This initiative draws on religious themes, words, and organisations to communicate the message that abstinence is both an act of love and the key means to prevent/avoid HIV/AIDS infection. As part of a collaboration between a United States-based church and an Indian hospital, a free, 17-page printed booklet was produced. The resource includes factual information about HIV/AIDS as well as passages from the Bible and messages that are meant to be inspirational and transformative in terms of sexual decision-making. That is, the resource strongly promotes abstinence as an HIV/AIDS prevention approach.

A key strategy in producing the booklet involves its adaptability for language and context, so that it might more aptly "speak" to particular readers in particular circumstances. Initially translated into 22 of India's languages, it has also been published in the following languages: Portuguese language for Mozambique and Angola; Sinhalese language for Sri Lanka; Burmese language for Myanmar; Spanish translation for Central America (in process); and Creole translation for Haiti (in process). Within the booklet itself, sections that need to be changed to suit a specific country, culture, or organisation are highlighted.

Information and communication technology (ICT) has also been used as a strategy for expanding the reach and usability of the publication. For example, in South Africa and Ghana, those adapting the booklet have placed the subject matter into chapters and added a table of contents. The average page size is now 24 pages because of this. (In Africa, the booklet has been published in English language for Ghana, South Africa, Malawi, Botswana, Zambia, Swaziland, Zimbabwe, and Lesotho.)

Though centred on a printed publication, this initiative is at core an interpersonal, face-to-face endeavour. Drawing on the power of religion to bring people together and motivate behaviour shifts, various churches are engaging in HIV/AIDS ministry by conducting outreach efforts to distribute the booklet and talk to people about the disease. For example, moved by newspaper reports about the havoc that HIV/AIDS was wreaking on the refugee population of over 40,000 Liberians in Ghana, the Apostolic Lutheran Church in Accra visited the Liberian Refugee Camp in Budumburam to hand out booklets, talk to residents about the pandemic, "and bring hope in Jesus to many." Prior to this refugee outreach, the Church had printed 15,000 abstinence booklets - for distribution mainly to high school students, pastors and churches, and organised youth groups. In South Africa, the English language version of the booklet was distributed to 50 high schools, especially to students in grade 8. The Bishop of the United Lutheran Church also received 250 copies to distribute in his churches. In India, the abstinence booklet distribution team consists of approximately 30 pastors who conduct seminars in schools, colleges, and churches. Distribution is also carried out in marketplaces.

HIV/AIDS

As of May 2006, nearly 1.7 million copies of the booklet have been printed - mostly for India, where it has been distributed in 10 states. In the words of the booklet's author, "Information on the disease is sadly lacking in India. A common comment on this booklet is this: 'After we received this abstinence booklet, we came to know about the killer disease for the first time. Many of our lives have been saved through this booklet.'" Commenting on the reach of the project, another key project team member claims that the state government of India "continually keeps encouraging us to cover the entire state (population of about 80 million). We are even welcome to distribute the booklet in some Hindu temples, which
is an unheard of opportunity. Our main and perhaps only major problem is finding the money to expand the effort, especially for India and Africa."