We are committed to partnering with local people for local projects.  As local churches and pastors open their doors to the orphans who continue to literally show up on the doorstep, they see the challenges daily and typically have the best sense of community resources and opportunities.

We deeply believe that the local Church is the best tool available to fight the AIDS pandemic in Africa and meet the physical & spiritual needs of forgotten orphans.

There are several factors for this belief:

Pastoral Care: Our partner churches in southern Africa are led by servants that care deeply for the whole person … their physical & spiritual sides. Often, these pastoral leaders are working tirelessly without financial resources and are pouring themselves out into the community. The Pastor in Africa is often asked to be a friend, pastor, bedside companion, doctor, social worker, comedian, handyman, farmer, advocate, and parent to orphaned and vulnerable children. They are uniquely qualified to mobilize people and other resources in the creation of Local Action Plans to combat AIDS in their communities. Often, they lack the time and project management knowledge to prioritize the overwhelming challenges before them. We can help.

Presence: It is estimated that people in southern Africa look to the church for over 50% of all their basic social service needs: from bedside care to education to skill development. People are already looking to the Church for help, and the Church is full of people ready to respond to that challenge in an effort to demonstrate Jesus Christ’s love for all people.

Potential to Transform Lives: AIDS is spreading and the most vulnerable are exposed at rapidly rising rates. The international response must be channeled through avenues that are capable of transforming lives for sustainable solutions. By combining the physical AND spiritual tools in the Church, a holistic solution is found in the restoration of oneself through Jesus Christ. With feeding the hungry and giving drink to the thirsty in the physical and spiritual sense, the Church can make crucial strides in reversing the rapid rise in HIV infections.

Partnerships: Churches throughout Africa are working together in ways unseen by many churches throughout the West. We have found diverse denominational affiliations working well, without regard to the doctrine that sometimes divides in America. While this is still rare, Forgotten Voices believes partnerships across the broader Church need to be encouraged and expanded to reflect the teachings of Christ…fundamentally built around loving people like Christ loved us … all of us.

Possibilities: While many NGOs are operating in southern Africa, the standardized methods used leave little room for flexible solutions that cater to the needs of individual communities. Church-run projects provide local ownership and limitless possibilities.

Purpose: The Church has a purpose in the community that reaches well beyond combating AIDS and empowering orphans. It exists to build hope, confront the ills in a society, take on misbehaving governments, and stand for justice for all in a way that loves like Jesus loved. No government, NGO, or association can claim that like the Church. The challenges of AIDS require honest voices and holistic solutions if healing and hope are to spread.

People: Last and perhaps among the most important factors, the Church is packed with people willing to help. The story of Jesus Christ’s love is for all and people in the Church are anxious to share God’s love through physical assistance and spiritual restoration. They are uniquely qualified to know the challenges in ways that an international NGO, government, or association cannot. The people of the local Church are there to stay and will remain after AIDS is eradicated. Valuing this community is essential.