Indianapolis Recorder, Indianapolis, Marion County, 23 June 2000 — Page 7

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FRIDAY, JUNE 23, 2000 to-

THE INDIANAPOLIS RECORDER

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. < 8 i

CHURCH ConttntMd from At

m

vypmen accounted for 1,397 new AIDS cases

cut of a total of 5,700 statewide (Indiana Ne 8 po splrllu*l that gukies the

Ceinsus), and represent 1,157 HIV cases out Balm in Gilead

9(3,300. These figures rank African Ameri- Sometimes I feel Atemvaged, and think my

cans above all other minority cases, while work’s in vein

lidding a second rating only to white cases. But then the Holy Spirit rfvires my soul again. ^“This is not a gay issue. The Black church There is a balm in Gilead to heal the wounded

to become an advocacy (for AIDS and soul.

/)," said Rev. Thomas Brown, pastor of

ezer Missionary Baptist Church

(EMBC). “We’re struggling with Black people thinking that it’s not our problem.

But, it’s killing our people,” he added. Over the last 15 years. Rev. Brown has

been involved with AIDS and HIV initia-

There is a balm in Gilead to heal the sin sick

soul

■ ■ «

i

highlighting a wide array of HIV and AIDS

fundamentals.

w ^ ^ ^ „„„„ “We want people to come with an open iyes. While discussing alarming AIDS facts, m ' n< * t0 * carn - h* ve ,0 overcome (HIV

ev. Brown said that many Black churches

ip'ust step up and become involved with

educational programs.

"“You can poll every church, and every

pastor knows someone who died from HIV Serve,

arid AIDS. There’s been suchi a stigma, that

1 remove the phobia and fear.

and AIDS), and stop pretending that it only exists in part of (Black) communities,” said Trevor Bradley, HIV prevention coordinator for communities of color with Indiana AIDS

AIDS has touched Black communities on various levels including emotionally, physically and socially. Bradley coordinates intervention activities, and hopes that Black church members help raise AIDS and HIV

distribute among their congregations. awareness. Next week s event, he said, '’The Ebenezer Foundation (of EMBC) was Black churches because of the ^itablished six years ago to address Black increasing rates in which Blacks are affected

you have to

Re.v. Brown said, recognizing how Black qunisters must receive accurate HIV/AIDS information and resources to effectively

health care issues, specifically HIV, AIDS Sjqd sexually transmitted diseases. As an oytreach arm of the church, the foundation itnplements various preventive and awareness ministries within Black communities. , In response to disparities among Black church involvement, local ministers are preparing for “A Faith Response to HIV/ A^DS Crisis,” a conference coming to

fiidianapolis June 27-29.

by the disease.

In preparation for the conference; Bradley collaborated with the Balm of Gilead, a nonprofit organization based in New York City. As the Balm in Gilead strives towards bringing the AIDS epidemic to the forefront of consciousness in Black churches and families, local ministers will be exposed to a model by which AIDS'no longer sits outside doors. But, rather enters an educational and

More than 115 Indiana church representa- mission led arena.

lives will participate in group discussions,

w

si!

AIDS ConttntMd from A1 Americans. AIDS is the No.l killer among African Americans between the ages of 25 and 34. Death rates for African-American patients with heart failure are slightly higher than those for white patients with heart failure, and are highest among AfricanAmerican men. Parks and Durand said the news media play an important role in releasing this information. “Journalists and the medical field need to collaborate with each other, so this information can be put out,” Parks told the audience. “Nothing in the country is more important than the issue of health.”. Emphasized Durand: “People should take an interest in their health because nobody can do it for them.” Luncheon attendees interviewed after the event said they learned much. “It is important for us to be self-educated about these health problems,” said Dena Wane, editor of the Baltimore Times. Willie J. Sherrod, a retired journalist and proofreader who has worked at several major newspapers including the Chicago Sun-Times; said Parks “had information that was quite informative and at the same tune something we can relate to with our primary care physicians.” Alfred Smith Jr. is a junior mass communications major at Jackson State University in Jackson, Miss. He and Sylvia Kenney, also a Jackson State mass communications major, were awarded $5,000 scholarships sponsored by the Pharmaceutical Research Manufacturers of America through the NNPA Foundation’s Black Press Institute. He has worked for the Jackson (Miss.) Advocate.

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