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God’s gift of sex

Sexual temptation for youth isn't a new struggle, and straying from God's plan for sex has always had consequences. But now the consequences are deadly. There are currently about 11.8 million youth with HIV. Millions of young lives are affected and there's the potential of millions more being infected. It's time the Church shared God's wonderful plan for sex with youth.

In this edition of the Caring Community, we hope to help equip your church to educate youth in a relevant way about God's gift of sex. But most of all I pray that this edition will help all of us continue to learn how wide and long and high and deep the love of Christ is. May we share his love with everyone affected by HIV/AIDS.

Warmly,
Kay

Kay Warren, Executive Director of Saddleback's HIV/AIDS Initiative

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Every Saturday night, as many as 4,000 students meet around the swimming pool at Makerere University in Uganda. They watch other students perform drama, poetry, music, and dance – all with the goal of communicating the message of sexual abstinence. Read more >>

'I wasn't trusting God with my sexuality'

A painful past prompted Barb Wise to find 'love' in unhealthy ways. One night while in college, she gave up her virginity. After becoming a Christian, Barb renewed her virginity and began a relationship with Rick, the first man who loved her unconditionally. Then she learned she was HIV positive. Listen to this excerpt from Barb and Rick's testimony and share it with a young person you love. Listen >>

Also on the Caring Community

Your Letters

We are hosting our own HIV/AIDS conference on May 26 through 28, 2006. We are a church comprised primarily of African-Americans and the realization that HIV/AIDS has deeply hurt our community is one of the motivating factors for having this conference. It is imperative our people have a biblical perspective and know the truth about HIV/AIDS.
We want to accomplish the following:

1. Encourage church leaders to emphasize abstinence and behavior change programs.
2. Serve as a catalyst for developing nondiscriminatory, culturally relevant, biblically based approaches to HIV/AIDS ministry.
3. Partner with grassroots organizations that reach out to families affected by HIV/AIDS with the message of hope found in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Please pray that:
1. The Church and Christian community would increase their response to this epidemic with the compassion of Jesus Christ to all that are affected by the HIV/AIDS crisis.
2. The Lord would open doors for biblically based prevention education to help stem the spread of the disease.
3. God would use the HIV/AIDS ministry of the Progressive Missionary Baptist Church of Berkeley to give immediate and eternal hope to those who are suffering.

Walter B. Hoye II, executive elder
Progressive MBC of Berkeley, Calif.

What is your church doing in HIV/AIDS ministry? The Caring Community Update wants to know. Share your story >>