"Introducing ZIM TEAM 2011 ..."

Dear friends ...

As I write this, the first three members of Zim TEAM 2011 from Covenant Church in Doylestown PA are in the air and on their way to join ANESU for a two-week vision trip.

Please pray with us for travelling mercies, for a safe arrival, that all their luggage arrives with them, and that their time with us here will be enriching to everyone involved. May it all redound to God's eternal glory.

Bless you.

Bud

Bud Jackson

Project Director

ANESU, Zimbabwe

Covenant Team

"Mission Network News Article ..."

Mission Network News

"December 2011 Up-Date ..."

Hello friends ...

Eight weeks on the road, living out of suitcases and staying in generous people's homes, tends to put a kink in one's best intentions to maintain regular reporting. Our days have been very full ... and very fulfilling.

We're grateful ... so very grateful for the expressions of love we've received from friends along the way.

We've been back at base for a little while now, but we've continued to run hard to care for the many things that have needed attention before we can turn our attention back to Zimbabwe.

I write this from a Motel room in Calgary, after a great meeting with friends in Lethbridge, Alberta this afternoon. I flew in from Abbotsford early this morning, and fly back in the morning. Only one more trip to go once I get back to base ... this time a road trip up and over the snowy Rockies ... before I can finally pause, take a few deep breaths and enjoy family for the brief time we'll have together over the Christmas season.

Mandy's been doing good justice to the kinds of things I can't stand ... like paper work and bookkeeping ... ugh! She does such a great job, and I'm thankful to be able to entrust it all to her.

It's going to be great to stop ... even if for a brief moment or two.

May you and yours be blessed as you give attention to the wonderful dynamics of family and friends this season.

Thanks for remembering us and the rest of the ANESU team as we embark on another year's adventure in Zimbabwe!

I appreciate you.

Bud

Bud Jackson

Project Director

ANESU, Zimbabwe

December Newsletter 2011

"In Celebration of The Children ..."

After a brief but very fulfilling time in North America, Bud and Mandy Jackson ... project directors of ANESU ... will be returning, before the end of the year, to their responsibilities in Zimbabwe .

It's comforting to know that they are not alone in their endeavour, but represent an army of people committed to the vision of ANESU.

This clip is dedicated to the children. A few of them depicted here are sons and daughters of committed pastors and foster home care givers, but the majority are children without one or both parents due to AIDS.

It's comforting to know that many of ANESU's North American partners have come to know the names and stories of many of these children. It's even more comforting to know that ANESU's partners regularly lift these children up before the throne of grace in prayer.

"Reason to Gather Concert"

South Ridge Community Church hosted the "Reason to Gather" tour featuring Sara Groves, Audrey Assad and Jenny and Tyler ... all humble, dedicated servants of God. The concert was both deeply moving and phenomenal on a number of levels.

Much thanks is due Steve Sargent and his band of volunteers for their hard work and dedication in doing wonderful justice to the exercise. The concert was held for the benefit of what God is doing in Zimbabwe through ANESU. Here are a few visuals for the benefit of those who weren't able to attend ... and a wonderful video clip, prepared by Ben Stapley, that was shown. The clip is an eloquent expression of the heart of what God is doing through ANESU and her partners in Zimbabwe.

It is a privilege to be in the forefront of an initiative that began as ANESU in January this year (2011), but was a couple of years in the making through a season of much prayer and deliberation on the part of TEAM leadership in North America and Zimbabwe.

We have only just begun ...

ANESU from Ben Stapley on Vimeo.

ANESU Benefit Concert (October 14, 2011)

If you anywhere near Clinton New Jersey in the middle of October, we'd love to see you at the benefit concert on the 14th at South Ridge Community Church, featuring Sara Groves, Audrey Assad and Jenny & Tyler Clinton.

For more information, please call (908) 735 5252 ...

... or go to http://www.southridgecc.org/services_events/upcoming.htm

Listen here to Steve Sargent, Director of Extend Ministries at South Ridge, speaking from the ANESU base in Zimbabwe as he speaks of what is being planned ...

Bud Jackson

ANESU

Zimbabwe

"September 2011 ANESU status Report"

The first Zimbabwe component of the first year of the outworking of the ANESU vision is coming to a close.

The first North American component of the global strategy is about to begin with our return to Vancouver, and on to attend a benefit concert hosted by South Ridge Community Church in Clinton, New Jersey, and to participate in an itinerary that will introduce us to other vital ministries in the region.

We've arrived at something of a milestone in the forward progress of ANESU, and it is with gratitude to our partners in North America and Zimbabwe that we offer this status report.

Bud Jackson

ANESU

Zimbabwe

September 2011 up date

South Ridge Slide Show

How can a person put into the words what it's like to watch the birth of a strategic church-to-church partnership? How does one articulate the joy of seeing two churches from opposite sides of the globe come together in common cause to demonstrate Christ's compassion to the hurting and wounded ... to people impacted by HIV/AIDS?

It was a joy to receive the team of five from South Ridge Community Church, and to spend an amazing week with them ... seeing them engage relationally, and respond with open hearts to a variety of new things.

In a day and age where so much "help" from the Western world does so much damage to the very people it seeks to help, ANESU is grateful to be able to broker the right kind of connection in the right kind of way with the right kind of partners on both sides of the ocean. The blessing that results flows both ways.

Enjoy this slide show over-view that offers a great visual of the South Ridge team's time with us in Zimbabwe.

Bud Jackson

ANESU

Zimbabwe Slideshow from Ben Stapley on Vimeo.

ANESU Benefit Concert (October 14, 2011)

ANESU is grateful for the partnership we enjoy with the South Ridge Community Church family in Clinton, New Jersey. It's exciting to be engaged with such an authentic ministry, and with vibrant followers of Christ who are reaching out in practical compassion ... just as Jesus did ... to touch lives in community and around the globe.

A Reason to Gather Sara Groves Audrey Assad, Jenny & Tyler CLINTON, NJ October 14, 2011 For more info call: 908-735-5252

Please see http://www.southridgecc.org/services_events/upcoming.htm

Introducing Ben and Rose Stapley ...

We're looking forward to the soon arrival of a small return-team from South Ridge Community Church in New Jersey. Ben and Rose Stapley will be part of that group, and have created this PDF explanation of their focus as they prepare to come.

We ask you to join with us in praying for the financial, emotional and spiritual provision this couple and the rest of their team, Maria, Nathan and Steve, will need as they prepare to be with us in Zimbabwe ... then embark on an historic launch of a strategic partnership with a Zimbabwean church in Rugare.

Ben will be working to capture a multi-media depiction of the reality here. This is a significant challenge in a day and age when so many images from Africa are used manipulatively ... often at the expense of the very ones we seek to help. This is not the case here. We're grateful for Ben's willingness to take on this challenge with genuine sensitivity and technical excellence ... looking forward with much anticipation to being able to share with you the finished product.

Bud Jackson

ANESU

Support Letter - Small

"Truth or Dare" Youth Conference ...

Dare2serve, ANESU’s most recently added ministry partner in Zimbabwe, has called young people in Zimbabwe to come together for a Truth or Dare conference this month.

The young people who lead Dare2serve believe that there is a generation that is ready to take on the difficult things that other generations before them have not been brave enough to tackle.

The conference will introduce teenagers and young adults to the Zimbabwe they don’t see everyday ... the Zimbabwe that is in desperate need of something real and that is crying out for their brothers and sisters to stand with them through hard times and lend them a hand. The street children, the orphans, the forgotten older generation and the people that are trying to clean up the sunshine city one street corner at a time.

The Truth or Dare conference is going to be structured and broken down into three easy sections. Each morning of the conference will be taken up by carefully focused training sessions. Each afternoon will be spent doing different community outreaches at orphanages and other projects that Dare2serve is involved in. Each evening will feature a special no entrance fee gathering at 7arts Theater.

On the last afternoon of the conference Dare2serve will lead youth in taking part in a huge clean up of the Avondale and Second Street Extension area with Miracle Missions. They will pick up trash, wash down dirty walls and paint some of the walls of some of the buildings in that area.

The conference will run from the night of the 17^th of August and will close with a concert on the night of the 19^th of August.

Dare2serve has embraced a vision to expose the youth of Zimbabwe to God’s compassionate heart. They have determined to introduce Zimbabwean youth to a host of opportunities to serve the community … challenges to Christ-like response that they can take back to their schools and churches.

Please pray for Ron Chifokoyo and his team as they lead this conference. Pray for the young people who will be attending. Pray that many lives will be impacted in a way that will not only bring personal transformation but will result in the transformation of Zimbabwe’s marginalized and disadvantaged people

Bud Jackson

ANESU

truth or dare poster

"A Church to Church Partnership ..."

We are looking forward to a return visit to Zimbabwe by representatives of the South Ridge Community Church.

This church family has responded proactively to a challenge to sensitive, meaningful, and sound participation with ANESU in HIV/AIDS-related ministry. The South Ridge church family is embarking on a relationally driven strategic partnership, together with Hands of Hope, with Hope Valley Assembly in Harare, Zimbabwe.

ANESU exists:

1. To connect global followers of Christ in proactive engagement in Zimbabwe for the good of people infected, affected and at risk by HIV/AIDS
2. To serve as a conduit of blessing, facilitating relationships and enabling meaningful, lasting, and self sustaining change in the lives of hurting people in Zimbabwe
3. To assist partnering churches realize the joy of reaching out in a ministry of compassion to hurting people.

South Ridge Community Church is engaged in all three of the above.

Bud Jackson

ANESU

Zimbabwe

SRCC Trip Blog Piece

"July 2011 Up-Date"

Once again, it's our turn to post a personal update, with gratitude to our ministry partners who continue to stand steadfastly with us in this huge undertaking.

Space does not allow for everything we'd like to communicate on a single post, so we're grateful for the opportunity E-mail and Facebook allows for one-on-one communication.

As you pray and give, we are able to engage. We're seeing exciting things happening here in Zimbabwe, some of which you can read about below.

Bless you.

Bud

July Newsletter 2011

Introducing Dare2Serve ...

It's a privilege to introduce a dynamic Zimbabwean youth initiative that has recently come within the embrace of the ANESU Partnership.

While the Dare2Serve team embraces ministry to orphans and to others affected by HIV/AIDS, they represent ANESU's desire to connect in meaningful life transforming ways with the uninfected but at risk from HIV/AIDS. It is for this reason that Dare2Serve is one of the vehicles presently in place for extending ANESU's ministry of Reach4Life.

Bud Jackson

ANESU Team Leader

Dare2Serve

"Called to Intervene"

Called To Intervene

"Up-date on Chenjerai ..."

Dear friends,

We're delighted to be able to share with you this up-date on the story of Chenjerai.

Bud Jackson

Team Leader

ANESU, Zimbabwe

The first instalment of Chenjerai's story can be found at http://hivaidsafrica.blogspot.com/2010/04/chenjerais-story.html

Chenjerai

"May 2011 Up-Date"

If you've been following this Blog, you'll have a good idea of where the ANESU team finds itself in strategic terms these days. It's a joy to see the unfolding plan of Providence day by day.

Here Mandy and I offer a personal word, with gratitude for the personal ministry partners God has blessed us with. Thank you for your love, thank you for your prayers, thank you for your generosity. Thank you for the affirmation and encouragement you bring to us and, indirectly, to those we're working with.

Bud Jackson

ANESU Team Leader

Zimbabwe.

May Newsletter 2011

"ANESU Progress report (May 2011) ..."

With deep gratitude to our God, and to the faithful partners who have enabled us to embrace this great vision, we offer this progress report.

The first steps have been taken, many more steps lie before us. The challenge seems insurmountable, but the words of a childhood song come back, bringing hope and encouragement, because we have a deep settled sense that this is of God. Charles Wesley wrote, "Faith, mighty faith, the promise sees and looks to God alone. Laughs at impossibilities and cries, 'It shall be done'!"

As you pause to give thanks, we invite to to pray for ANESU, and for the work that God is doing through Zimbabwean people of great faith and courage who are rising to the challenge of compassionate ministry to the less fortunate than they. This is Christ at work through the agency of His faithful people.

Bud Jackson

Team Leader

ANESU, Zimbabwe

Progress Report _May '11_

"Duncan ..."

ANESU team leader, Bud Jackson, tells the story of Duncan ... one more child, pulled back from the brink.

Duncan's Story

"Julie's VanZevern arrives back in Zimbabwe ..."

The whole ANESU team and Pastor and Mrs, Zihove of the Rugare Children's Home were all at Harare's airport to welcome Julie back to Zimbabwe last night (Friday, April 29, 2011).


Julie's Return -

"William"

We're posting William's story here, for the benefit of our friends and partners who aren't on Facebook, or our partner mailing list.

I know you'll rejoice with us at what God is doing in Zimbabwe these days. William's story is repeated many times over in this nation. Praise God with us for the way the inner compelling force of the Spirit of God is moving people to respond with real vision and motivating passion to the needs of children in crisis.

Bud

Team Leader
ANESU
Zimbabwe.

William's Story

More Than Just Food

If you ever visit Bud and Mandy, you will have opportunities to interact with many great ministries.  During these times, the Lord will give you the opportunity to feel part of the mission in Zimbabwe - not as an observer but as a participant.  Today, Sarah Gustafson from East Troy Bible Church shares her experience and her observations on one such adventure.

___________________________________________________________

During our trip we visited a number of feeding stations. A feeding station is a place where children go after school to receive a hot meal. For most children in high density neighborhoods, this is their only meal. These children come from a variety of homes. Some homes still have parents in the home. Others come from homes led by grandparents. Still others come from child headed homes. Further, these children have basic nutrition and health issues - complicated with HIV/AIDS.

These Feeding Stations are ministries of churches and run 7 days a week. They are staffed with volunteers who faithfully prepare the meals each afternoon. Coupled with the feeding program, the churches meet with the children, sing, learn Bible lessons, and provide basic encouragement.



On Monday, March 23 we visited the Highfield Feeding Station run by the Highfield church of the Nazarene. The Feeding Station is overseen by Pastor Stephen Mutatu. Pastor Mutatu also helps run the Philadelphia Orphan Homes and the Goshen Farm Orphan Home and Sustainability Project. Olen will write about these later.

As we drove up to the church, kids appeared from everywhere. The kids seemed so happy to see us, yet my heart was breaking for them. I knew that for most of them this would be their only meal of the day. Probably, it would be the only time during the day that they would feel safe.

I was able to interact with some boys who were playing checkers. Like all boys, they were proud to announce who was winning. After playing with the kids for awhile we went and met the cooks. They were preparing the daily meal to feed 150 + children. On Sunday, they prepare a meal for over 200 children. The ladies were so grateful to the Lord to be able to help.

Photo: David Nelson

Karen, Jessie and I were blessed to be able to serve the children their meal of sadza and chicken gravy sauce. Sadza is a thick porridge made from maize... a little bit like grits. It is very filling. It can be eaten with the fingers and used to dip into the gravy sauce and greens. Each child washed their hands, prayed and waited patiently to be served. After the children finished they rinsed their plates and cups and brought them back to the ladies. What blessing to come along side these women and help them for an evening.

One reason that this program is so valuable is that Highfield can keep track of local children. The church calls roll each day, and if a child is missing they try to find out why. The church visits the home, checks on health issues and encourages the children in their homework. Feeding is done at night so that the children can sleep with a full tummy.

After the meal they gather in the Chapel for a time of singing and Bible stories. The Feeding Station not only feeds their tummies but also their souls. Praise the Lord for these wonderful people who take care of God’s little angels.

Sarah Gustafson

Photo: David Nelson

Not Too Young - Dare2Serve

Recently, Bud Jackson started building a relationship with a young man named Rob Chifhokoyo.  Rob is around 28 years old and has taken it upon himself to live out the words of Christ.  In the future, Bud and Rob will have many opportunities to work together.  Below is the first impression of this new ministry initiative written by two of East Troy Bible Church's team members.

What would you think if you saw a group of 15-20 students hanging around a street corner or walking the streets at night talking to prostitutes? Would you immediately think - "hey look at those people hanging out! I'll bet they are talking about Jesus Christ."

Well, take another look! Rob Chifhokoyo heads up a grass roots ministry called Dare 2 Serve in Harare. Rob had left Zimbabwe to pursue his dreams in America, but while he was there he felt convicted to return to his home and become a difference maker. The Lord placed a burden on Rob's heart to share the compassion and truth of Christ to the forgotten people of the streets, nursing homes and orphan homes.

Every Saturday, Rob sends out a text to friends and students for a new project. They gather for prayer and then head out to one of four different locations. They rotate through a street vending situation, nursing homes, and orphanages. Often these homes are run by the state and aren't connected to a local church. So Rob's group interacts with the residents and pray.

On Saturday, March 26th we met with Rob's team in a parking lot for prayer. They made a decision to drop off some Bibles to the street vendors. Just the week before, these vendors had responded to the gospel. Twenty of them received Christ. Then our group met Rob and the group at the Rose of Sharon Orphan Home. The Dare 2 Serve group played games, sang, brought supplies, talked about Christ and prayed for the children.

These young people are so similar to American students. They like the same music, study the same subjects and have a desire for a deeper purpose. They are difference makers. Some of their friends wonder why they spend their Saturday afternoons out in the streets or the forgotten homes, but for these students, ministry is worth living for.  They have decided to take up the call of Christ themselves and not wait for others to serve.  They have Dared 2 Serve!

Pray for these students who are making a huge impact. Then ask yourself, "what can I do in my neighborhood?"

Jessie Eickman and Karen Sautbine

One Good Hot Meal

Recently we visited the Rugare Children's Home and Feeding Station.  It is one of the many Hands of Hope projects in Zimbabwe.  Today's entry are the thoughts of Dave Nelson from East Troy Bible Church who experienced the joy and the difficulties of this amazing place.

On Tuesday, March 22nd we went to the Rugare Children’s home. Rugare is in a high density population area. The Children’s home shared the grounds of the Hope Valley Assembly Church. Pastor Henry Zihove ministers to the congregation and lives on the grounds with his own children and about 6 others. Rugare is also a feeding station where local children come to get a hot meal every day. For some it might be there only meal of the day.

When we arrived, I would guess there were about 25 to 30 children who had just finished eating, and were rinsing their dishes. Most of them were wearing school uniforms. One of the care givers explained to me, the children not wearing uniforms did not go to school, probably because they could not afford it.

Two things struck me within minutes of arriving at the home. One was the level of poverty. There was no grass yard or swing. It was dirt and weeds. The one room house that the pastor and his family share with the orphans, at one time housed 15 people. The second thing that struck me was the children. Though they were dirty and their clothes worn, their faces were full of life. Their eyes lit up when they smiled, which was often. The ladies in our group had the children singing and dancing within minutes of our arrival. If you closed your eyes and didn’t notice the African accent, it was easy to imagine yourself at VBS in the States.

Though the level of poverty and the condition of the grounds were disturbing to me, the smiles on their faces and the sounds of their singing reassured me of God’s presence. I will continue to pray for Pastor Henry and his wife as they bring Hope and the Word of God to these precious children.

Please pray for the children of Rugare Church, home and feeding station.  Maybe you could be part of the blessing in Rugare!

Dave Nelson

"Shifting Gears"

A note from Bud Jackson:

It has been a pleasure to be bringing information your way in terms of what we see God doing in Zimbabwe in the area of HIV/AIDS response. In the last three months, we were privileged to have three teams of individuals visit us and see what we're seeing on a daily basis.

A major component of these visits has been the long term view of partnership we're entering into with local gatherings of Christ followers in the United States and Canada. As friends from these groups have spent time with us, we have applied ourselves together to the dynamic of discerning where, how and when to engage. That exercise is on-going.

I have also extended an invitation to representatives from these groups of friends to contribute to this Blog. I'd like for their unedited view to be available to those of you who are prayerfully following, and contributing toward, what we're doing here in Zimbabwe.

Many thanks to pastor Ron Christiansen, and members of the ZimPact2011 team who have contributed, for their excellent posts (except for the picture of me, of course!). I trust these will be on-going, and that others from other groups will feel comfortable to do the same.

As we continue to move forward, the picture of what we've been drawn here for is becoming more and more clear.

Without doubt, who we (the ANESU Partnership) are and what we do is going to be governed by the following rules of engagement:

· Every aspect of ANESU’s work is founded on meaningful inter-personal and inter-organizational relationships. All assistance, every cooperative strategic connection, and each step going forward will be predicated on genuine relational dynamics at every level.

· Nothing will be done that is not connected in some meaningful way with the Biblical household of faith both within and outside of Zimbabwe.

· ANESU is Christocentric; an active and intentional response to Christ’s challenge, “As the Father has sent me, so send I you.”

· ANESU is people oriented, not program oriented.

· ANESU’s work will grow locally and organically.

· ANESU will engage in some areas to implement helpful elements, and in others areas to supplement additional elements with a view to focusing resources and ideas, and channeling zeal.

· ANESU’s work will be as cost effective as possible (the first solution to a challenge will not be money based).

· ANESU will engage with a view to sustainability.

We are committed to the following core values:

· Biblical truth

· Great Commission

· Prayer

· Servant leadership

· Teamwork

· Compassion

· Integrity

· Financial accountability

We will seek to function within the embrace of the following principles of operation:

· Governable

· Adaptable

· Adjustable

· Valuable

· Cooperative

· Incarnational

We're very grateful for the partners in North America and Zimbabwe who are coming together. It is a privilege to meet them at the present nexus of opportunity in Zimbabwe, and to see things move in a very significant and genuinely helpful and effective way.

We've enjoyed meaningful interaction with a contact in Austria, and had informal conversation with a friend in Australia about extending our partner base in those directions.

So it's onward and upward for the Kingdom! We'll keep you posted.

Bud.

Bud Jackson

Team Leader, ANESU Partnership

Zimbabwe

anesupartnership@gmail.com

Africa HIV/AIDS Coordinator

TEAM

Just for Fun

Buddy in High School

I found this picture in my parent's photo album yesterday.  Just thought you might like to see how Buddy looked in high school.

You also might enjoy a note Bud's son Heath wrote about him.  Below is the link.

http://www.facebook.com/topic.php?uid=180142325351561&topic=234

Bud and Mandy are uniquely positioned in Zimbabwe to be ambassadors for TEAM and the Kingdom of Heaven.  God has raised up Bud and Mandy for such a time as this.

He is Faithful - A New Godly Generation

Today's story is about how the ANESU Partnership is working shoulder to shoulder with Zimbabwean Christians to reach a new generation with hope and Christ.

________________________________________________________

It is one thing to read the Bible and it is another thing altogether to do what it says. The Scripture says that we are not just to be hearers of the Word but doers of the Word.

On one of our excursions was into the Cranborne community in Harare to Cranborne Community Church. We had a meeting in a pastor's home. On the surface, the property was very nice. It had beautiful gardens and trees. Beside the house was a large 25x15 foot porch in the middle of the yard covered with a thatched roof.

Under this roof, seven young Zimbabweans had gathered. They were young people in their late teens and early twenties. They had gathered to tell us about their lives. All of them had been orphaned or abandoned. The pastor had given his wife, Pavensi, permission to bring them into their home. So, Pavensi began the effort of caring for them

However, as she cared for them, she realized that she needed to prepare them for life by ensuring their education and providing life-skills training. She began a ministry to them and through them called the "He is Faithful Ministry"

The idea of He is Faithful is to train young people to go into the rural villages and work among other disadvantaged children and orphans by tutoring them and sharing the Gospel. Their goal is to share the Gospel of Christ through the door of compassionate social ministry.

So, Pavensi began training them. She converted the garage to a chicken coup and started an egg and fryer buisiness. The money began to support the orphan's care and provide for resources. Then, TEAM sent Karen DuBert to further train the young people in refining English, public speaking, and teaching skills.

The orphans in Pavensi's home each have a personal faith in Christ. They have hopes and dreams for their own employment. But they also have a desire to share their hope with others. They will be going to rural areas soon to begin a ministry with orphans. Many of these rural orphans are in "child led homes" without a future. These homes are in crisis. As children head the homes, they have to take care of their siblings and have no time for school or English. English is required by the universities. Without further tutoring, these children have no hope of success or hope of hearing about Christ.

He is Faithful desires to "raise up God-fearing children out of the orphan community." They desire to "catch them young for God." They want "to touch and change the world by teaching and encouraging children in Christ."

So here is Pavensi's work. She read the Bible and saw that to care for the widow and orphan is true religion. She took the orphans into her home not only to care for them, but to raise them up for God. She then began equipping them for life and for ministry. These orphans are now articulate young adults and beginning the work of helping other orphans.

Pretty amazing! But, God can use you too. Are you willing? Begin to pray and ask him to show you.

Pavensi said at the end of our talk, "I don't know how this is going to work out, but we are going to take the first step."

That is faith in action.

First Aid 4 AIDS - Reach4Life

Reach4Life is an HIV training program in the local schools that utilizes the New Testament. The New Testament training book was designed and launched in 2004. The little orange book, which has since become a global icon in HIV prevention, contains the whole New Testament plus 265 pages of material geared at revolutionizing young people’s sexual attitudes. The ultimate message of Reach4Life is a gospel message; producing safe lifestyle parameters by means of changed lives, calling young people to a relationship with Christ. This new relationship with Jesus Christ will sustain their commitment to chastity, and provide a solid foundation for wise lifestyle choices. Governments and school systems have requested this discipleship ministry to enter the public schools.

Olen Johnsen of our team from the East Troy Bible Church writes his observations of the Reach 4 Life Ministry.

Reach for Life - The Choice is Yours is a combination curriculum to fight against HIV/AIDS. The book includes the New Testament and a 4 part curriculum. At the beginning the reader is encouraged to think about a revolution. There are two revolutions. A sexual revolution and a spiritual revolution. The sexual revolution is the call to understanding sex within the bounds of marriage, and away from the suicidal sex that permeates the world today. The spiritual revolution calls people to understand the value of life in Christ.



The book was developed in partnership with International Bible Society. It has since become more than a Bible giveaway, but whole ministry of its own. Provinding classes in many venue's from church to school to home.

Prospective instructors are given a month long training class, then they are enabled to step out into their ministry area to teach Reach for Life. It has turned out to be a compelling way for the Word of God to be delivered all over the world. In most parts of the world the class is part of the public school curriculum on HIV/AIDS prevention.

Each book costs ten dollars. This puts the whole New Testament, a mentor, a church, and the lessons into the hands of a young person. The book is well written, relevant to modern youth culture, and accurate to God's truth.

Reach for Life is one of the tools that the ANESU Partnership is using to build relationships with Zimbabwe youth pastors,orphan homes and church leaders.

We have small groups already supporting Reach 4 Life in Zimbabwe. Maybe you would consider supporting Reach for Life to impact thousands of young people with clear answers about morality, spiritual guidance, and salvation.  Please contact Bud Jackson to ask how you can partner with this life saving ministry at anesupartnership@gmail.com.

Olen Johnsen

What is AIDS?

The Dark Reality: The life expectancy of a woman in 

Zimbabwe is 33 years old.

What is AIDS?

ACQUIRED: That is, it is a disease that people get or catch. The virus is passed from person to person, often from mother to baby. An infected person gets or acquires the virus that causes AIDS from someone else who already has the virus.

IMMUNE: HIV attacks the immune system. The word “immune” speaks of protection or defense.

DEFICIENCY: There is a deficient, inadequate, or “less-than needed” response to all diseases by the immune system.

SYNDROME: Any syndrome is just a group of signs and symptoms. When a person has AIDS, there is a group of signs and symptoms that point to that fact.

A person on ARVs - antiretroviral drugs can live for many years. However, in Africa only about 5 ARVs out of about 12 products world-wide are effective. Apparently, this is because people in Africa are not consistent in their use of ARVs and many of the drugs are now ineffective.

When people die of AIDS - what does that mean?

AIDS is only a description of the syndrome related to HIV. A person infected with HIV usually dies of some other opportunistic disease. HIV weakens and destroys the immune system so that the body cannot resist other diseases such as Malaria, Tuberculosis, Pneumonia or any other life threatening illness - even viral induced cancers. Further, HIV/AIDS renders a person tired and weak so that they tend to neglect nutrition and hygiene. They no longer have the energy to work in their gardens and in their homes or live productively in society.

Photo: Dave Nelson

What are some of the keys to 

living positively with HIV?

Support - people with HIV need medical support, but they also need the encouragement of their families. People with HIV need training and partnerships with other people living with HIV and from caregivers.

ARVs - people with HIV need good medication and medical attention to combat HIV and other opportunistic diseases.

Nutrition - people with HIV need to have good nutrition in their diet. Further, nursing infants need to have supplemental milk from another source than their mother.

Attitude - people with HIV need to have a good outlook on life.

Transparency - all HIV carriers need to be open and transparent for any of the solutions above to be effective. Today, there is still much stigma about carrying HIV and still much bad information. In short, people live negatively and live in denial about HIV. This prevents them from getting good treatment, it allows them to potentially spread the infection, and prevents them from getting good spiritual, physical and emotional council.

What can the church do?

The church is strategically positioned to assist families and individuals in every area of their lives. More importantly, the church can introduce a person to Jesus Christ who transforms them from the inside out and gives them a purpose for living positively. This blog is dedicated to the churches who are in the battle. It is exciting to see individuals ignite the church in Zimbabwe to offer real help. These churches are offering help for the physical crisis of today but also offering help for HIV of the soul - which is more deadly than any other form of HIV.

What is HIV?

Bud and Mandy have a heart to minister to people with HIV in Africa.  But what is HIV?  Is it a Homosexual disease?  Why do children have HIV in Africa?

The Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is the pathogen that causes AIDS. In this short clip, three of scientists discuss how HIV infection occurs, how the virus attacks the immune system, and how it replicates within white blood cells. Visit the documentary website - http://www.conversationswiththeliving.org. 

HIV: Belongs to a group of viruses called retroviruses. There are several types (varieties) of HIV. There are many types of the virus found in different areas of the world, especially in different areas of Africa. If you are infected with any type of HIV, and you are not treated with antiretroviral drugs, you will almost certainly develop AIDS and die within two to fourteen years. If you get good medical care and take antiretroviral drugs properly, you may live longer but will likely die of AIDS in the end.

HUMAN: The virus is only found in humans. It is not found in animals or insects.

IMMUNODEFICIENCY: The virus reduces the defense power of the immune system. The immune system has the job of protecting the body from all kinds of infections and invaders. It destroys harmful microbes that enter the body.

VIRUS: A virus is a microbe too small to see with a regular light microscope. Viruses are the smallest of all micro-organism, hundreds of times smaller than a bacteria or malaria parasite.

Colored scanning electron micrograph of a T4 cell (green) infected with HIV (red).
© NIBSC/Science Photo Libraryc
http://www.aidsmeds.com/articles/hiv_life_cycle_9635.shtml

How does someone get HIV?

HIV is spread most often through sexual behavior in Africa. In the US it is considered a homosexual disease or a disease of IV drug users. But in Africa, HIV is largely a heterosexual disease. Sub-Saharan Africa has a low IV drug use rate. Instead, HIV is spread through sexual promiscuity. The promiscuous husband brings the HIV back into the family and infects his wife or wives. The women carry the disease and then spread HIV to their children through delivery and nursing. One of the greatest 1st steps in eradication of the disease is through testing for HIV. If a person is tested, they will be more likely to think more carefully about sexual contact and more likely to change their behavior. In Zimbabwe, testing is a priority for all people, even children.

A World Shaped by HIV/AIDS
http://www.worldmapper.org/images/largepng/227.png

Cents and Sensibility - Rafiki Girls Center

One of the needs in Zimbabwe is skills training for disadvantaged children.  Children on the streets with no skills will more likely be used, abused and pursue crime to survive.  Children with skills will have a new sense of worth and will have something to offer a supply and demand market.  Further, children who are invited to know Christ while at the same time learning skills will become a happy and productive part of culture.

Bud and Mandy are working to establish relationships with organizations that are preforming this kind of service to disadvantaged children.  These organizations give spiritual promise and economic hope to children. Today, Karen Sautbine from East Troy Bible Church shares her story about the Rafiki Girls Center at Central Baptist Church in Harare.  This program is a perfect example of how Christian individuals and churches are meeting the need of disadvantaged children in Zimbabwe.

Imagine not being able to go to high school because you could not afford the tuition, or didn't score well enough on the entrance exam for high school.  What would you do?  How would you earn money?  How would you feel about yourself?  Would you feel lonely or unworthy?

The Central Baptist Church in Harare provides an answer for girls who are trying to learn skills.  The Rafiki Girls Center provides skills training for impoverished girls from 17 - 25 years of age.  The school is located in the upper floor of the church.  Twenty six girls are selected for a nine month program.  They learn basic life-skills for the first three months and then spend six months learning a marketable skill. The skills taught at this school are catering, sewing, computer skills and home furnishing design. These girls are then able to be employed, seek further education or start their own business.

The Rafiki Girls Center builds relationships with these young ladies by encouraging them, and assisting them to improve their lives. The teachers use this opportunity to share the Gospel and disciple the girls in Christ.  They provide mentorship, follow-up and accountability for the girls.  The school has united tools, equipment, mentorship and discipleship into one program that equips the girls to live and succeed.

I loved the eagerness and smiles on the faces of the students.  They grinned proudly as they showed us the items they had created.  They protrayed a sense of hope and future.

Please pray for these girls and this mentorship ministry.  The Rafiki Girls Center needs tools, supplies and equipment.  Further, pray that the girls can find employment and relationship opportunities after graduation.