About SFA
What is this initiative?
Stand For Africa (SFA) has three main objectives: First, to educate churches and organizations in the United States about the catastrophic effects of HIV/AIDS spreading across Africa. Second, to identify and partner with African churches and faith-based community organizations that have undertaken the effective care of the HIV/AIDS orphans. Third, to raise and deliver funds directly to these churches and organizations thus enabling them to expand their HIV/AIDS prevention education programs, HIV/AIDS treatment for the infected and care for the affected orphans and vulnerable children (OVC).
How did it begin?
Pastor Herbert H. Lusk (on right)
The first SFA event was held in Philadelphia, PA in November 2003 under the leadership of Rev. Herb Lusk, Pastor of The Greater Exodus Baptist Church, when over 200 congregations came together to answer the first call to action. Keynote speakers included: Bishop Charles Blake, Senior Pastor of West Angeles Church of God in Christ in Los Angeles, CA; Dr. Bill Shaw, President of the National Baptist Convention and Dr. Tony Evans, Pastor of Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship Church in Dallas, TX. The SFA Event in November, 2005 featured Rev. Rick Warren, Pastor of Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, CA; and artists Michael W. Smith and Kirk Franklin. The success of these initial campaigns led to a growing desire to harness the resources of the Church across America to Stand For Africa.
Ultimately, it is our prayer, that Stand For Africa will result in a series of citywide movements which unite the Body of Christ to pray, to take action and to resource existing African ministries that are working effectively on behalf of the orphans. Mobilizing city by city will enable churches, schools, corporations and individuals to build relationships locally and to act together globally, crossing racial, economic and denominational lines.
It is vital to the success of this effort, that churches find common ground on this pressing issue. In an early SFA planning session, Dr. John Perkins said:
"HIV/AIDS in Africa is an issue so big that it will take the entire Body of Christ working together to change the course of this plague. The civil rights movement and apartheid are the last social movements which required people regardless of color, class or gender to unify into action. We must do this for Africa!"
Why Now?
Like a brush fire burning out of control, HIV/AIDS is scorching the countries of Africa. The most devastating impact of this pandemic is the incomprehensible number of orphans who have lost both parents to this disease. It is projected that by the year 2010 that there will be 20 million orphans trying to survive on their own means in the streets and villages of Africa!
