THE BALM IN GILEAD, INC. LAUNCHES OUR FAITH LIGHTS THE WAY!
A NATIONAL FAITH BASED HIV TESTING CAMPAIGN
Richmond, VA (June 27, 2011) –Faith communities across the country launched Our Faith
Lights The Way! A National HIV Testing Campaign, a national effort that utilizes the
power of faith communities across the country to encourage HIV testing among their
congregations and communities. This campaign, which is a partnership between The Balm
In Gilead and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), launches today, June
27th with National HIV Testing Day, and will continue throughout the end of the year. The
campaign has three goals: (1) to encourage Americans to know their HIV status; (2) to get
tested for HIV and (3) to help faith institutions become community centers for HIV
education and information.
Beginning today, The Balm In Gilead, Inc. will be asking all faith leaders and their
congregants to shine the light on HIV Testing within their communities. Originally known as
Our Church Lights the Way! HIV Testing Campaign, The Balm In Gilead for the past 10
years, has been mobilizing and developing the capacity of faith communities to provide HIV
testing services. The organization is now expanding its services and message to diverse
faith communities across the United States.
According to the CDC, in the United States, every 9 ½ minutes, someone becomes infected
with the virus that causes AIDS. Approximately 1 in 5 persons, who are living with HIV in
their bodies, do not know it. Thus, they are unknowingly spreading the virus when having
unprotected sex or sharing needles or syringes with other individuals. Furthermore, people
who are infected with HIV and unaware cannot take advantage of available treatment and
care services.
Faith communities across the United States are hosting HIV testing events and shining the
light on HIV prevention information, while delivering compassionate messages to all persons
affected by HIV, regardless of gender, age, sexual identification or lifestyle.
Some highlights of this year’s campaign include: General Baptist Convention of VA and nine
individual Baptist churches in Richmond, VA; Damien Ministries, Washington, DC; The
African American Muslim Commission on HIV, New York City.
“It is unfortunate that stigma toward people living with HIV continues to be so intense in
our country,” states Pernessa Seele, Founder/CEO of The Balm In Gilead. “Intense hatred
for people living with HIV disease of all races, regardless of their heterosexual or homosexual identification seems to be at an all-time high in many American communities.
Often this intense hatred is being put forth by faith leaders and their followers. Thus, we
should all support and give appreciation to the growing number of churches, mosques,
synagogues and other places of worship that now stand on the frontline of addressing
HIV/AIDS. Communities of faith must invest in the spiritual and physical health of our
communities. To do otherwise, is shameful,” Seele adds.
In 2010, President Barak Obama released the first-ever comprehensive coordinated plan for
responding to the domestic AIDS epidemic. National HIV/AIDS Strategy (NHAS) outlines
steps that the Obama Administration will take to reduce new HIV infections; increase access
to care for people living with HIV; reduce HIV-related health disparities; and coordinate a
national response to the HIV epidemic. One of the first initiatives within NHAS is the
Enhanced Comprehensive HIV Prevention Plan (ECHPP), which targets 12 urban areas with
highest AIDS prevalence: New York City, Los Angeles, Washington D.C., Chicago, Atlanta,
Miami, Philadelphia, Houston, San Francisco, Baltimore, Dallas, and San Juan.
The Balm In Gilead has mapped out a plan to partner and strengthen the capacity of faith
communities, health departments, AIDS service and community-based organization,
specifically in the 12 major cities identified in the National AIDS Strategies. The objectives
will be to dismantle AIDS stigma, cultural & religious barriers and ignorance; and to
promote non-traditional community partnerships to work together to stop the spread of
HIV/AIDS. This initiative will continue throughout 2013.
Now celebrating 22 years of service, education and advocacy, The Balm In Gilead, Inc., is a
501(C) 3 organization, with a mission to prevent diseases and to improve the health status
of people of the African Diaspora by providing support to faith institutions in areas of
program design, implementation and evaluation which strengthens their capacity to deliver
programs and services that contribute to the elimination of health disparities. The Balm In
Gilead, Inc. is known throughout the United States and Africa for its insightful
understanding of religious cultures and values and extraordinary ability to build strong,
trusted partnerships with faith communities to support their engagement in public health
service.
To learn more about The Balm In Gilead and how your faith community can participate in
Our Faith Lights the Way! HIV Testing Campaign, call The Balm In Gilead at 888-225-6243
or log onto www.balmingilead.org
