|
 Click here to view the
HIV Testing Campaign video.
Contents |
A Message from Pernessa C. Seele |
The Black Church Lights The Way |
Why Should I Get Tested?
Stop Living In The Dark |
Download your Toolkit |
Get Your Church Involved In HIV Testing |
Register Your Church
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GET YOUR CHURCH INVOLVED WITH HIV TESTING!
 A
primary source of support to those living with HIV/AIDS in the Black community
is the Church. Many churches offer faith-based HIV prevention programs. To
help your church set up an HIV/AIDS Prevention Ministry, you can start by following
these five steps:
1. Assess your church. Is an HIV/AIDS Ministry the pastor's idea or
is this something the congregation requested? Is the congregation knowledgeable
about HIV/AIDS? Where is the church in the process of developing an HIV/AIDS
Prevention Ministry? Have any church members taken HIV/AIDS training? Has the
pastor participated in HIV/AIDS training? Determine if everyone is on the same
page as far as setting up this program.
2. Seek out faith-based HIV/AIDS sensitive organizations, such as The
Balm In Gilead, for guidance. Ask how your church can develop the appropriate
program/ministry for its congregation. Is funding available to assist you in
offering these services? Get involved with The Balm in Gilead's Black Church
Week of Prayer for the Healing of AIDS.
3. Start slowly. Bring in speakers to the church to raise health and
HIV/AIDS awareness. Start offering health fairs in the community.
4. Reach out to Black churches who have established HIV/AIDS Prevention
Ministries. Participate in their programs. See how they're set up. How
do they promote their ministry? Is someone available for pre- and post-test
counseling? Pastoral counseling?
6. Get to know your community. What are they doing about HIV/AIDS prevention?
Is there a community agency available that can assist you?
"For God, who commanded the light to shine
out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge
of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ."
II Corinthians 4:6
ABOUT THE BALM IN GILEAD
Our Church Lights The Way: The Black Church HIV Testing Campaign is
a national program organized by The Balm in Gilead, a not-for-profit, non-governmental
organization with an international mission to stop the spread of HIV/AIDS throughout
the African Diaspora by building the capacity of faith communities to provide
HIV/AIDS education and support networks for all people living with and affected
by HIV/AIDS.
The Balm In Gilead is endorsed by major church denominations, caucuses, coalitions
and independent churches nationwide. The Balm In Gilead has established, and
continues to develop, educational and training programs specifically to meet
the needs of Black churches that strive to become centers for HIV/AIDS ministry,
education, and compassion. Our Church Lights The Way: The Black Church HIV
Testing Campaign is designed to assist churches in educating and encouraging
African Americans to get tested and to get more churches involved in addressing
HIV/AIDS.
For churches that wish to join Our Church Lights The Way: The Black Church
HIV Testing Campaign, and receive more information about The Balm In
Gilead, please contact our offices:
888-225-6243
info@balmingilead.org
For individuals who want to find out how and where to get tested, please call:
CDC HIV Testing Hotline
800-342-2437
800-243-7889 (TTY) |
