World AIDs Week
World AIDS Week is held every year around December 1st, World AIDS Day. During this week, UCE brings the message about the seriousness of the global HIV/AIDS crisis back to the USA, and relays the successes that UCE has had in combating HIV/AIDS. It is also a time where we remember that the Ugandan success began with prayer, and that prayer sustains our efforts.
Ugandans, and other African countries UCE serves, have experienced what it means to have a quarter of their population sick and dying. “In the early 1990’s, we were going to funerals every week. We came to our knees, thinking about life and God and we prayed to change, and live”. In 2003, when UCE was founded, the HIV prevalence rate in Uganda had already declined. However, the people still held regular all-night prayer vigils, praying for success against the scourge of AIDS. UCE aims to follow the Ugandan model of success against AIDS, and for this reason World AIDS Week focuses on prayer and reflection. The first World AIDS Week all-night prayer vigil was held in Pueblo, Colorado on December 1st, 2006. Currently, UCE only hosts an all-night prayer vigil in Pueblo, Colorado, but if you aren’t from the area this doesn’t mean you can’t be involved too!
Thousands of prayers began the original success, and still thousands more are needed.
You can have your own UCE World AIDS Week all-night prayer vigil:
- Ask your priest or pastor if your church or chapel could remain open all night for prayer and meditation.
- Require that two or more people sign up for one hour each with the Lord.
- At least two weeks ahead of time invite people to the event.
- Let us know! We would love to give you more ideas on how you can make your own UCE World AIDS Week all-night prayer vigil a success. We would be glad to help with materials, flyers, etc. The UCE message is that abstinence until a faithful marriage to one person works! Our faith in God strengthens us to love each other fully, and live healthy lives!
Other easy ways to help UCE:
- Designate your church offering to UCE activities.
- Ask how you can organize a UCE fundraising event or get involved.
- Pray with us from afar! There is nothing quite like setting your alarm clock for the middle of the night to wake up and pray. If you can’t join us physically, join us spiritually from your own home. We must begin in prayer and turn our hearts to the Lord, asking Him how our lives should be lived. Stay awake with us for one hour on December 1st.
- Let us know! We would love to give you more ideas on how you can make your own UCE World AIDS Week all-night prayer vigil a success. We would be glad to help with materials, flyers, etc. The UCE message is that abstinence until a faithful marriage to one person works! Our faith in God strengthens us to love each other fully, and live healthy lives!
