Bono is the lead singer of Irish rock band U2, which has sold more than 140 million albums and won numerous awards, including 22 Grammys. A well-known activist in the fight against AIDS and extreme poverty in Africa, he co-founded DATA (Debt, AIDS, Trade, Africa) in 2002, The One Campaign in 2004, and Product (RED) in 2006, and was named TIME’s Person of the Year for 2005. Interviewed for the Summit in 2006, he challenged church leaders to mobilize against the ravages of global AIDS and poverty. Be a part of the continuing story, as Bono talks in an exclusive video about the church’s inspiring response and about his continuing life journey as a “single issue protagonist.”
Notes from this session follow…
- What is possible… when churches unite… to solve a global crisis… Only love can leave such a mark.
- “The church has done incredible things.”
- “The church is in the lead, not in the rear.”
- 2M Africans now getting AIDS meds.
- Video; Eaglebrook Community Church, Minneapolis, MN. Previously all their focus was on reaching their local community. First Bono interview was a turning point. Watched where God was working and joined in. People want to be a part of something like this. Leaders need to cast vision and provide a way to help. Inspire people. Show the villages that were transformed.
- Where the Streets Have No Name… written about a feeding station in Ethiopia
- Intuition is better than intellect. U2’s best work is when we don’t know what we’re doing.
- Video: Wittier Area Church. Decided to raise $160k to build a hospital in Malawi. Kids set up lemonade stand for Africa. Couple saving for infertility treatment, put that money towards the hospital. Not 4 big checks, everyone giving everything they could. Kids sold their toys, made jewelry. Raised $600k. Wow! Why did it take a rock start to motivate us to do this?
- Why couldn’t we find $25B to save millions of lives but we could $700B to bail out the banks?
- Hybels calls out Bono for not being a part of a church.
- Bono goes to various churches depending on where he is. Can’t stand lifeless ceremony.
- Video: LCBC – Was prepping team to go to Brazil, changed plans to go to South Africa. One of their players (Chris)died right before the season started. Decided to build a replica of their stadium in S.A. and named it after Chris. Using soccer to reach the community. Would be better served if we stood for things rather than standing against things.
- There’s always resistance on the journey to equality.
- Where have you drawn the line on your sphere of empathy?
I like what the church in Wittier did. We need to stop being afraid of offending people in the church about asking people for funds to save lives no matter whatacountry we are in or the people who are suffering are in. Helping to do fundraisers and getting the church to help people where ever they may live is a wonderful thing! So Kudos to you church in Wittier for getting on board. If everyone helped a little it would not be such a strain on one.
We see this suffering first hand daily it is overwhelming. To know that all these people are God’s children loved by him as much as you and me. I cannot help but think that we all are here to serve are brothers and sisters.
As for the ARV’s…that is all well and good but if are living a refuge camp (like the women we met yesterday) and you cannot afford the .60 cents it costs to get to the hospital that is almost 20 miles away them and waiting all day in line to be told back tomorrow…then what do you do? This only one thing i could go on and on….
It is sad to say that most people HAVE drawn a line on their sphere of empathy and it is a very small sphere that does not go beyond there own world.
Molly & Joe, I couldn’t write down everything Bono said, but it sounded as though many of the 2,000,000 people in Africa getting ARVs are getting them free. He said some areas have gotten so much they’re sending some back. I’m sure that’s not the case in most places, though. Still lots of work to be done. Keep up the good work you’re doing!