Prevention Time

Prevention Time Prevention Time was formed in 2009 to fund a Christian AIDS prevention and youth development program (Reach4Life) in South Africa, Swaziland, Mozambique, and Lesotho, where collectively over 10 million are infected with HIV. In 2022, the program began expanding into Nigeria, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe (see countries in green on map).  The goal is to tell young people how they can know God, avoid the virus, and make wise life choices. The program also assures those who are HIV positive that God loves them and can use them for His purposes.

Biblica's Reach4Life© New Testament (with lessons inside) is used as curriculum. Christian adults from local churches take the program into schools, prisons, drug rehabs, churches, universities, community groups, and radio programs. They are called Peer Educators because most are young adults with whom the youth relate more easily. These indigenous people know the language, the culture, and the communities where they live and work. (Ancestor worship is a difficult cultural challenge.) They commit to the program for the full school year. Many continue to serve beyond that. In recent years, spiritually mature students have also started leading student groups in schools.  

The program is carried out in the field by Phakama, a South African nonprofit, directed by Thandeka (Thandy) Mavundla-Nzama. Prevention Time has no paid staff, so 98% of funds go to program services in Africa for transportation, training, manuals, t-shirts/caps, and supplies for the Peer Educators; support for area coordinators and the program director; pastor trainings, and contributions to Biblica for Reach4Life New Testaments.

Funding is limited, so the Departments of Education prioritize schools with the most challenges (high rates of violence, rape, teen pregnancies, drug use, satanism, witchcraft, etc.).

Schools provide classroom time for Peer Educators to teach. Headmasters see positive results, and more schools are asking for the program. Additional schools are added as funding allows. The program also networks with social services, clinics, police, and other agencies to address medical, abuse, addiction, and other issues.

Peer Educators are trained in basic Christian doctrine and teaching methods. They prepare and teach lessons, submit reports, and work with others. These job skills make them more employable in areas of high unemployment.

Churches are strengthened as Peer Educators, who are now more knowledgeable and confident because of their experience, become leaders and pastors.  

Youth are invited to commit to Christ and abstinence and to attend local, Bible-based churches in the community where they can be discipled. Churches are being planted to help provide church homes for kids coming out of the program. Two churches have been built so far, with a third one being planned. In 2022, there were 439,811 participants in the program and over a million radio listeners. Inmate attendance in detention centers totaled 30,308. Commitments to Christ (in all venues) totaled 99,157.  

Prevention Time is based in Federal Way, WA, and is headed by Lorna Packard. Pastor Ed Kelley IV serves as the pastoral advisor to the board.

updated 2/2023