PrayerPoint is a bimonthly prayer digest of Samaritan's Purse that was created so you can join us in this essential aspect of the ministry. A subscription to PrayerPoint is free with your gift of any amount.

---

PrayerPoint archive

The grief Marcel felt when his wife and daughter died of was overwhelming. In his pain, he sought comfort from neighbors, family, and his church.

But Marcel could no longer hide the fact that he too was HIV-positive. He began losing weight and weakness would often overtake his once-strong frame.

Many people in Mozambique are uneducated about the transmission of HIV and fear those affected by the disease. Church leaders told Marcel and other HIV-positive members of the congregation to stop coming to weekly services, and cut off all contact with these once-faithful churchgoers.

Soon after, friends, family members, and neighbors also abandoned Marcel. He had no food, no money, no employment, and no one to comfort him during the most difficult season of his life.

But God was working in the heart of Marcel’s pastor. The pastor took part in the Samaritan’s Purse Church Mobilization Program where he learned how to reach out to those living with the disease. He realized ostracizing HIV-positive church members was not a Christ-like response.

The pastor apologized to those who had been forced to leave, and invited them to join an HIV/AIDS support group. Marcel was asked to speak to the congregation about his experience. He was surrounded by 53 others living with HIV/AIDS and the church leaders who had once abandoned him.

“It is my purpose now to help others in my situation to stay alive and, not only that, to truly live,” Marcel said.

Marcel, his pastor, and 20 church members have completed a home-based care training program conducted by the Ministry of Health and Samaritan’s Purse that will enable them to provide basic nursing care to people living with HIV/AIDS.