The Courageous Leadership Award

• 2007 Award
• 2007 Award Winners
• Winners
  • Fish Hoek Baptist Church
  • Rockland Community
  • West Angeles Church of God
• Honorable Mention
  • Gateway Community
  • Wheaton Bible Church
  • Good News Community
  • Life Center
  • Crossroads Community
  • Mars Hill Bible Church
  • Calvary Chapel Sawgrass
  • Word of Grace Ministries, Inc.
  • Menlo Park Pres.
  • Heirs Covenant Church of Cincinnati
  • Swaziland Reformed
  • Makerere Community
• Next Step Resources
• Referring Agencies Links

“AIDS is not just another problem on the world's to-do list. This crisis calls for the church of Jesus Christ to rise to the occasion. The question hangs in the air, "What are we going to do about it?" This could be the Church's finest hour. Whether it is or not is up to us.”

Richard Stearns, President of World Vision

2007 Honorable Mention

Wheaton Bible Church

Name and location: Wheaton Bible Church, Wheaton, Illinois
Denomination: Non-denominational
Pastor: Re. Robert Bugh
Date Founded: 1929
Total Church Membership: 2,000
Website: www.wheatonbible.org/?p=475

Outstanding Involvement and Effectiveness in the Fight Against AIDS:

Confronting AIDS like David confronted Goliath, Wheaton Bible Church's "Heart for AIDS" ministry has adopted five "stones" it is slinging against this giant of a pandemic: prevention of HIV; care for orphans and widows; home-based care for those suffering from AIDS; voluntary counseling and testing centers; and excellent quality medical care. The church is funding these efforts through a network of schools, local congregations and church-based humanitarian organizations in Kenya. Since it was established in 2004, this AIDS ministry has devoted $60,000 annually resulting in the opening of 13 counseling and testing centers; education and prevention training for more than 300 teachers; and the creation of "Why Wait" health clubs-after-school programs promoting AIDS awareness through a values-based education for school-age youth.

Impact on the Congregation:

The impact of these endeavors on the congregation of Wheaton Bible Church has been powerful. There have been several "all-church" efforts to raise awareness and understanding, including events on World AIDS Day (December 1), the showing of Bill Hybels' interview with Bono from the 2006 Willow Creek Leadership Summit and a special program in which a charity, Kids Caring for Kids, started by a 13-year-old girl who attends Wheaton Bible, was featured.

Pastor's Quote: "It has been said that AIDS is like a Goliath taunting the church and mouthing profanities against God. We needed a 'David' to rise to the challenge of this Goliath in the name of the Lord. ... We believe God's weapon or His sling is the church of today."

Comment from the Judges: "Your leadership in global mission is legendary, and this experience obviously served you in creating a cogent AIDS ministry plan. Combining the effective 'stones' of prevention, orphan and home-based care, with effective counseling, testing, training and medical care have made for a potent weapons in the Lord's arsenal He is using to confront this global giant."