Opening people's eyes

Jamie Jones

Members of the First Baptist Church of Dalton have kept a keen eye on a continent a world away.

The church is involved with relief work in Africa, working with several areas in Kenya and South Africa. A group of parishioners went to Kenya last September and two young male church members are currently missionaries in South Africa.

Beginning July 12, area residents will have a chance to experience the tribulations Africans have endured when the nationally touring, interactive “World Vision Experience: AIDS” exhibit opens at the church. The project seeks to raise awareness about the effects of the AIDS pandemic on children in developing countries.

“We are heavily connected there and our folks really have a heart for the region,” said Walt Windley, ministry resident for outreach and community building. “We thought this was a natural fit.”

The exhibit, which is free and open to the public, features a 3,600-square-foot replica of an African village. Visitors tour the village, listening on headsets to tracks telling the true stories of four children — Babirye, Emmanuel, Kombo and Mathabo — whose lives have been affected by AIDS. The exhibit replicates sub-Saharan Africa, where about 25 million people are infected with HIV — about two-thirds of the world’s total. The tour lasts about 30 minutes.

Windley and church member Deb Wells, who is also the chair of the planning team, went to Los Angeles in May to see the exhibit.

“It’s powerful,” Windley said. “It’s one thing to hear about it and to see some pictures, but when you actually walk through the exhibit it’s a whole different thing. For about a half hour, you’ll walk in the shoes of one specific child. You get to know their entire story.”

Wells said the exhibit gives attendees “the opportunity to see, hear and experience in a personal way the lives of children whose worlds have been devastated by AIDS.”

The exhibit visited 75 cities in 2007 and 2008 and is scheduled to visit 40 more in 2009. About 4,000 to 5,000 visitors tour the exhibit in each city during a typical eight-day stay.

“World Vision Experience: AIDS” will be open from July 12 through July 19. Hours are 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily except for Tuesday when the exhibit is open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Only 40 people can go through the exhibit at a time, so Windley recommends reserving a time in advance. Participants can register on the Web site www.worldvisionexperience.org/dalton.

Windley was introduced to “World Vision Experience: AIDS” through Micah Challenge, a Christian group based in Washington, D.C., dedicated to eliminating poverty. Micah Challenge hosted a conference in April in Atlanta that Windley attended. Group members were looking for a church to host the exhibit. The application process took several months, he said.

“There are a lot of stereotypes associated with HIV and AIDS, especially here in America,” Windley said. “So we’re hoping this opens people’s eyes to the greater pandemic that’s really affected the entire world. We’re talking about a generation being wiped out in Africa.”

“World Vision Experience: AIDS”

What: Interactive, multimedia, 3,600-square-foot exhibit detailing the effect of AIDS and HIV on Africa.

Where: First Baptist Church (311 N. Thornton Ave.)

When: July 12 through July 19. Hours are 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily except for Tuesday when the exhibit is open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Cost: Free. To avoid waiting in line, attendees are encouraged to register for a time by visiting www.worldvisionexperience.org/dalton.