Get out the word on AIDS/HIV

Considering the high incidence of HIV/AIDS in the African-American community (African-Americans accounted for 6 percent of the Kansas population but 26 percent of AIDS cases diagnosed between 2000 and 2002), it’s important that pastors at several Wichita churches, including Tabernacle Baptist, Calvary Baptist and North Heights Christian, have agreed to help raise awareness with their congregations about this scourge prior to Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day on Feb 7.
Yes, the strong moral feelings regarding homosexuality make this a touchy topic. But if the pastors can in a nonjudgmental way enhance knowledge about high-risk behaviors, including drug abuse and promiscuity, and promote compassion toward suffering victims, they will have provided a valuable service for their community.
Posted by Randy Scholfield

2 Comments

  1. Gertie
    Posted January 29, 2006 at 8:35 pm | Permalink

    A lot of people who have AIDS did not get it from homosexual contact. AIDS may have first existed in the gay community, but it has become everybody’s problem. I lost my brother to AIDS 12 years ago. He had been gay, but he had also been an IV drug user. He felt that his reckless drug use (sharing needles, etc.) may have been more to blame for his contracting AIDS than his sexual behavior. Either way, my brother is dead.People need to realize that any risky behavior could literally be the death of them. God can forgive them for their sins — and this is where the church can be of great benefit to them — but the consequences of their reckless behavior may send them to an early grave.Thankfully, my brother got his life right with God before he died at the age of 30. There is no doubt in my mind where he is today.

  2. POZ Guy
    Posted May 19, 2006 at 5:31 am | Permalink

    I started my own HIV/AIDS live chat support network on http://www.13km.com so I could meet more HIV positive or affected friends online, please stop in ;)