South Africa

Answer to Prayer

The multiplication of Christian ministries helping the disadvantaged is a remarkable testimony, even as the numbers of these unfortunates continue to increase. There areprofoundly touching and effective ministries to victims of rape, crime and AIDS, to those in prison, to slum-dwellers and the unemployed and to the poorest of the poor.

Challenge for Prayer

AIDS remains a scourge of the population. The HIV-occurrence rate is dropping, but the impact of AIDS is already devastating and yet to be fully felt – on the economy, demography and in ministry. There are around 500,000 new infections every year and nearly two million AIDS orphans. About 14% of the population are infected (some sources say more), but some regions or groups are much higher (infection rates of women aged 20-34 are at more than 40%). Nearly half of those with HIV have access to anti-retrovirals, but half of those with HIV also have tuberculosis, greatly increasing mortality rates. Pray that Christians might be used of God to care for the victims, the orphans and the bereaved. In Christ, there is a meaningful message of eternal hope, plus the spiritual power and moral foundation to mitigate the impact of AIDS. There are dozens of Christian agencies and NGOs, as well as many churches, active in this field.

     For an additional 10 Challenges for Prayer see Operation World book, CD-ROM, or DVD-ROM.