Special Recognition

Open Baptist Church

Name and location: Open Baptist Church, Gaborone, Botswana
Denomination: Baptist
Pastor: Rev. Norman Schaefer
Date Founded: 1982
Total Church Membership: 355
Website: www.obcbotswana.org

Outstanding Involvement and Effectiveness in the Fight Against AIDS:

The work of Open Baptist Church is composed of three initiatives: a nationwide AIDS intervention program in which college students serve as volunteers to mentor students in secondary school; a feeding program for AIDS orphans; and an education, outreach, and advocacy effort targeting businesses and prisons.

The mentoring program, Face the Nation (FTN), was piloted initially in 2006 with eight secondary schools and, beginning in 2007, was extended to all of the nation's 27 secondary schools, reaching more than 40,000 students, ages 17-19. In 2008, that number is expected to exceed 55,000. The mentors, volunteers from the University of Botswana, employ a Biblically based curriculum basis for “right living,” with an emphasis on abstinence and being faithful in marriage. The FTN program has been endorsed by the national government's Ministry of Education and the government has requested the church to help revise national education policies to include a greater emphasis on behavioral change initiatives.

The Open Baptist Church's feeding program delivers meals to 180 AIDS orphans, ages 6-14. For many of them, these meals are among the only food these children receive on a regular basis. Much of the food is donated by local Christian business owners. In addition, clothing, shoes, and other basic needs are provided.

Members of the church's Industry Ministry Team, targeting the workforce and individuals incarcerate in prisons, lead regular Bible studies for approximately 11,000 people each month. It also includes pastors-in-training at many of the worksites.

Among the powerful results of this church's efforts:

  • 15,000 students have signed commitments to be sexually abstinent until marriage, and 10,000 have made commitments to receive Christ;
  • the Botswana government has asked the church to expand its mentoring and peer-counseling program, Face the Nation, into junior secondary schools; and
  • three other nations—Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Tanzania—have requested to participate in Face the Nation.

Impact on the Congregation:

In some way, all 355 of the church's members participate in the program—from training and mentoring volunteers, to transporting and providing lodging and food for the volunteers. They also conduct prayer walks around schools throughout Botswana. Moreover, the members provide a substantial portion of the funding for the AIDS-related ministries; other funds come from partner churches and organizations in the United States.

Pastor's Quote: “The strength of our message is that it is directed toward behavior change through faith in Jesus Christ ...”

Comments from the Judges: “Open Baptist Church demonstrates the impact of prevention education and advocacy in the confrontation of the AIDS pandemic. The behavior change initiatives undertaken by the church volunteers are recognized by community and national leaders and serve as a guide star for others to follow.”