GlobalHEED is the department in which GCM fulfills its social sector. The department was created in order to share the gospel through meeting the physical needs of the surrounding community.
The two most active sectors of GlobalHEED are our Live Right and Living Water programs.
Our Live Right HIV/AIDS Prevention, Treatment, and Care program began in 2005 and has been actively seeking change in the community ever since. The main focus of this program is to reach out to local Pentecostal church congregations. We chose this group as our priority for a couple of reasons. First of all, the church in Nigeria has a large platform to create change. The southern half of Nigeria is predominantly Christian and follows the lead of the Church in reference to social issues. It is vital, therefore, to be certain that the Church is educated on the need for prevention, compassion, and service in light of HIV/AIDS. We are specifically focusing on the Pentecostal congregations because these churches rarely receive the same support as the larger denominations. The majority of the mainline churches are already engaged in HIV/AIDS education and it is the smaller, independent churches that have yet to receive proper education on the subject. We want to keep from reinventing the wheel and though we often speak at educational institutions, churches of other denominations, etc our main focus is simply to meet the needs of those that have previously been unmet. These needs happen to be found in great number in the Nigerian Pentecostal sector.
Because the rate of infection continues to rise in Nigeria and throughout the world, it is vital for each person to receive proper education on the ins and outs of the disease. Live Right also hopes to change the attitude of the community, especially the Church community, towards those who are infected with HIV/AIDS. Rather than continuing the stigma that still lingers, we desire to influence the Church to become a beacon of hope for those who are infected.
It is challenging work to influence preconceived notions, especially those that are grounded in what seems to be Biblical truth. However, with prayer and perseverance, we are partnering with the Holy Spirit to share the gospel truths of justice, redemption, compassion and forgiveness both with those who are infected and with the area churches.
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