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Churches to Participate
LOS ANGELES SENTINEL
By VIRGIE W. MURRAY
03.08.01
The Black Church Week of Prayer for The Healing of AIDS, is being
held this week. Churches throughout the nation are participating
in the event sponsored byBalm In Gilead, which began March 4, and
continues through Saturday, March 10.
Now in its 12th year, the Black Church Week of Prayer for the Healing
of AIDS, has brought awareness, education and hope to more than
10,000 churches. It alsobrought education to hundreds of thousands
of African Americans.
On Saturday, March 10, at noon, at the First New Christian Baptist
Church, 1555 W. '108th St., Hydeia L. Broadbent, the 16-year-old
AIDS advocate, will be the featuredspeaker. Hydeia was born with
HIV and has been living with full-blown AIDS since the age of five.
She has been awarded many honors, including the 1999 Essence Award,
and the American Red Cross Humanitarian Spirit Award. Hydeia has
also been featured on national television and at many events across
the country.
Drs. Deletes W. Bullard, executive director and Cassandra Sheard,
director of Education of the Hydeia L. Broadbent Foundation, will
also participate along with Dr. NormanS. Johnson, senior pastor.
The Faith United Methodist Church,. 1713 W. 10gth St., is observing
the week with special events March 6-8. The Imani Unidos AIDS Project
will hold open house at the Food Panty, located on the lower level
of the church, from 10 a,m. to I p.m. lmani is the only food pantry
in to be churches and mosques of heal-ing and in compassion for
the people living with HIV/AIDS.
"We need to know that black senior citizens represent more
than 50 percent of the HIV cases' among persons over the age of
55; one in every 50 black men is HIV positive;one in every 160 black
women is H1V positive; and black children represent two/thirds (62
percent) of all reported pediatric AIDS cases."
"During this national observance,' Imam is seeking donations
of food, non-perishable products of all kinds, personal care items
and cash donations. All donations aretax deductible," added
the pastor. The week-long educational program recognizes that churches?
The most important institutions owned and operated by and (or AfricanAmericans,
can and are leading the struggle to stop the spread of HIV/AIDS.
The event also delivers and demands more resources for people and
families' infected or affected.
Many churches made HIV/AIDS the focus of the worship service on
March 4. Educational programs and prayer services were planned during
the week. The sermons featured the education of HIV/AIDS and the
role of the church. Special prayers were offered for healing the
impact of AIDS on the lives of people who are affected by the epidemic.
Educational materials were distributed to the congregations. Among
the activities suggested to the churches to consider were conferences
on AIDS in the AfricanAmerican community; AIDS Prevention Workshops
for youth and adults; Treatment and Care Workshops for persons living
with AIDS and their families And prayer vigils. The churches were
urged to join the national movement and register with Balm In Gilead.
In registering with this group, they will receivefree assistance,
useful worship and educational materials and become part of a family
that is putting the power of prayer and education to work in the
AIDS crisis.
Literature used in the Week of prayer include Dr. Jeremiah A. Wright
Jr.'s Good News! Sermons of Hope for Today's Families; Though I
Stand At the Door andKnock: The Black Church Struggle with Homosexuality
and AIDS, by Dr. Cornel West, Phill Wilson and Dr. Wright; Sexuality
and the Black Church by Dr. Kelly Brown Douglas and others.
Videos scheduled during the week include Jessye Norman Sings for
the Healing of AIDS; The Black Church Speaks! AIDS: Be Knowledgeable
featuring Dr. Wright; TheBlack Church Speaks AIDS: A National Emergency
in the African American Community, featuring Dr. Johnnie Colemort,
Dr. Dennis Dickerson, Dr. Robert Franklin and Bishop T. D. Jakes.
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