MISSIONS STATEMENT
The Global AIDS Partnership Team, a specialty team of International Service Ministries of Assemblies of God World Missions, functions as a resource and response team for all regions of the AGWM world requesting assistance with HIV/AIDS initiatives. The team promotes best practice by assisting in consultation with nationals and missionaries in assessment, program design, implementation and evaluation of HIV/AIDS interventions. The team searches for and produces tools that best meet the requests of the regions. Select members of the team provide medical, technical and health expertise when requested.
GUIDING PRINCIPLES
It is realized by the team that:
- The AIDS pandemic constitutes a medical emergency given the rapid rate of infection and death.
- Despite the emergency nature of the pandemic that has existed for more than 20 years thereby rendering it a chronic disaster.
- That the GAP team values local initiative (national, church, missionary and community) and seeks to learn from those involved in HIV/AIDS outreach.
- That there are thousands of people going into eternity as a result of the pandemic without a relationship with Christ.
CORE VALUES
Based on the above guiding principles:
- The GAP team will offer support and encouragement to preventive lifesaving efforts to help stem the transmission of HIV and will lend support to intervention strategies for those affected and infected with HIV/AIDS.
- Due to the chronicity of the disaster, the GAP team will whenever possible encourage and support responses which incorporate development principles that underscore local initiative and ownership, which build the capacity of the people, the church and the community.
- The GAP team desires and encourages local initiative and will seek to know what is being done by the church, community and missionaries and attempt to network that information to others.
- The GAP team in assisting with training, resource discovery or development, will, for non-sensitive areas, look for ways to incorporate a presentation of the gospel in an effort to affect people’s lives for eternity.
While holding the above as true to the mission of the team all effort will be made to:
- Be sensitive and responsive to field requests for assistance in a thorough and timely manner.
- Practice due diligence regarding producing or using existing materials.
- Be in a constant search mode for the most up-to-date or relevant materials.
- Whenever possible, have national involvement in the development and/or testing of tools to assure cultural relevance and appropriateness.
- Provide best practice guidance in assessment, program design, implementation and evaluation to HIV/AIDS interventions.
COMPOSITION OF THE TEAM
The team is comprised of persons with experience with HIV/AIDS, medical, technical, counseling and ministerial personnel representing the six regions of the AGWM world and various specialty ministries.
ACTIVITIES OF THE TEAM
- Continual monitoring of the development of tools and materials.
- Networking with other organizations involved in HIV/AIDS outreach.
- Promotion of “best practice” to nationals and missionaries.
- Presentation of seminars or other training venues in HIV/AIDS response.
- Consulting with fields to help with assessment, program design and implementation and/or evaluation.
- Development of tools which incorporate spiritual/Pentecostal values.
- Self-training in HIV/AIDS best practice.
ACTIVITIES OF THE FIELD REPRESENTATIVES
(in addition to the above activities)
- To be in contact with the fields to determine what is being requested and what is needed.
- To search out what is being done by AG nationals and missionaries and other organizations in HIV/AIDS in the represented region.
- To assist with contact with nationals who can assist with cultural relevance and appropriateness issues as tools are developed or reviewed.
DECISION MAKING
As the team is a part of the ISM/World Mission’s structure, it will be subject to the policies and procedures of AGWM. Decisions for expenditures of GAP funds will be made by the Director of the GAP team.
A majority consensus of the team can be polled when deciding on material development, translations and seminars to be conducted, etc.
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