I think back on the simplicity of the origin of Christ’s Hope as a response to the growing AIDS pandemic. Children’s Homes needed to be operated, Choose to Wait needed to be taught, the dying needed care and dignity and all needed to know the gospel of Jesus Christ. Sometimes the simplicity gets lost - at least in my mind - to the complexity of the situation.

Daily we read report after report detailing how the “orphan problem” in Africa (with other countries close behind) is worse than previously thought, and the repercussions more dramatic than previously thought and spreading faster than previously thought. Then the recognized “experts” detail how the financial needs are many, many times greater than the available resources. The obvious outcome is hopeless and shameful.

That constant feeding of negative reports can start to deaden your enthusiasm. Then, I’m reminded, of Acts 18:9,10: “Do not be afraid, but speak, and do not keep silent; for I am with you, and no one will attack you to hurt you; for I have many people in this city.”
The Lord spoke those words to Paul shortly after he (and Silas) had been beaten in a prison in Philippi. They barely escaped Thessalonica ahead of angry Jewish leaders, they barely escaped Berea ahead of the same Jewish leaders, they were mocked by the philosophers in Athens and rejected by the Jews in Corinth. Yet Paul stays in Corinth for another year-and-a-half teaching the word of God.

“…I have many people in this city.” I have just spent some time thinking about and praying for a long parade of people the Lord has marched before my eyes. We are about the Lord’s work, the Lord is with us, and I have seen the many people He has in this TOWN. As I wipe the tears from my eyes I thank Him again for you, and I realize that God is bigger than AIDS. I don’t know how many people will die of AIDS or how many orphans will be made by AIDS, but I know that every single one needs to hear that Jesus Christ died for their sins, He rose again, and has prepared a place for them in eternity.

Jos Holtzhausen

Back