The Church Army’s African arm, centred at the Carlile College Centre for Urban Mission, has been promoting its Holistic Action Programme on Aids in Nairobi, Kenya over the past months.

|TOP|The drive is looking to work closely with local church leaders, to co-work in action plans to take action against the AIDS pandemic in the continent.

Church Army testify: “The Centre for Urban mission believes local churches need improved education, skills and resources to engage with the massive challenge of the fight against HIV/AIDS.

“Working through the status and respect that church leaders have in their local communities, the programme is making a massive difference through a 5 year HIV/AIDS strategic plan and training policy.”

A new 2006 newsletter released by the CA Africa Centre for Urban Mission AIDS features various case studies from Kiberia and Korogocho where training and action have help begin to turn things around for the people in those areas.

The ministry leaders in the project have “found that when churches are mobilised and empowered, they are able to make a positive contribution in the fight against AIDS.”

|AD|Neil Biles, Church Army Director of Fresh Expressions and Evangelism stated, “The Centre for Urban Mission, Nairobi sets a standard of training that Wilson Carlile, founder of Church Army would be proud off. It reflects his motto of 'Go for the worst' and provides a basis for sharing faith through words and action.”

Biles continued saying, “I visited the Centre and was very impressed by the way Evangelists are making a difference right at the cutting edge of poverty in Nairobi. This has only been possible with the visionary foresight of Dr David Williams, The College Principal.”

Also fighting against AIDS in Africa, World Vision’s London campaign started at the beginning of the month, with the aim to attract 1,500 new sponsors for poor children worldwide.

The six-week local campaign opened with a photo exhibit downtown at the Covent Garden Market in Central London, featuring the work of Canadian photographs documenting AIDS-affected children.

“We’ve tried to [show] the people living around AIDS, living with AIDS and how they’re moving forward,” said World Vision’s Philip Maher, who travelled with the photography group, known as Photo Sensitive.

“We wanted to say something positive.”

The pictures illustrate the sick, poor, and needy children around the world, emphasizing the urgent need of support and encouraging people to sponsor them.

A World Vision sponsor would help a needy child in a developing country by supporting him or her with about $35 a month. This will supply the child and the child's community with health care, education and other basic needs. There are now about 10,000 such sponsors in the London area.

When the London campaign ends on April 13, World Vision hopes to have signed up at least 1,500 more, according to a vice-president of the organisation.