lost to Christ.

Debbie

Posted: April 28, 2008 1:11 PM

Thank you Rick and Kay for the work you are doing. Thank you that you love people the way Jesus loved them. Thank you Kay for listening to God and reaching out to those with Aids. It does not matter how they got the disease, but that we are the loving compassionate people that God wants us to be and love them where they are. I am so glad to "meet David Miller", what a very special story. Thank you Kay for letting us all meet him.

jim	Posted: April 28, 2008 12:32 PM


Wow! This is a powerful story of God at work. I'm sitting at work right now in tears.

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