2007 First Place Winner
Fish Hoek Baptist Church
Name and location: Fish Hoek Baptist Church, Cape Town, South Africa
Denomination: Baptist Union of Southern Africa
Pastor: John V. Thomas
Date Founded: 1952
Total Church Membership: 315
Website: www.kingofkings.org.za/
Outstanding Involvement and Effectiveness in the Fight Against AIDS:
Known as "the church that cares," Fish Hoek Baptist Church and its Senior Pastor John V. Thomas created in 2000 Living Hope Community Centre, bringing Jesus' hope and compassion to those living with HIV and dying of AIDS. Seven years later, the 147 paid staff of the center dwarfs 10 church staff. Moreover, the work of Living Hope has expanded to six communities with their own facilities and hundreds of volunteers delivering hospice and home-based care, food distribution, HIV testing and counseling, and spiritual nurture.
Fish Hoek made the intentional decision to engage when its members saw the devastation of AIDS in their backyard by founding Living Hope. That wholistic initiative is the largest local church response to HIV and AIDS in South Africa and, therefore, likely the world. It has become the model for multitudes of local churches that now have their own AIDS initiatives and has been recognized by governments worldwide, including that of the United States.
Impact on the Congregation:
More than 10 percent of the church's budget is committed to AIDS-related work. The congregation, composed predominantly of white South Africans, demonstrates an uncompromising commitment to caring for those affected by AIDS and continually "fights increasing HIV-AIDS compassion fatigue, or worse, indifference."
Pastor's Quote: "[After learning of HIV prevalence in my community,] God used that to kick me, and said, 'You're a pastor in this area. What are you going to say to me on Judgment Day when you did nothing about the HIV-AIDS crisis all around you?'"
Comment from the Judges: "Your church stood out to all who reviewed your application for the way in which you have invested your lives and resources in not only appropriately assessing the needs that surround you, but also in diligently creating structures and forms of ministry that deliver care and compassion to those who need it most."
