Likewise Ministries is the HIV/AIDS Ministry of the Board of World Missions of the Moravian Church of North America. Likewise Ministries is the Moravian Church’s response to “Go and do likewise” (Luke 10:36-37) in living out the Gospel as we care for and love those affected by HIV/AIDS and raise awareness among our members about HIV and AIDS, with its local and global consequences. Likewise Ministries also seeks to walk beside our global partner provinces of the Unity of the World Wide Moravian Church in their efforts to provide hope, dignity and services to families and communities affected by the AIDS pandemic.
Who We Are
The Likewise Ministries are under the direction of a committee chaired by a member of the Board of Directors of the Board of World Mission. The Likewise AIDS Ministries Committee consists of 12 members from the North American Moravian Church with a wide range of experience in public health and HIV/AIDS, cross-cultural ministries, administration, research, and education.
A Faith-Based AIDS Initiative
USAID published a document by Edward C. Green in September, 2003 that evaluates the impact that faith-based organizations (FBOs) have had on the HIV/AIDS epidemic. He makes several points in favor of using FBOs in the fight against AIDS, because experience has shown that the involvement of religious leaders and faith organizations has been a key factor in stabilizing or even effecting decline in the HIV prevalence rates.
Our Board of World Mission is actively working with the Moravian Church in Tanzania, already showing an impact on the care of orphans and on the transmission of HIV from mothers to their newborns. The BWM is now proposing to work with our partners in South Africa, Nicaragua and Honduras, as well as in the Caribbean, to prevent the epidemic proportions of HIV/AIDS in those countries. Potential projects could evolve around the issues of:
- education of clergy, lay leaders and congregations regarding HIV/AIDS, as well as confronting stigmas associated with this disease,
- prevention strategies
- prevention of mother-to-child transmission, and
- care of those with HIV/AIDS, including physical, emotional, and spiritual care and the provision of treatment.
- care of orphans and vulnerable children — OVC
Congregational educational forums
The Board of World Mission staff, as well as members of the HIV/AIDS Advisory Board, is available to congregations to coordinate education and resources when possible. Please contact the BWM offices or staff directly with specific needs.
Local Ministry Opportunities
Seek out your local HIV/AIDS Networks and consider volunteering with them. This is an excellent way to learn more about the related issues and to put a “face” on the problem.