A project birthed out of The Evangelical Alliance Mission (TEAM) is helping to bridge that gap of problem and action: the "Anesu" project.

"The issue of HIV and AIDS in southern Africa is profoundly serious," says Anesu's founder Bud Jackson. "Ten percent of the world's population is bearing roughly 70% of the burden of global HIV and AIDS."

And yet, Jackson admits, it's difficult for the church elsewhere to get involved. For one, it's hard to know how. For another, missions can so easily be focused on conversion that it's easy to forget about compassion.

"Balancing the theology of conversion with the theology of compassion, [Anesu is] driven to connecting churches in North America with the church in Zimbabwe in its response to people infected, affected, and at risk by HIV," says Jackson.

Essentially, Anesu is empowering Zimbabwean churches to respond to HIV/AIDS prevention and care through the partnership and support of North American churches.

It's a two-sided partnership. Zimbabwean churches are helped, and North American churches are able to serve and be genuinely involved. "We actually position ourselves…to be a bridge that connects churches in North America with the church across Zimbabwe in a way that allows the churches in North America to find point of entry for meaningful engagement right alongside the churches in Zimbabwe."

Through Anesu, Zimbabwean churches are able to respond medically to the HIV/AIDS crisis through partnerships with other organizations. As the church reaches out directly to serve and care for individuals in the community with HIV and AIDS, not only is the Gospel shared, but there is a relational response to those suffering from the disease and its stigma.

That ensured contact is actually pretty rare, says Jackson. "We're talking about a nation here, or a part of a continent, that has received billions and billions of dollars–most of which have gone right down the drain–in the name of aid. And it's being sent by very well-meaning and compassionate people who have no idea that what they're giving and what they're sending is just not finding the point of application."

Partnerships through Anesu provide the security that money will not be wasted because efforts are being led and allocated by the local church.

Anesu is a young project–it only really got into motion in January of 2011. But it's already expanding. If your church might want to be a part of this special partnership, watch this video to learn more. Then contact Jackson at bud@anesupartnership.com.

Or as David Rice of the India Gospel League puts it, "India represents right now the greatest concentration of lostness on the planet."

IGL has been ministering in the country for nearly 150. Recently, they have developed a strategy to reach these people faster than ever.

"Our goal over the next two years is to raise up over 1000 church planters that will go into those unreached, unengaged areas and bring the light of the Gospel against the darkness," Rice said. The goal is to see at least two million people come to Christ.

Each church-planter receives $100 per month for expenses. However, IGL cannot fund this all on its own and needs your help.

Rice said, "I'm actually looking for 100 North American churches that will sponsor ten pastors. That's an investment of $12,000 a year."

With the great amount of persecution against Christian taking place in India, the church-planters being trained by IGL are aware of the risk. However, they see it as part of the journey.

"It seems to fuel the church," Rice said, speaking of persecution. "[It] seems to make their zeal all the more fervent."

So far, IGL has about 100 North American churches already sponsoring church-planters, which means many are hearing about Christ, but an even greater number are still waiting for their chance. Another advantage to supporting this effort is seeing your money maximized due to the exchange rate from the American dollar to the currency of India.

Visit iglworld.org if your church is interested in helping out. Or call (800) 352-4451.