December 1, 2011 is World AIDS Day

We would like for all of the churches in each district to do something for World AIDS Day at your church. Please remember to pray for those who are affected and infected with HIV/AIDS.

Churches need to be places of openness and caring for persons with AIDS and their loved ones. We ask congregations to work to overcome attitudinal and behavioral barriers in church and community that create stigma and discrimination of persons with AIDS and their loved ones. We as a church can offer Christian hospitality and become arks of refuge to all.

Your local church can be a place of openness where persons whose lives have been touched by HIV/AIDS can name their pain and reach out for compassion, understanding, and acceptance in the presence of persons who bear Christ's name.

The United Methodist Global AIDS Fund (http://new.gbgm-umc.org/umcor/work/health/hivaids/aids-fund) is visioning an AIDS-Free World by the year 2020. "Where there is no vision, the people perish." (Proverbs 29:18). For a commitment of $20 a month or more until the year 2020, you can help put a stop to HIV/AIDS in our world.

Today you can commit to pray for persons with HIVV/AIDS and add your name to those leading the way to an ADIS Free World on behalf of The United Methodist Church.

Materials for World AIDS Day are available from the websites of UNAIDS (http://www.unaids.org ) and the General Board of Global Ministries (http://gbgm-umc.org/health).