The study identifies a serious and growing gap in the
care of people living with HIV and AIDS in Zambia. It
investigates the empowerment of churches for
home-based care as a pastoral response to the
pandemic. A contextual analysis of the HIV/AIDS
pandemic is made. The need for HIV/AIDS education for
both the clergy and laity is noted as a critical step
toward empowerment of churches. The study notes that
an urgent need exists for evangelical Christians
involvement in the fight against the HIV/AIDS through
pastoral care. Most evangelicals seem to prefer
non-involvement to practical engagement due to
stigma. The shift of pastoral care from the
professional counseling room to the faith community
is identified as vital to African pastoral care of
PLWHA where care and counseling is essentially a
communal matter. The study formulates a pastoral
model with a healthy tension between pastoral care
and psychosocial counseling without compromising
biblical Christianity. The study posits a
theological praxis toward empowering church-based
communities through HIV/AIDS training rediscovering
authentic koinonia care, and reaching out to people
living with HIV/AIDS through home-based care.
care of people living with HIV and AIDS in Zambia. It
investigates the empowerment of churches for
home-based care as a pastoral response to the
pandemic. A contextual analysis of the HIV/AIDS
pandemic is made. The need for HIV/AIDS education for
both the clergy and laity is noted as a critical step
toward empowerment of churches. The study notes that
an urgent need exists for evangelical Christians
involvement in the fight against the HIV/AIDS through
pastoral care. Most evangelicals seem to prefer
non-involvement to practical engagement due to
stigma. The shift of pastoral care from the
professional counseling room to the faith community
is identified as vital to African pastoral care of
PLWHA where care and counseling is essentially a
communal matter. The study formulates a pastoral
model with a healthy tension between pastoral care
and psychosocial counseling without compromising
biblical Christianity. The study posits a
theological praxis toward empowering church-based
communities through HIV/AIDS training rediscovering
authentic koinonia care, and reaching out to people
living with HIV/AIDS through home-based care.