Reverend Christo Greyling has been living with HIV since 1987 and became the first Southern African faith leader to disclose his HIV status in 1992. After his theological studies, Christo completed his Masters in Public Health (Cum Laude) He then joined World Vision International from which he retired recently after 21 years. During this time with World Vision, he led the development of the Channels of Hope methodology which has catalysed more than 600,000 faith leaders in 50+ countries to respond to difficult development issues, such as HIV, child protection, maternal and child health, gender and Ebola. He served as their director for HIV and Infectious diseases, and senior director for Faith and external engagement.
Christo was instrumental in founding the Christian AIDS Bureau of Southern Africa, Stellenbosch AIDS Action and a founding member and chair of the African Network for Religious Leaders Infected and Affected HIV/AIDS (ANERELA+). He is the chairperson of HIV and Reproductive Health Working Group of the WCC Commission of the Churches on Health and Healing.