PERSPECTIVES
The
Honey That Kills: Combating AIDS With the Gospel
By Charles Colson
Breakpoint
Ministry
January
8, 2001
CBN.com
- In most African countries, everyone is either infected -- or affected.
If an individual doesn't have AIDS, he or she is impacted by someone who does
-- a spouse or child.
As I mentioned in a previous broadcast, AIDS is ravaging
both the homosexual and heterosexual populations in Sub-Saharan Africa. In fact,
80 percent of all AIDS deaths are in Africa.
Why is one continent such
an epicenter? Because in Africa, sexual matters are discussed in whispers or avoided
completely. Few people know that AIDS stands for Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome,
and that there are simple ways to avoid it.
Since my earlier broadcast,
I've learned of a major victory over this devastating disease -- a victory for
which a Christian organization deserves a large measure of the credit. In Uganda
the AIDS infection rates among the adult population declined from around 18.5
percent in 1995 to 8.3 percent at the end of 1999 -- more than cut in half in
just four years!
How has this been achieved? Several Ugandan newspapers
give substantial credit to a Christian broadcaster, Trans World Radio. By breaking
the silence on this taboo subject, they are saving both lives and souls.
Trans
World Radio's involvement in combating AIDS began with a one-time special produced
in Kenya. The immediate response from across Africa confirmed an overwhelming
need for such a program. People wanted more information so Trans World Radio initiated
a weekly broadcast about AIDS.
Since Africans often refer to having sex
as "getting some honey," the program is titled "The Honey That Kills." The program
challenges and encourages those affected by the disease and instructs the healthy
on how to avoid becoming infected -- not by condom use, but by biblical standards
of chastity and fidelity.
Another key to the program's success is that
Trans World Radio encourages local churches to become actively involved -- by
helping patients and their families, and by teaching the portions of Scripture
that relate to chaste behavior.
"The Honey That Kills" has been airing
in Kenya and Uganda since the early 1990s. More recently it has expanded into
Zimbabwe, Malawi, Swaziland, Tanzania, Burundi, and several other countries of
French West Africa -- using a combination of short-wave plus the national networks
in each country.
The United Nations AIDS agency reports, "Uganda remains
the only African country to have turned a major epidemic around." Trans World
Radio spokesman Richard Greene adds, "Trans World Radio teaches people how to
remain pure in Christ, and also to be able to introduce people to the Savior.
Many people are crediting their abstinence to hearing the good news of Christ
through Trans World Radio."
In Swaziland, 18-year-old Zuela watched her
two- month-old daughter die of AIDS. When Zuela tested positive for HIV herself,
she expected a rapid death and contemplated suicide. But that evening the broadcast
featured a young man who had lived eight years with the HIV virus. God used his
words to restore her will to live -- and to lead her to salvation.
Some
people question whether Christianity is good for society. Well, here's a wonderful
answer to those folks where Christians got busy and did something important.
More from Charles Colson on CBN.com
| From BreakPoint Copyright 2004 Prison Fellowship
Ministries. "BreakPoint
with Chuck Colson" is a radio
ministry of Prison Fellowship Ministries. Reprinted with
permission of Prison Fellowship, P.O. Box 17500, Washington,
DC, 20041-0500." Heard on more than
1000 radio stations nationwide. |
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