Responses to Our Presentation

I've read through the student responses. For the most part, people liked the presentation. The two aspects that are continually highlighted 1. are how you showed the connection between poverty and AIDS and the cycle it creates, and 2. the discussion of microfinance. Maybe we should make these even stronger sections of the wiki.

People definitely wanted to see more resources of why Jesus-followers ought to be involved. So, we need to start culling biblical and theological resources on this topic. The issue will be sticky -- as we predicted and have already seen -- about whether we go harm reduction or highlight abstinence. Within the comments, there are already different views. Some wanted us to go abstinence only and others are very critical of abstinence only programs. Perhaps the best thing to do would be to find organizations on both sides so that churches can partner with whatever agency they feel most comfortable. Honestly, trying to convince congregations to change their views on their preferred method of HIV prevention seems like an exhausting endeavor.

We did get a great question on one of the responses: is giving money the only way for churches to be involved? That's something we will have to address because as it stands, that is how we are primarily trying to get people involved, even if it is in a creative way like microfinance. Granted we have also highlighted letter-writing campaigns, but even then, it is to convince elected officials to give money.