To think of how many people in New York City have HIV/AIDS but don’t know it
take Yankee Stadium and fill it. By the time they find out, they’ve already
infected their partners and potentially their children. By this time, often
their own health is gone.
This knowledge is critical in the artsy Chelsea community of New York, where
three-year-old Southern Baptist congregation, The Gallery church, calls
home. In this community, the New York Health Department says, 1 in 4 men
have the disease.
Working alongside The Gallery Church and the St. Luke's Roosevelt Hospital,
more than 200 Southern Baptist volunteers are canvassing neighborhoods this
morning to bring New York residents out of the dark in the Bronx, Brooklyn,
and Manhattan. If the 22 testing sites are successful, between 500 and 1,000
residents, many from low-income areas, will have a good idea where they
stand with the disease and whether further testing is necessary.
“The stats stare you in the face,” says Aaron Coe, pastor of The Gallery.
“New York has the highest rate of HIV infections in the United States.”
“We spent a lot of time learning from others. Listening to people infected
by the disease and to other pastors and churches who’ve decided to respond
to it,” he adds. “We wanted to tread lightly and not be the
johnny-come-lately here to save the day. So we just asked St. Luke’s how we
could help.”
Today volunteers will provide hospitality to participants, passing out bags
of information on HIV/AIDS testing as well as bags of information on The
Gallery church. And to help curb the costs of transportation to go for
further testing, the church will provide each participant a Metro pass.
“It’s a preventable and treatable disease,” says Brad Cruse, a dentist who
attends The Gallery and works at St. Luke’s Roosevelt Hospital. “It’s not a
death sentence if you find out early enough.”
This outreach, scheduled intentionally during Passion Week, is part of City
Up Rising, a four-day event in partnership with churches, city government
and non-profits to revitalize and bring new hope to New York.
“Every community deals with these issues,” says Aaron. “We just need to
provide an environment where people are cared for. When Jesus saw the demon
possessed man in Mark 5, his first question was not 'how did you get here?’
His first question was "what’s your name?’ It’s not my business how you got
to where you are, but it is my business that you’re here and you need my
friendship and help.”
Pray for the volunteers as they raise awareness about the power of
Christ to heal the whole person. Think about how you and your church may find
a place in ministry to people with HIV/AIDS. Visit www.cityuprising.com.