City Uprising Pt. 3
July 21st 2009 -
We partnered with 5 schools on Monday. We saw volunteers clean over 300 desks, prep and paint walls, pass out over 500 HIV test invitations, love on over 100 teachers, and demonstrate through action and words that there is hope and peace available in this city through the church. It was a great day. There are some pictures below.
I have had a lot of Christians and Church leaders reading my blog. That is a high compliment. I want to be a good steward of the people who are reading the words that come to these pages.
HIV is an issue that many in the “faith” or “Christian” communities fear or misunderstand. Yet our understanding is not as important as what people with HIV are hearing or seeing from us. Why are people with HIV not running to the church for care and counseling? Why are most HIV counseling centers secret and carry a bad stigma or promote a low self-worth? It comes back to the first sentence of this paragraph. The Church (the movement in which Jesus started to spread the “Good News”) has allowed itself to become uninformed and judgmental of HIV and those who have contracted. When in reality, through the reality of Christ himself, we, the Church are called to love people who have or have not contracted HIV.
Why is this? This is not a simple answer and I don’t think that I can write a few sentences and give out the proper information. Here is a starting point. Most church leaders are sharing 1980’s information. They have 1980’s information on how it is transmitted and who transmits the HIV virus. In the 1980’s people thought that HIV was a gay white man’s disease. In our city, in 2009, HIV is transmitted higher through heterosexual activity than homosexual activity. HIV is impacting people of African decent in our city and destroying the lives of women who have been loyal to one man. HIV is transmitted not by sitting on a toilet, kissing, sneezing or hugging, but through sexual fluids, blood (transfusions, tattooing, and IV drug use), and breast milk. Yes, I did say tattooing! Anything that involves blood and needles can spread HIV. HIV is looking for a home in our immune system.
HIV is not AIDS! HIV can become AIDS if you don’t take the time to inform yourself and get tested. You can live a long and fruitful life with HIV. AIDS is not as friendly. Babies can be born to HIV mothers and NOT contract the virus.
Today, we are asking everyone in Baltimore to be tested. There are 11 sites where you can go and receive a 20 minute free mouth swab (no blood needed) HIV screening test. There will be more to come in the next day.
*Bethel AME*
1429 McCulloh Street
Baltimore, Maryland 21217
*Mt. Nebo Ministries*
240 North Franklintown Road
Baltimore, MD 21223
*Libreria Cristiana*
107 S. Broadway St.
Baltimore, MD 21231
*Central Church of Christ*
4301 Woodridge Road
Baltimore, MD 21229
*STAR Mobile Unit*
1700 block of Pennsylvania Avenue
Baltimore, MD 21217
*Eutaw St. Satellite*
16 S. Eutaw St.
Baltimore, MD 21201
*7th Metro Church*
1916 St. Paul Street
Baltimore, MD 21218
*Hope Village Comm. Center*
1501 E. Fayette Street
Baltimore, MD 21231
*Friendship Acad of Sci & Tech*
801 South Highland Avenue
Baltimore, MD 21224
*Bethlehem Baptist Church*
6420 Belair Road
Baltimore, MD 2120
*WAR Mobile Unit*
414 E. Baltimore St.
Baltimore, MD 21202