Raising awareness about HIV and AIDS

The black community urges a more open discussion about causes and prevention.
YOUNGSTOWN -- "Get educated, get tested, get involved."
Pastors of black churches in Youngstown are challenging the members of their congregations this week to take these three steps to battle the growing impact of AIDS/HIV infection among the city's black communities.
A worship service at Holy Trinity Missionary Baptist Church on Parkcliffe Avenue on Sunday night kicked off a Week of Prayer for the Healing of HIV/AIDS.
The Rev. Lewis Macklin II, Holy Trinity pastor, urged church members to venture beyond their comfort zones to reach out to people "infected and affected" by HIV and AIDS.
"Sometimes as long as we've got a comfortable ministry, like passing out pamphlets, we think we're doing something," he said. "But remember that Jesus did his best work in the streets."
Open discussion
He said that blacks need to have more open discussion about HIV/AIDS.
"The problem with our community is that we're afraid to talk about it," he said. "We used to believe it was a gay white man's disease and had nothing to do with us."
But the Rev. Mr. Macklin and several other visiting speakers sounded themes that would be repeated several times during the evening: AIDS hasn't gone away, and is more of a threat to blacks -- especially women -- than ever. And it needs to be met with nonjudgmental and compassionate attitudes.
"People spend too much time trying to diagnose, trying to figure out 'how he got it,'" Mr. Macklin said. "God isn't interested in that. Our responsibility is to show compassion."
Several speakers encouraged abstinence from sexual activity, especially for youths, as a way to reduce the spread of AIDS/HIV.
"God didn't send AIDS down, but there are some repercussions for sin," said the Rev. J. Dwayne Heard, pastor of Elizabeth Missionary Baptist Church. "The only safe sex is no sex."
The Rev. Willie Patterson, president of the Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance, urged women to adopt a "just say no" approach because of the increasing rate of HIV/AIDS among black females.
"We've got to save our city, and if we don't do it, it won't get done," he said.
Praying for a cure
The preaching about HIV/AIDS on Sunday night was reinforced by congregational prayers for a cure for AIDS, and a musical message from Jerome Kitchen, a friend of several congregation members.
The Youngstown man talked about how he had fathered two children while still in his teens. He performed a rap song called "Don't Rush It," which encouraged young people to wait until marriage for sexual activity.
Before, during and after the service, representatives of City Health District offered confidential AIDS testing in the fellowship hall of the church.
"We don't just want people to have information," Mr. Macklin said. "We also want to give them access to services. It's easy to tell somebody to go make an appointment to get tested, but if they decide Sunday to go get tested Tuesday, they've got 48 hours to change their mind."
Charles Venable, an AIDS educator for the health district, encouraged church members to contribute to AIDS-related causes and get involved with educating others.
"We're past the point where we can hide our heads in the sand," he said. "And government money and government programs only go so far."
Other events at black churches this week will focus on responses to HIV/AIDS. Midweek prayer services and Bible studies will be devoted to the topic, with ready-made lesson plans available. The week will end with an HIV Youth Forum from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at the Family Life Center of Elizabeth Missionary Baptist Church, 7 S. Garland Ave.
XFor more information on the Week of Prayer events or to find out about opportunities for involvement, call (330) 740-1982 or (330) 782-8929.