Honorable Mention
Trust in God
Name and location: Trust in God Church, Embu, Kenya
Pastor: Bishop Rev. Elias Kagendo Njagi
Date Founded: 1996
Total Church Membership: 14,300
Outstanding Involvement and Effectiveness in the Fight Against AIDS:
Trust in God Church has been working nearly five years in helping address the AIDS pandemic in a nation with more than 1.3 million adults infected with HIV. Its initiative includes a wide range of services in two provinces whose residents comprise nearly 50 percent of Kenya's HIV-infected residents. The church also works closely with the nation's Ministry of Health to care for those dying of AIDS as well as to help prevent the spread of HIV. Their services include:
- training of home-based caregivers;
- linking HIV-infected individuals with the public health authorities to obtain anti-retroviral drugs;
- supporting orphaned children and providing business opportunities for older orphans;
- training of voluntary health workers in villages;
- providing guidance counseling and pastoral care; and
- delivering food, clothing, and shelter.
Helping to eliminate the stigma and myths about AIDS also represents an important ministry of this church. Through meetings, dramatic presentations, seminars, and other forums, church members seek to dispel ideas that AIDS is a product of witchcraft, curses, or sin.
Impact on the Congregation:
Many of the 18,000 Trust in God Church members have embraced this ministry. They have created a special Community Development and Welfare division at the church that not only helps address AIDS, but also provides food, clean water, education, shelter, and other basic needs. Separate fundraising activities are undertaken. There also are one-time events include special celebrations for mothers, fathers, and children. Moreover, other churches in the two provinces are encouraged and volunteers trained by members of Trust in God Church.
Pastor's Quote: “The [church] works beyond denomination boundaries showing the love of Christ to the needy ... To stop the spread of HIV/AIDS, we endeavor to look at the root causes of it ... we equip people on Christian living, fighting/alleviating poverty in the communities and creating awareness on the modes of transmission of this pandemic.”
Comments from the Judges: “This is a very strong program. Trust in God Church appears to understand the close connection of HIV and poverty and has created training and programming to impact both. Creative, dynamic and effective—a strong resource partner for a supporting institution to undertake.”
