Baptists & AIDS

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (ABP) -- Motorists in Memphis are getting a prominent reminder of the AIDS pandemic's human toll -- and the grace that God offers -- from two Baptist churches situated on one of the city's busiest corners.

For the fifth year in a row, the corner of Poplar Avenue and East Parkway was covered with thousands of white stakes with red ribbons attached. Members of Memphis' First Baptist Church marked World AIDS Day by erecting the markers on the stately church's lawn after morning worship Nov. 28. The markers represent the approximately 3,000 Shelby County residents who have died of AIDS since 1983, when county officials first began tracking its statistics.

And, for the fourth year, the members of the predominantly white church were joined in the marker project by hundreds of African-Americans from Greater Lewis Street Missionary Baptist Church, their neighbors across the street in Memphis' Midtown neighborhood. Greater Lewis Street became involved in the project beginning in 2001.

....Kim Moss, executive director of Friends for Life, said in an e-mail statement that the partnership between the racially diverse churches and his organization is providing a powerful example to the community. "The issue of AIDS provides a real challenge for churches to experience the meaning of unconditional love," he said.

The churches' effort, Moss continued, is an example of "the healing that can take place when people set aside prejudices and focus on the message of hope, love, understanding, and compassion for all."

…read it all: Black, white Memphis congregations confront barriers on World AIDS Day by Robert Marus, Associated Baptist Press