The author of ‘The Purpose Driven Life’ and pastor of one of the biggest churches in the world, Rick Warren, has stated that in the battle against HIV/AIDS, the local church is the "single fastest way to mobilize at the grassroots level around the world."
In an article for CNN, Warren detailed exactly why he saw the church as the "world's most powerful weapon against AIDS."
Warren began by pointing out that the church has the largest distribution network on the planet.
"There are more churches in the world than all the Wal-Marts, McDonald’s and Starbucks combined. The church was global 200 years before anyone else thought of globalization. We could take you to thousands of villages around the world where the only institution to speak of is a church," argued Warren.
Secondly, Warren said that the church is growing more quickly than even the HIV/AIDS infection rate. The church gains 35,000 converts daily in China alone while there are 7,000 new people infected with HIV/AIDS every day.
Finally, Warren emphasised that "these church members have a non-profit motivation to serve. We are commanded by Jesus Christ to 'love your neighbor as yourself.'"
Warren has already sent out 14,869 members of his church to 195 nations in the world as part of a Christ-centered humanitarian program called the P.E.A.C.E. Plan.
The acronym for the plan is based on the five actions Jesus modeled: Promote reconciliation; Equip servant leaders; Assist the poor; Care for the sick; and Educate the next generation.
Warren has previously stated that he aims to mobilize 1 billion Christians worldwide to participate in the P.E.A.C.E. initiative.