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Left to right: Kevin Paz, Mary Bernstein, and
Duane Paulson | Kevin Paz, Mary Bernstein, and Duane Paulson
At Saddleback Church, some small groups have become CARE teams, which offer support to people with HIV/AIDS. Members of one such small group recently closed their weekly meeting with a unique prayer time. Group members Kevin Paz, Mary Bernstein, and Duane Paulson prayed for people who are contemplating getting involved in HIV/AIDS ministry.
Hear prayer >> | Learn more about Paulson’s personal ministry to those living with HIV/AIDS >>
Kevin:
Lord, I pray for anybody who is thinking about getting involved in the HIV/AIDS Initiative. Lord, that you speak to their heart, and you soften their heart just like you softened my heart about a year or two ago, Lord, when I was resistant [to] even thinking about it, Lord. I didn't even want to think about it. But yet you brought somebody here to our group to teach on the subject, and Lord, even just with that little bit of information, I was able to go on and start thinking about – entertaining thoughts, Lord, of getting involved in something as huge as this HIV/AIDS initiative. And then, Lord, the compassion grew. You watered that compassion within my own heart, Father, and as you softened it, then you were able to turn my eyes toward people who are suffering or affected by it, and Lord, you were just able to unveil my eyes, and to open my heart up to a different kind of ministry, and Lord I thank you for that, Jesus.
Thank you for that power, thank you for that leading of the Holy Spirit on that, Lord, and I just wish I could do more now, Lord, in that fight. And so, Lord, I'm open ... and so Father, again, I just pray for anybody who's thinking about it. Just soften up, just start to soften up their heart, Lord. I know if they're around our church, they've been hearing it, and so Lord now, as we get closer to the conference, Father, there's going to be a lot of people talking about it in the next few weeks here, and so, Lord, we just pray and lift up those people that are wanting to get involved.
Thank you, Father.
Mary:
And, Lord, I just want to thank you for those people who you're touching their hearts right now as we speak. Father, you're placing that burning desire within their heart, Father, to help others, and to learn more about HIV and AIDS, Father, to be able to help and love and support these people that need it so desperately, Father. And, Lord, may our light shine, and whatever it is that you want us to do or part you want us to play, Father, we're willing in our hearts and we say, "Yes," Father, and we'll follow you wherever you would lead.
Lord, I ask you to bless my brothers here, Father. Bless them in every aspect of their life, Father. I ask, Lord, that you would bless them in their personal lives, Father, and just bless their hearts, and open their eyes to see the path that you are taking them down, Father, and just give them the strength and the courage, Father, to take each step, one day at a time. Father, I just ask that you would bless each and every one of us as we leave this place now, and as we go our separate ways. Father, we may be going our separate ways, but you've brought us together, Father, and continue to lift up each other in our hearts, Father, to be able to keep our prayers coming for one another.
Lord, I just thank you and praise you for all that you're doing, and all that you're going to do, Father, and we just ask these things in your name. Amen.
Duane:
Thank you, Lord. Just, thank you so much, and just, there are people out there, and we know you're thinking about getting into the HIV/AIDS ministry, we know that you have questions about it, you know, your heart might not be settled about this, and just let me say that my prayer is that you would go ahead and take that step of faith. Step out there and do it anyway. I know it's a scary thing. I know there are a lot of unknowns. I know there are resistant people out there; resistant to your Word. I pray that you would just go ahead and do it. Take that step of faith. Trust in God. Trust in the Lord to bring you to a place where you can minister to people. Show them your love, Lord. Show them who you are through us, and show them your heart.
Work through us all to bring in a harvest, Lord, and we just pray that you can put your doubts and fears aside, put your ego aside, and just go out there and be of service. You know, go ahead and take that step and do it anyway, and trust in God, because God is faithful and just, and he's going to make a good thing come out of it, and it won't be in vain. And Lord, we just love you and praise you and thank you for everything that you're doing – all the wonderful things you've shown to us, and all the wonderful things you're going to show to these new volunteers that are coming into the ministry.
Let them know that it's not about us, Lord. You know, it's your Kingdom. It's what you're doing in peoples' lives, that even though peoples' bodies are wracked, their spirits are low, that your love is still the way, that it's the thing that's going to turn them around and give their life some meaning, and let them go on with what they've got left, and they could have years and years, and go on [and] be an entry, and use these people that we're going to be reaching – our team, and the new people, the new teams that are getting into the ministry – reach some new people and then have those new people, those [HIV] positive people turn around and go out and reach even more, and let this thing blossom, Lord, into something wonderful, something just glorious and good and to your glory.
All this we ask in your name, Lord. Amen.
Previous prayers:
Michael Vinson
Michael Vinson attended Saddleback Church's 2005 HIV/AIDS conference. He graciously agreed to offer a prayer for Saddleback Church's 2006 Global Summit on AIDS and the Church, Race Against Time, Nov. 30-Dec. 1.
Michael's prayer >> | Michael's story about how HIV/AIDS "became personal" >>
John Forbes
John Forbes has been living with HIV since 1995. He is an international speaker/evangelist who has 23 years of experience in the theater. His artistic pursuits were interrupted in 2001 by his AIDS diagnosis, which God used to radically turn his life around and bring him back from a place of wandering. Forbes has spoken to thousands of people worldwide about what God has done in his life and has a strong burden for the Church to respond compassionately to those with HIV/AIDS.
John's prayer >>
Pastor Martin and Tracey Ssempa
Martin and Tracey Ssempa are the pioneers of Makerere Community Church, a faith-based organization specifically working in AIDS prevention with university students. Since 1988, the Ssempa’s have effectively used community drama, school rallies, radio, and television as means of communicating behavioral change to youth in Uganda. They run a youth drop-in center called “The White House" and a weekly campus rally – "PrimeTime@ the Pool" – serving more than 4,000 college students every week. Martin and Tracey's prayer >>
Peter Styffe
Peter Styffe is a 19-year-old freshman at Biola University in La Mirada, Calif., who cares about people with HIV. He has traveled to Malawi, South Africa, Rwanda, Kenya, Uganda, Thailand, and Cambodia sharing with youth that HIV prevention begins with admitting a need for Jesus Christ and the support of others in the church. He believes youth are a great force in HIV prevention and in caring for those with HIV around the world. Peter's prayer >>
Kay Warren
In 2002, Kay Warren became seriously disturbed by the millions worldwide suffering with HIV/AIDS. Today, she is a powerful advocate on their behalf as she challenges Christians everywhere to bring relief in Jesus’ name to those in pain, sorrow, poverty, and illness. This Web site is the result of Kay’s passion for equipping the Church to minister to individuals who are HIV positive. She offers this prayer for all pastors and church leaders. Kay's prayer >>
Kathi Winter
Hello, my name is Kathi Winter, and I have been HIV positive for 11 years. I’m a member of Saddleback Church, where I serve as co-leader of our HIV/AIDS support group. My ministry is to talk about HIV, and to educate, empower, and support anyone affected or infected with this disease.
Kathi's prayer >>
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