South Africa Ministry Team News
News from The South Africa Ministry Team, a group of FCCB members and friends promoting awareness of poverty and HIV/AIDS in South Africa, and to respond through relationship-building, direct contributions and education.
Dr. David Harrison Visits First Church in December
December 2, 2007
The South Africa Ministry hosted David Harrison, M.D., South African physician and friend of the congregation, during a recent Bay Area visit. David participated in worship on Sunday, December 2, and was the featured speaker at a Second Hour presentation on the same day. He shared a video featuring Queen Monamudi (photo below), whose education is being supported by the South Africa Ministry Team, and gave us an update on AIDS issues in the country. Young people between ages 15 and 24 are particularly vulnerable to HIV infection, and this situation is being addressed through education efforts, self-esteem building and education and training.
Several years ago David won the prestigious alumna reward from the Goldman School of Public Policy at UC Berkeley for his work in establishing and leading loveLife, a nationwide HIV/Aids prevention campaign in his native South Africa. While at UC Berkeley, he attended worship services at FCCB. Subsequently, at his invitation, Senior Minister Patricia de Jong and her husband Sam Keen journeyed to South Africa, and on their return shared unforgettable impressions of the adverse impact of poverty and disease on South African society. Not long after, persons wanting to respond to this issue formed an FCCB Ministry to South Africa, which as its first step has committed to provide leadership training for Queen Monamudi, a former loveLife volunteer.
The South Africa Ministry Team has been raising the funds necessary to fund Queen”s scholarship and invite other First Church members to contribute if they choose. To do so send a check made out to “FCCB” with a note saying “South Africa Ministry Team” and send it to the church or drop it in the offering plate on Sunday morning.
Tomasiello Shares South Africa Stories
September 16, 2007
Paul Tomasiello shared his stories and slides from his recent trip to South Africa during Second Hour on Sunday, September 16. On behalf of the South Africa Ministry Team, Paul presented a check for $2700 to Queen Monamudi (shown at the right), a college student and former “ground-BREAKER” at loveLife, a nationwide HIV/AIDS prevention campaign. While there, Paul journeyed to her family’s home an hour outside Johannesburg, visited her college, shared an African meal and attended a local church with her. We are excited about making this meaningful connection in another part of the world.