I have just returned from attending the Ecumenical and Interfaith pre-conference meeting held prior to the International Aids Conference in Toronto. It was an incredible experience to have the opportunity to talk to individuals from all around the world who are committed to “Keeping the Promise” to do everything possible to help stamp out HIV/AIDS; to work together Towards A World Without Aids including encouraging governments to take up this challenge. We as a denomination have responded exceptionally well to the financial campaign in raising over $750,000 – our goal was $500,000. Congregations are to be commended for the creative initiatives they have taken in having special events to raise funds and awareness of this serious HIV/AIDS pandemic. This is the mission of today by people of all faiths, to stamp out this dreaded virus. Many of the participants at the conference are living with the HIV virus and shared their stories. Many have lost their loved ones to AIDS. Grandmothers, some with as many as 30 grandchildren, are bearing the responsibility of raising young children. It is so hard to comprehend the vastness of this problem. In the developed world most have the privilege of getting the drugs needed to sustain a quality of life. In the developing world the drugs are not available to everyone, so an affected person's only expectation is death, a suffering death. We need to help make it possible for everyone to have the opportunity to receive the needed drugs.
***
I visited St. Paul's Church in Prince Albert, Sask., in July to join in the 100th anniversary celebrations of the opening of their church building. While there, I was reminded of the courage and the call of the early missionaries who went to unknown parts of Canada and other lands to share the Gospel. Rev. James Nisbet and his wife Mary Nisbet and Miss Lucy Baker went to the Prince Albert area. The work was hard and took its toll on both James and Mary. Both died very young. The work in the area was begun 140 years ago. At the anniversay celebrations, descendants of the Nisbets were in attendance.
Shortly after the work was started in Prince Albert, a missionary by the name of Rev. John McKay began the church on the Mistawasis Reserve at the invitation of Chief Mistawasis. I was pleased to be able to visit the Mistawasis Church and was warmly welcomed by the elders and members at a barbeque at their church. As I visited informally with them I asked them what they would like me to say to the church about Mistawasis. There was an immediate response that they would like me to express their thanks and appreciation to the members of The Presbyterian Church in Canada for the support they have received over the years, and continue to receive. They are especially grateful for the appointment of their present minister, Rev. George Yando by Canada Ministries. They expressed their appreciation for the Youth in Mission program under the leadership of Dave and Anne Phillips who have been with them for the past several years, working with their youth and children. Their little church has just had some renovations; a washroom and a kitchen have been added. We make these ministries happen through our givings to Presbyterians Sharing.
During that same period that the Nisbets went to Prince Albert, Rev. Dr. John Buchanan and his wife Dr. Mary MacKay Buchanan arrived on the Bhil Field in India, and in 1872 Rev. Dr. George Leslie Mackay went to Taiwan (then Formosa). What a challenge the Canadian Presbyterian Church had in opening up all this new work in such a short period of time. What a vision our early church leaders had! Let us give thanks to God that the work of these early missionaries still continues through faithful men and women.
Let us continue to keep the promise.
