Since the height of the HIV epidemic in the 1990s, SIM has been responding to the issue of HIV globally through a range of health and development projects, known collectively as ‘Hope for Life’ (HFL). Motivated by a desire to display Jesus’ love, the heart of SIM’s HFL projects is to open doors into communities where people are impacted by HIV, to serve them and to see holistic transformation in their lives. Hope for Life is also equipping churches to respond to local HIV needs in communities and to express the Gospel through compassionate ministries. Currently, SIM has over 20 Hope for Life ministries responding to issues of HIV across 12 countries.  

SIM Australia mission worker, Jacqui, serves as the SIM Ministry Point Person for Hope for Life. She explained, “It’s not just about care and support, but we’re really helping people to step into healthy and thriving lives.” As the HFL Ministry Point Person, it’s her privilege to support SIM’s global network of HIV ministries, connecting them, encouraging them and helping them be most effective in reaching out to vulnerable communities. Through the Hope for Life projects, SIM has an opportunity to share the love and compassion of Christ with people across the globe.  

As well as serving as the Ministry Point Person, Jacqui, who is based in Chiang Mai, has served with the Hope for Life Thailand team for ten years. The HFL Thailand project concentrates on bringing the hope and healing of Christ into situations of brokenness. “When we talk about brokenness, we’re referring to broken relationships and challenging life circumstances, as well as a fracturing that occurs in our world due to inequalities and marginalisation, violence, stigma and discrimination,” said Jacqui.  

“Thailand, as a country, has experienced around 200 years of protestant mission work, yet still only 1% of the population knows Christ,” Jacqui explained. With a desire for people to experience the love and hope of Jesus, HFL Thailand seeks to see transformation in individuals and communities. They pursue this by building relationships, providing holistic care to the vulnerable and creating spaces for learning, including coming alongside the local church. 

One specific initiative focuses on a community in the north of Thailand. The team has established an outreach centre called ‘Shalom House.’ Jacqui said, “The heart for this space is that it is a really engaging focus point for the community to come and access support and services that are going to be helpful for them.” As well as providing a general drop in space for the local community, the HFL Thailand team offers English lessons and extends an invitation to join in its worship and Bible studies.  

“Alongside that, we’ve been actively starting to build relationships in the surrounding community. One way we’re doing this is by investing in teaching an English and a Life Skills program in local schools,” she shared.  

“We teach upper primary students once a week at each of these schools, and we're witnessing some really positive responses from the students and the teachers.”

The positive relationships and connections are evident as more students from the schools begin to engage with activities at Shalom House.  

“We really want to see those relationships develop further and as we develop the relationships with the students and with their families, we are hoping to have more opportunities to speak life and hope into their circumstances,” explained Jacqui.  

Alaina’s story 

Alaina* is one 11-year-old girl the Hope for Life Thailand team have been journeying with. The team established a connection with her through one of the schools where they teach. 

Alaina’s father passed away, and her mother remarried, resulting in Alaina living with her aunt and grandmother—an arrangement not uncommon in this community. 

The team invited Alaina to visit Shalom House, where she now attends English classes and participates in other programs. Since joining Shalom House, Alaina has also introduced four friends to the centre. 

Jacqui expressed her excitement about connecting with this young girl and the opportunity to inspire hope in her life: “It's early days, but I’m truly excited about the engagement we have with this young girl and the opportunity to speak life and hope into her.” 

“She is a young life that's already been impacted by so much brokenness. At just eleven years old, her life trajectory could go in a number of ways, and we're really hopeful that through our investment in her, we can help her thrive and really take on some great opportunities.” 

At Shalom House, Alaina and her friends have the opportunity to hear firsthand about Jesus’ love for them.  

GO: Do you want to use your skills and gifts to make Christ’s love known through SIM’s Hope for Life ministries and projects? The team are currently in need of workers who have a background in health, communications, education and development. Visit sim.org.au/hopeforlife to find out more. 

PRAY: Pray for Hope for Life teams over the world that the people they journey with would experience the compassion and love of Jesus.  

*Name changed to protect identity