HISTORY OF REACH4LIFE One of the biggest ongoing tragedies in sub-Saharan Africa is the HIV/AIDS pandemic. Africa has 70% of all HIV infections, with southern and eastern Africa accounting for over half of all global infections.
Although AIDS is no longer necessarily a terminal disease, as it can be managed with antiretroviral drugs, there is still no cure. And one thing that is very clear from the history of the HIV/AIDS pandemic in Africa is that there is a direct link between the spread of the disease and poverty. For young people mired in poverty, there are few opportunities and little hope for the future. Hopelessness leads to risky behavior, including sexual promiscuity and drug and alcohol abuse. For young men, there are few good male role models and young women are vulnerable to sexual exploitation and abuse.
In the face of such intractable social and moral problems, a few sex education classes and handing out free condoms is not the answer! Only a total transformation of the heart and mind can bring about true and lasting behavioural change. And how can such a change happen? Through meeting Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour and having your whole life transformed through the Word of God. The goal is therefore not just sexual purity, but holistic spiritual transformation.
It was this realisation that led the Biblica team in South Africa to develop the Reach4Life programme back in 2004. After consulting with experts in HIV/AIDS, sexuality, educational psychology, and theology, all the additional material was written that, together with the text of the New Testament, forms the heart of the programme. Most of the additional material was written by a youth pastor from Cape Town, South Africa, whose own father had died of AIDS.
The programme comprises 40 lessons delivered throughout the year in a small group context by peer educators who serve not just as teachers, but also as mentors and role models. Once a young person gives their life to Christ, they are connected to a local church where they can continue to receive the community support they need to thrive. Many young people who have gone through the programme have gone on to become peer educators themselves.
The 40 lessons are divided into 4 Journeys:
- Believe – the gospel message of salvation.
- Grow – how to grow in faith and spiritual maturity.
- Live – how to deal with the practical challenges of life as a young person.
- Change – how to be a change agent and work for God’s Kingdom.
There are also bonus inserts that deal with sexuality and relationship-related issues (Reality Bites), overcoming hurdles to growing closer to God (That’s Deep), amazing facts about Jesus (Wow!), overviews of each book of the New Testament (Zoom) and extra Scripture notes linked to the 4 Journeys (Journey Links).
The programme was first run in schools but soon started being used in church youth groups, universities, prisons, drug rehabilitation centres, orphanages, and refugee camps. Wherever there were young people gathered, Reach4Life proved to have a powerful impact.
In 2015 a significantly revised version was released that shifted the focus from HIV/AIDS to a broader focus on sexuality and relationships in general, and now using the easier-to-read New International Readers Version (NIrV) of the Bible.
Globally, Reach4Life has been launched in over 30 countries and has been translated into 12 languages. Biblica partners with organisations, both large and small, who run the programme in all kinds of settings. Over 2 million young people have been impacted by the programme as we continue to transform lives through God’s Word.
One of our partners, Phakama Africa Community Projects (Phakama), together with their supporting organisation, Prevention Time, developed a training manual for their peer educators and were able to achieve tremendous growth in Bible engagement. Using topics and concepts found in their manual, along with additional content and sources, we have created a training tool that can now be used by our global partners.