Where We Work
We Work In Africa
"When we look deeply into the face of
'the least of these' we see Jesus--his image
is most visible on the face of hurting people."
Tom Ward, Sr., President of Say Yebo
Tom and Gloria Ward
The problems in Africa demand a response as big as God. In an article written in Worldpress.org by Sidi Jammeh, Chinua Akukwe and George Haley dated January 27, 2005 they point out that, “By 2007 at least $20 Billion a year will be needed for an effective fight against the HIV/AIDS pandemic. Nearly 43 percent of the $20 Billion will be needed in Africa.” They also point out that “although Africa represents only 10 percent of the global population, it accounts for nearly 64 percent of HIV/AIDS worldwide—25.4 million infected individuals, and counting. Africa is home to almost 76 percent of women living with HIV/AIDS worldwide.
The southern region of Africa, which represents only 2 percent of the global population, is home to nearly 30 percent of the total number of persons living with HIV/AIDS worldwide. Unaids estimates that 2.3 million adults and children in Africa died of AIDS in 2004. Although South Africa (where the Agathos Foundation orphanage is located) has the largest number of individuals living with HIV/AIDS, at least 5,000 doctors left South Africa in recent years, according to Unaids.” Jenny Eaton and Kate Etue point out in there book The Awake Project, published by W. Publishing Group, 2002, that, “every minute two people contract the HIV virus; and 90 percent of those people are children.”
The problem is staggering but there is a solution—you and me—the church. The truth is the American Christian is one of the most, if not the most, giving group of individuals on planet earth and rightly so—we have been greatly blessed. In all the polls a higher percentage of South Africans, black and white, claim to be born-again than here in the States. In other words, these are our brothers and sisters in Christ that are hurting so badly.
Jesus said when He comes back in His glory one of the things He will say at the judgment of the nations is, “For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me…whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me” (Matthew 25:35,36,40).
