Philadelphia Clergy Increase AIDS Awareness

Clergy in Philadelphia's African-American congregations are deploying their resources over the next several weeks in an all-out HIV prevention campaign.

The citywide effort involves more than 100 houses of worship, 30 of which have pledged to host HIV testing on site. In addition, clergy are delivering HIV prevention messages in their sermons and church bulletins.

"We are in crisis here in Philadelphia," the Rev. Leslie Callahan told congregants at a recent service at St. Paul's Baptist Church in Spring Garden. "It's not just a disease of gay, white men."

Callahan stressed that 20 percent of HIV-positive Philadelphians are unaware they have the disease. "And if they don't know it, surely their partners don't know it."

Congregants after the service were sobered and inspired by Callahan's message.

"We have to work this out as a church and a community," said member Lisa Miller. "Like she said, we can do that just by getting tested."

Member Doris Whitehead saw HIV/AIDS as an important issue for the church to embrace. "It was so important to let everybody know we need to be taking care of each other. That's where our strength is."

The Friends of AIDS Foundation is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for HIV positive individuals and empowering people to make healthy choices to prevent the spread of the HIV virus. To learn more about The Friends of AIDS Foundation, please visit: http://www.friendsofaids.org.


TOGETHER WE REMAIN STRONG!