AIDs/HIV informational meeting attracts 200
By Matt Shaw
Published in News on February 15, 2005 1:59 PM
More than 200 people turned out last Thursday for more information on HIV/AIDS and its impact in Wayne County.
Attendees at the "Willing to Touch" event, held at Greenleaf Vision of Faith Community Center, heard Jeri Barnes and Alton Vinson tell what it is like to live with the disease.
The Rev. William Lee, pastor of a church in Roanoke, Va., was the guest speaker at the event.
Lee said that the church has the power and ability to fight HIV/AIDS, but religious leaders need to acknowledge the problem exists in their cities.
The Rev. Dr. William J. Barber II, chairman of Rebuilding Broken Places Community Development Corporation, said that the church has the "unusual grace to touch and minister in difficult situations. ... When others walk out, the church must walk in with the power and anointing of God's love."
Others taking part in the discussion were Archibald Black, executive director of Rebuilding Broken Places; Ieasha Stubbs, program coordinator of "Willing to Touch"; and advisors Apostle Edwin Newsome of Spirit Filled Family Worship Center and the Rev. Fred Clarke of First Christian Church.