Empowering Church-Based Communities for Home-Based Care: A Pastoral Response to HIV/AIDS in Zambia

The study identifies a serious and growing gap in the care of people living with HIV and AIDS in Zambia. It investigates the empowerment of churches for home-based care as a pastoral response to the pandemic. A contextual analysis of the HIV/AIDS pandemic is made. The need for HIV/AIDS education for both the clergy and laity is noted as a critical step toward empowerment of churches. The study notes that an urgent need exists for evangelical Christians¿ involvement in the fight against the HIV/AIDS through pastoral care. Most evangelicals seem to prefer non-involvement to practical engagement due to stigma. The shift of pastoral care from the professional counseling room to the faith community is identified as vital to African pastoral care of PLWHA where care and counseling is essentially a communal matter. The study formulates a pastoral model with a healthy tension between pastoral care and psychosocial counseling without compromising biblical Christianity. The study posits a theological praxis toward empowering church-based communities through HIV/AIDS training rediscovering authentic koinonia care, and reaching out to people living with HIV/AIDS through home-based care.