Responding to Hunger
Words of Hope staff members in are reporting that despite a good harvest this season, many people remain desperately short of food because of the effect HIV/AIDS is having in the community. .
“Historically, shortages of food have been caused by severe drought that resulted in poor harvests,” says Onesimu, Words of Hope community group leader. “Now it is the result of less agricultural productivity brought about by AIDS. A good harvest no longer guarantees everyone enough to eat.”
The majority of people living with HIV/AIDS in Uganda are between the ages of 15 and 49. It is estimated that one in four people within this normally productive age group are infected with HIV, translating to fewer adults supporting more people. “Many people are too weak or ill to work the land,” says Onesimu. “Much of the burden of responsibility is falling upon young women and children in the community to do the difficult task of planting and maintaining gardens.”
These circumstances only elevate the problem of little or no income for an increasing number of people. Many affected families are forced to sell what few assets they possess such as chickens, cattle and goats to survive. With little income, many families can no longer afford school fees and must withdraw their children from school. An increasing number of children are forced to leave school in order to take care of sick family members.
In response to the immediate crisis of hunger among AIDS victims, Words of Hope staff member, Pastor Naboth, says staff members are helping community groups in Mbarara generate improved methods of food productivity that should require less day-to-day physical labor for those affected by AIDS. Establishing small Passion farms and Piggery are two projects that will require minimal maintenance once established, but will yield foods beneficial to people’s health.
“Words of Hope staff members are committed, along with many other individuals and organizations, to the battle to end the AIDS epidemic in Uganda,” says Pr Naboth. “But until that end, we will do what we can to help communities develop food security and sustainable good among residents most affected by the disease.”
Through your support, you can help us create a sustainable change among the world's poor, including those most affected by HIV/AIDS.
Our Beliefs
As a Christian Based organization committed to making a Biblical response to the needs of the poor throughout the community, we accept and proclaim the historic truths of the Christian faith including the following:
We hold that the Lord our God is one:
Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
and that he fulfils his sovereign purposes
- in creation, revelation, redemption, judgment,
and the coming of his kingdom -
by calling out from the world a people
united to himself and to each other in love.
We acknowledge that though God made us
in his own likeness and image,
conferring on us dignity and worth
and enabling us to respond to himself,
we now are members of a fallen race;
we have sinned and come short of his glory.
We believe that the Father
has shown us his holy love
in giving Jesus Christ, his only Son, for us,
while through our sinfulness and guilt,
we were subject to his wrath and condemnation;
and has shown his grace
by putting sinners right with himself
when they place their trust in his Son.
We confess Jesus Christ as Lord and God;
as truly human, born of the virgin Mary;
as Servant, sinless, full of grace and truth;
as only Mediator and Saviour, dying on the cross in our place, representing us to God,
redeeming us from the grip,
guilt and punishment of sin;
as Victor over Satan and all his forces,
rising from death with a glorious body,
being taken up to be with his Father,
one day returning personally in glory and judgement
to establish his kingdom.
We believe in the Holy Spirit
who convicts the world of guilt in regard to sin,
righteousness and judgement;
who makes the death of Christ effective to sinners,
declaring that they must now turn to Christ in repentance, and directing their trust towards the Lord Jesus Christ; who through the new birth makes us partake in the life of the risen Christ, and
who is present within all believers,
illuminating their minds to grasp the truth of Scripture,
producing in them his fruit,
granting to them his gifts,
and empowering them for service in the world.
We believe that the Old and New Testament Scriptures
are God-breathed, since their writers spoke from God
as they were moved by the Holy Spirit; hence
are fully trustworthy in all that they affirm; and
are our highest authority for faith and life.
We recognize the Church
as the body of Christ, held together and growing up in him; both
as a total fellowship throughout the world, and
as the local congregation in which believers gather
We acknowledge the commission of Christ
to proclaim the Good News to all people,
making them disciples, and
teaching them to obey him.,
And
We acknowledge the command of Christ
to love our neighbours,
resulting in service to the church and society,
in seeking reconciliation for all with God and their fellows,
in proclaiming liberty from every kind of oppression; and
in spreading Christ's justice in an unjust world
... until he comes again
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