Pastoral Services of Duke University to Offer Seminar on HIV/AIDS

By Vivian S. Park

Partners in Caring, a ministry of the Pastoral Services Division of Duke University will present a Pastoral Workshop on the Church’s Response to HIV/AIDS on Saturday, July 17 at Mt. Zion AME Zion Church in Elizabethtown.

Sponsored by the Bladen County Ministerial Association, the program is designed to improve awareness of the HIV/AIDS problem among Christian leaders and to explore Christian response to the illness.

Beginning with an overview of HIV/AIDS titled "HIV 101: Anatomy of an Illness," the program will present several topics such as “The High Cost of HIV: for patient, family, and significant others; Living Positively; and A Christian Response to HIV/AIDS: HIV, Spirituality and the Church.”

Partners in Caring is dedicated to the mission of connecting the faith community with the HIV/AIDS issue and persons living with the disease.

"We educate, support, minister to and advocate for persons living with HIV/AIDS," said Ministry officials. "Our staff are available to come to your church to present programs to dispel misinformation, address fears and enable your congregation to initiate ministries to lighten the burden of those living with HIV/AIDS, to encourage your people to avoid infection from this fatal illness, and to discover the spiritual power we often find in people living with HIV/AIDS.

"For teens we offer 'Resistance Against Pressure,' an intensive program for 11 - 20 year olds and their parents focusing upon substance abuse and sexually transmitted diseases. We also offer all our programs as a service to churches and communities.

"We require no compensation and we ask for no contributions for our work, though we will encourage you to support local HIV service agencies as you are able."

The seminar requires pre-registration. Individuals who wish to attend the seminar can call 1-888-842-9469. For all other inquires on the program, contact Reverend Alonzo Braggs at 991-5105.

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