The first HIV/AIDS Youth Summit at Saddleback Church, was headlined by the author of "Ana's Story", First Daughter Jenna Bush.  Pastor Rick and Kay Warren were the ones that co-hosted this  Global Summit on AIDS & The Church, organized on World AIDS Day. More than  5,000 teens that participated in the event were thus challenged by  Jenna Bush, Bono (U2)and many others to become more aware of HIV care and cure.

The number of participants in the event included over 4,100 participants via satellite that uplinked to 200 locations in 35 states and Canada.  Jordan Pruitt, Disney's musical sensation, held a concert on  Friday evening. In addition,  Riders for Christ made a high-flying motocross demonstration.

Dr. Rick Warren said: "Nothing has taken so many lives and is so incurable as AIDS. While we are looking for a cure, we need to care. But before you can care, you need to be aware; then you need to dare to do something about it."

He added: "Why are we doing this conference? Because Jesus cared about sick people, and commands us to have that same compassion. Sympathy says, 'I'm sorry you hurt;' Empathy asks, 'How can I help you?' but compassion says, 'I will do anything I can to help you.'"

Becoming aware of how much people around the world suffer and need a compassionate and loving heart to care for them, Kay Warren was inspired to share her journey of awareness. She stated: "We're here on World AIDS Day to help make a difference."

Mrs. Maureen Mwanawasa, First Lady of the Republic of Zambia, stated: "I pray for you everyday as young people, because you are the future. AIDS has no boundaries, but success has no headquarters. There will be no success in overcoming this disease if you don't protect yourselves. The message is clear: we need you in the fight against HIV/AIDS. As parents we play our role, but the responsibility falls on you -- and with God, you cannot fail."

South African pastor John Thomas made a speech on 'Sex: Doing it God's Way -- on Purpose'. He said: "We don't talk about sex in church, but you sit there with all those hormones. AIDS has drawn back the curtain to our bedrooms, exposed our moral lives and then leaves its business card behind. But God has a sexual plan for your life."

First Daughter Jenna Bush worked for UNICEF in Panama and decided to write a book, sharing what she has acknowledged. Her life was completely transformed after meeting a young 17-year- old single mother who was herself infected with HIV at birth and has since lived a life filled with abuse, and this is what she talks about in "Ana's Story."

Ms. Bush said: "She [Ana] wanted me to tell you that if you know someone, a child, facing similar hardships that Ana faces, you should tell them they are not alone and it is okay to get the help they need to keep themselves safe."

She added: "You are probably asking yourself how can I make a difference, what can I possibly do? Often it's the smallest gesture of
kindness that makes a huge difference. First, get educated on HIV/AIDS and know the difference between myths and facts. Then start a dialogue with your friends and families and at school. But the most important thing you can do is to protect yourself and others."

Irish rock star Bono gave an impressive speech addressed to the next generation of leaders in the response to HIV/AIDS. He said: "These are important issues -- not just on Dec. 1, World AIDS Day, or Dec. 2 or Dec. 3 -- but for the work Saddleback and your partners in Rwanda are doing 365 days of the year -- that's an incredible thing; we are a long way from beating this pandemic. I think it's important to stop and take a minute to look back at how far we've come, but then we've got to get back to work -- it's not a cause, it's an emergency."

This Summit is an extension of the annual Global Summit on AIDS & The Church, that Saddleback has held over the past three years. This helps create awareness and action among the next generation, most of whom have never known life without AIDS. In addition, the Saddleback Orphan initiative has been launched by the church. An orphan can be adopted by a teenager through this initiative, through a participating church that would love and nurture that child.