HIV/AIDS, Sex Trafficking, and Urban Issues Addressed at Urbana 06
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(St. Louis)—Advocates for the victims of HIV/AIDS appealed to the 22,000 attendees at Urbana 06 to invest themselves in the global fight to end the AIDS epidemic.
In an extended Friday night focus on the AIDS issue, attendees heard from Princess Kasune Zulu, a native of Zambia who is HIV positive and who lost both parents to AIDS.
NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(St. Louis)—Advocates for the victims of HIV/AIDS appealed to the 22,000 attendees at Urbana 06 to invest themselves in the global fight to end the AIDS epidemic.
In an extended Friday night focus on the AIDS issue, attendees heard from Princess Kasune Zulu, a native of Zambia who is HIV positive and who lost both parents to AIDS. Now working as an HIV/AIDS advocate with World Vision, Princess Kasune (her given name, not a title) explained how her experiences energized her to activism when she was the same age as many of the college students attending Urbana. “If God could use me, he can use you,” she said. “And you and I will leave a legacy behind that as young people we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us.”
Kay Warren, the wife of Rick Warren, pastor of Saddleback Church in California and an Urbana 06 plenary speaker, said that attendees can respond to the AIDS challenge wherever they live. “You and I have the opportunity to make the invisible God visible,” she said. “Care for people with HIV, so that they know that there’s a God who cares for us all.”
Steve Haas, a vice president with World Vision, introduced a video that was sent to Urbana 06 by Bono, the rock star and advocate for victims of AIDS and poverty. “The biggest mistake is to think that we can’t do anything,” Bono said. “That’s what I like about Urbana. You’re about action. Let’s go to work for the least of these.”
Earlier in the evening, Sharon Cohn, a lawyer with International Justice Mission, reminded attendees that a group of students the size of Urbana 06 could make the dictators of the world nervous. “When power is threatened, it is students who are feared,” she said.
Noting the estimated 27 million men, women and children who are believed to be trapped in prostitution and other modern forms of slavery, Cohn said “We are all called to seriously consider God’s love and concern for the oppressed. We are also all called to be relentless in pursuing God’s justice in whatever ways he shows us.”
Friday evening’s plenary speakers were Ray Bakke and Saul Cruz, who addressed the theme “Spiritual Battle for the Global City.” Bakke is the founder of International Urban Associates and currently serves as Regent’s Chair and acting academic dean at Bakke Graduate University in Seattle, WA. Saul Cruz and his wife Pilar direct Armonia Ministries, which works in poor communities in urban and rural areas of Mexico.
The Urbana 06 Student Missions Convention is being held at the Edward Jones Dome and The America’s Center in St. Louis, December 27-31, 2007. It is sponsored by InterVarsity Christian Fellowship/USA and Inter-Varsity Christian Fellowship of Canada. Streaming audio and video of Urbana 06 can be found at www.urbana.org. Some audio files are also posted on the audio resources page of www.intervarsity.org.
For more information on Urbana 06 contact:
Gordon Govier
ggovier@intervarsity.org