Theological Institutions commitment to respond to HIV and AIDS in Nepal

In Nepal theological Institutions now embrace to respond to HIV. The HIV course was launched and a four day training of facilitators was conducted. The HIV course will be implemented in Believers Church Minor Seminar,  Kingdom Bible School, Shepherd Bible School, Nepal Methodist Theological Seminary, GFA Bible College, YWAM Frontier Mission, NKIC, Nepal Ebenezer Bible College and Evangelical Presbyterian Theological Seminary. The course content is about facts on HIV and AIDS, gender and sexuality, biblical perspective, church response, pastoral counseling and capacity enhancement.

The facilitators will teach the HIV course to prepare the students to mobilize churches and communities to respond to HIV. It was agreed that church can replace fear with hope, ignorance with knowledge, blame with respect and shame with dignity.

Facilitators from Bible schools and Micah network

Declaration of Commitment by Theological facilitators in 2013 during the training:

• We are committed to facilitate courses on HIV and AIDS in our colleges and churches.
• We will encourage our students to facilitate their churches to learn this material about HIV and AIDS.
• We will create a stigma free environment in the Bible schools by developing positive attitudes toward people living with HIV and AIDS.
• We will develop a network for facilitators of the HIV and AIDS curriculum to continue developing our skills.
• We will have at least an annual seminar on theological issues related to HIV and AIDS.
• We will add materials about HIV and AIDS to our college libraries.

Pray for:

• Justice – that there is an end to HIV stigma and discrimination

• Truth – that education effectively reaches those most at risk of contracting HIV so that

  they know how to avoid infection

• Hope – for scientists developing treatments and working towards a cure. And wisdom   

  for the doctors treating those living with HIV

• Love – that each of us shows Christ’s love and helps fight the spread of HIV and

  challenge HIV stigma

• Healing – that people live well with HIV developing their lives physically, spiritually

  and emotionally

• Faith – that those living with HIV know God’s love and peace