..............................................................................................................................................................................................
|
How
Can Your Church Participate? |
 |
As
an active participant in the Black Church Week of Prayer for the Healing
of AIDS, your church is asked to do one or more of the following:
Make HIV/AIDS education and awareness the focus of the worship experience
on Sunday, March 2, 2008.
Host an educational program, prayer service, conference, or workshop
during the week of March 2-8, 2008 at your place of worship.
Provide ongoing HIV/AIDS education information and promotional materials
for your congregation and community.
Develop a partnership with local AIDS service organizations, community
based organizations, faith-based organizations, public health agencies,
and health departments, who are also active participants in the Black
Church Week of Prayer.
Partner with the Balm In Gilead by making a commitment to serve as
a community center for HIV/AIDS awareness, education, support, and
compassion year around!
Upon registering and becoming an active participant in the Black Church
Week of Prayer for the Healing of AIDS 2008, your church will receive
the following:
1. Membership in the National Black Church HIV/AIDS
Network of the Balm In Gilead, Inc.
2. Online access to the Black Church Week of Prayer
for the Healing of AIDS 2008 Planning and Implementation Guide, including
HIV/AIDS Fact Sheets, Products and Liturgical Resource information.
3. Access to ongoing technical assistance, training,
and capacity building services provided by the Technical Assistance
and Training Department of the Balm In Gilead, Inc.
4. A personalized listing on the internet of your
church’s Week of Prayer activities and events.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Suggestions
for making AIDS education the focus of your worship experience:
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- During worship, offer a special prayer for the healing of AIDS
-- its impact on our family and community and throughout the global
village.
- The pastor can deliver a compassionate and informative sermon on
HIV/AIDS and the role of the church.
- Include AIDS facts in your Sunday bulletin and/or distribute AIDS
education brochures from your local AIDS service organization or
health department, from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
or from The Balm In Gilead.
- Include a discussion on AIDS education in the church school program
at every age level.
- Work in partnership with a local health care provider to provide
on-site HIV testing after worship and encourage members to get tested.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Suggestions for educational activities you can provide at the church
during the week:
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- Host a church conference on AIDS for the community.
- Conduct an AIDS prevention workshop for youth and/or adults.
- Host a treatment and care workshop for persons living with HIV/AIDS
and their families.
- Host an educational workshop on mother-to-child transmission
and prevention.
- Host a "Get Tested" workshop to educate church members/community
on the importance of knowing one's HIV status, and
to address the fears and stigma about testing.
- Host a workshop on mobilizing volunteers
for AIDS service.
- Host
a prayer
vigil
and
distribute
AIDS
information.
You can receive more program suggestions and further assistance
by calling The Balm In Gilead at 888-225-6243.
|
|
..............................................................................................................................................................................................
Join us in prayer
Sunday, March 2 - Saturday, March 8, 2008
..............................................................................................................................................................................................
|
