Sunday, March 4, 2012
New Covenant Baptist Church
2315 N. 38th Street Milwaukee, WI 53210

FREE DINNER: 2pm - 3pm
Kick off event starts at 3pm - 5pm


to RSVP or find out how your church can participate, contact

Shana Brown or Jim Addison
414.933.0064

HISTORY

The Black Church Week of Prayer for the Healing of AIDS is modeled after the successful, innovative Harlem Week of Prayer of AIDS which was established in 1989 by The Balm of Gilead in New York City. The Week of Prayer was designed as a bold act of community outreach to Harlem's religious leaders to address the community's devastation by HIV/AIDS.


Goals of the Black Church Week of Prayer for the Healing of AIDS are:
 

• To involve the power of prayer and divine love for all those suffering from AIDS and its destruction.
• To empower every individual living with HIV/AIDS and take time out for prayer.
• To establish a support network between the religious community, families and the health care system.
• To remove stigma by educating people about what HIV/AIDS is and it's full impact on the community.

Program Overview 

This effort is locally organized by the Black Health Coalition of Wisconsin (BHC) to assist the Black churches in taking a stand in responding to the effects of HIV/AIDS in African American communities. The BHC collaborates with local churches and service providers in the community to address the effects of HIV/AIDS in African American communities.

The Role of the staff at BHC is the recruit Black churches to participate in the following ways:

• On the first Sunday of March, make AIDS education and compassionate care the focus of worship experience, incorporating a special prayer, alter call or acknowledgment of The Black Church Week of Prayer for the Healing of AIDS.

• Ask the churches to host or sponsor at least one community-wide AIDS education program during Sunday service and throughout the week.

• Make HIV/AIDS brochures and other materials available to their congregation during Sunday service and throughout the week.

• Is the largest HIV/AIDS awareness program targeting Black America.

• Is a national HIV/AIDS awareness program to educate and mobilize African American religious communities to become centers for HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment and education.

• Is a vehicle for spiritual renewal, transformation and HIV/AIDS prevention & education for every individual and church community taking part.

• Help create social environment that are conducive to addressing HIV/AIDS issues and to supporting people and families affected by the epidemic.

• Link Black churches with HIV/AIDS service providers in their locales.

The power of the Black Church week of Prayer for the Healing of AIDS is rooted in the thousands of black churches across the United States collectively praying, sharing their grief, educating their congregations and communities about AIDS prevention and affirming a compassionate ministry for those infected and affected by the disease.

The black church continues to be the cornerstone of African American life in this country. As the headquarters for discussion on issues of health, politics and social changes, churches play central role in the lives of most African Americans. Given this, and considering the proliferation of AIDS in Black communities it is essential that religious organizations lead the struggles to stop the seemingly uncontrollable spread of the disease and deliver and demand more services and resources for individuals and families infected or affected.