John Thomas

Serving Those Affected by HIV and AIDS in Their Community

Ministry Team: AIDS Initiative and Global Justice

Cherry Hills is proud to partner with Living Hope Community Centre and Fish Hoek Baptist Church in South Africa, led by Pastor John Thomas. In 2007, Fish Hoek Baptist Church was awarded the Willow Creek Courageous Leadership Award and they continue to facilitate life-changing programs in their community that have inspired the global church to persevere in HIV/AIDS ministry. One such program is their Life Skills program that teaches young people to make positive choices and avoid situations and habits that would make them more vulnerable to HIV and AIDS. This proven program recently lost its US government funding, so they are diligently seeking people around the world who will participate in their DAD program and give a Dollar A Day so that they can continue their Life Skills program.

Living Hope also provides HIV testing, counseling, and medical care for those suffering from HIV and AIDS in their surrounding community. Their medical facility first began as a hospice, but once patients started receiving anti-retroviral medication, many started to get better and were able to go home! Because of this drastic change, they changed the name of the facility from hospice to Health Care Center. Living Hope hosts our Discover the World South Africa teams each summer and has been supported by the church since 2008.