Touch Sophany’s heart would break when he saw the destructive lifestyle behaviors practiced by young people in his community—behaviors that put them at risk of contracting HIV/AIDS.

“The young people living here are mostly construction workers and taxi drivers. Some are students,” he said. “They always smoke, take drugs, gamble, go out at night to a beer garden restaurant or to sing karaoke. They frequently have sex afterwards with ‘entertainment workers’ or bar girls.”

Touch, a 28-year-old pastor in Phnom Penh, longed to do something. He wanted to tell them their behavior was wrong, that there was a better way. He yearned to tell them about Jesus Christ, the only one who could satisfy the void in their lives that they were trying to fill with sinful practices.

“I saw many issues arising in my community, and HIV/AIDS was the worst,” he said. “I saw many problems, but I didn’t know how to solve these problems. I had a heart to serve and wanted to change such kinds of things in people, but I didn’t have a way to help them. I said alone I may not be able to help these young people, and I just prayed to God.”

God answered Touch’s prayers through Samaritan’s Purse HIV/AIDS programs. Our Church Mobilization Project has provided training for many urban pastors and church leaders in Cambodia. The workshops include information about the disease and how it is spread, biblically-based prevention strategies, the creation of evangelism plans, and ways the church can become an agent of transformation in communities.

“I thought these programs could really help to meet my community’s needs,” Touch said. “After I finish the training, I had a clearer understanding, greater awareness, skills and knowledge regarding HIV/AIDS.”

Touch immediately acted on his new knowledge. He began to go door to door, teaching about HIV/AIDS. Despite some initial resistance he persevered, and organized his own training sessions.

“At first people viewed me as a stranger and they made it clear that I was not really welcome,” he said. "Now, some of them have started to learn with me. One day a man participating in training told me that he had never learned or taken part in HIV/AIDS education. He had heard some information from other people, but now he knows it was wrong.”

It wasn’t long before he saw positive changes in people’s lifestyles.

“They have changed a lot of their previous behavioral practices,” Touch said. “From observation and follow up I can see that most of them have tried to do good things to escape for past immorality. It is great to see the change that comes in people as a consequence of my teaching.”

Most importantly, Touch has new opportunities to share the Gospel.

“Spreading HIV/AIDS messages is really an important tool that can transform a community and people’s minds, which creates opportunities for people to know God,” he said. “I would like to give a big thanks to Samaritan’s Purse. We have a good partnership, working together to serve God’s ministry and to transform lives.”

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Samaritan's Purse , Cambodia , Prescription for Hope , Transforming Behavior and Lives