In June 1981, the Centers for Disease Control published the first official report on the disease that would later be called Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome or AIDS. During the 30 years since, HIV/AIDS has emerged as global pandemic, claiming the lives of more than 25 million people worldwide.

Samaritan’s Purse felt strongly that the Church should not be silent on the issue of HIV/AIDS, but should lead the response with action and compassion. In 2002, we hosted Prescription for Hope, an unprecedented global Christian conference on HIV/AIDS, in Washington, D.C. More than 800 Christians from a variety of countries and denominations attended. Our faith-based response to the disease included programs designed to empower local Christians with the knowledge and resources to change their communities.

WISDOM FOR THE FUTURE: Samaritan’s Purse helps save the life of a Ugandan woman with HIV, and leads her to faith in Christ.

Samaritan’s Purse has provided programs in more than 38 countries. We have reached well over 1 million people with messages that teach basic facts about HIV/AIDS and promote abstinence and/or being faithful, and provided over 100,000 home-based compassionate visits to people infected by HIV/AIDS.

Our current efforts including voluntary counseling and testing, prevention of mother to child transmission, mobilizing the church to respond to HIV/AIDS in the community, youth behavior change, income generating activities for people living with HIV/AIDS, home-based care, and care for orphans and vulnerable children.

Most importantly, we bring the message of hope found in Jesus Christ to those affected by this disease.

Below are stories of just a few of the hundreds of thousands of people impacted by our programs.

Sourn Povmouy, Cambodia
Sourn, a 40-year-old mother of four, was bitter. “People in Cambodia are hateful towards and discriminate against people with HIV/AIDS,” she said. In 2010, a pastor trained by Samaritan’s Purse arrived in her village to provide education and care to AIDS sufferers. His compassion touched Sourn’s heart. She now sees life as fresh and full of hope, joy and peace. She smiles and laughs, and can go out and work rather than hiding like before. The education program taught her how to take care of herself and to prevent infecting her kids and husband. “I’m so excited and my heart is warmed because of the pastor’s home visits and especially because of the words of encouragement from him. I feel excited that somebody cares and is concerned about me and my family. I have been helped a lot, not only physically, but emotionally and spiritually. I thank the Lord Jesus and pray that He may continue to bless and care for my family.”

Marcel, Mozambique
Marcel lost his wife and 2-year-old daughter to AIDS. His world was shattered. He also was infected with the same disease, and was shunned by his family and neighbors. He had no food, no money, and no friends. He was getting weaker by the day. It seemed as if God had forsaken Marcel. His church told everyone plagued with HIV to stop coming. Then the Samaritan's Purse Church Mobilization Program in Mozambique visited his village. Through the education program, the pastor realized that his attitude towards and treatment of AIDS sufferers was not what Jesus wanted. Church members began visiting and apologizing to those they had turned away and started a support group for those living with HIV/AIDS. Marcel now serves as the president of the support group. “I never thought I would live until today,” he said. “It is my purpose now to help others to truly live their life.”

Martin, Uganda
Martin was almost certain he was HIV-positive. He was frequently ill and had lost a lot of weight. His neighbors knew it too. Nobody wanted to associate with him. But when the team from the Samaritan’s Purse’s compassionate care program came to his village to conduct HIV education and home-based visitation, Martin hid behind a mango tree. “I sat a distance away because people never wanted me to sit near them. Fortunately, one of Samaritan’s Purse staff members saw me from a distance and after the session followed me up to my house. The staff talked to me at length about HIV, shared with me the love of Jesus Christ, and there and then I received Jesus Christ as my personal Lord and Savior. Hope and peace were restored in my life.” Martin's strength and health improved when he was put on HIV treatment. He became an HIV community educator. “Samaritan's Purse showed me love and care and also taught me skills and knowledge,” he said. “It is because of the love of Jesus Christ that I’m still alive, so I will work with all my strength to help the vulnerable persons in my community as long as I still live.”

Narcisa’s Grandmother, Mozambique
2-year-old Narcisa and her grandmother became the sole survivors of their family when Narcisa’s mother passed away just over 5 months ago. It is sadly common in their country, where HIV/AIDS is steadily diminishing the adult population. More than 50 percent of the population in Mozambique is under 15 or over 65 years of age. “My children all died of an illness very terrible, an illness that took them away from me,” the grandmother said. “I would never have thought that I would outlive them all.” Finding food was a daily struggle for them until Samaritan’s Purse educators trained in orphan care began making regular home visits, providing food, clothing, medical assistance, and above all, spiritual support. They encouraged Narcisa’s grandmother to continue trusting God despite the great challenges, praying that He would give her strength to endure all trials. God’s unfailing love became more real than ever the day she received a new house built for her by Samaritan's Purse and community members. “I have no words that tell what I am feeling, only that I know now that Jesus loves me and my granddaughter.”

Christine, Uganda
“It would have been so difficult if I had not accepted my status and failed to be kind to myself. But since I now totally accept that I have the virus, and that life is still going on, I want to encourage others to come out openly so that they can cope and live positively. I now know that it is everyone’s responsibility to care for those in need, because these are our people. We can not just leave it to some specific group of people to help those infected.”

Samaritan's Purse , Mozambique , Prescription for Hope , HIV/AIDS: A Message of Hope