AP/Carroll County Times Examines New Book Encouraging Christians To Join Fight Against HIV/AIDS Pandemic

Main Category: HIV / AIDS
Also Included In: Sexual Health / STDs
Article Date: 07 Jan 2008 - 0:00 PDT

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The AP/Carroll County Times on Friday profiled the new book "Dangerous Surrender" -- written by Kay Warren, wife of Saddleback Church pastor Rick Warren -- which encourages Christians to help fight the HIV/AIDS pandemic. In the book, Warren recounts traveling to Mozambique, Cambodia, the Philippines, Rwanda and other countries; meeting AIDS orphans and women living with the virus; and learning about the vulnerability of child sex workers.

Warren said she hopes to break down barriers that have prevented conservative Christians from becoming involved in HIV/AIDS issues, the AP/Times reports. "I hope this book is disturbing to people," Warren said. She added, "There are situations in the world that I cannot tolerate for one more second. I think there are some people who won't get past the first few chapters." According to Warren, the book is "not a light read. For some people, it will come at the right time for them."

Warren said that although the U.S. government can make HIV/AIDS a national priority and that businesses can provide money for advocacy work, the church can be particularly successful promoting behavioral change, the AP/Times reports. The Warrens three years ago began organizing the annual Global Summit on AIDS and the Church at Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, Calif. The Warrens also have developed an approach called S.L.O.W./S.T.O.P., which means that to slow the spread of HIV/AIDS, they support correctly using condoms, reducing the number of sexual partners, providing needle-exchange programs and promoting abstinence until marriage.

"If people are infected, they need to be embraced and valued and receive the love of relationship in the church," Warren said, adding, "Churches can reduce the stigma" (Zoll, AP/Carroll County Times, 1/4).

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