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OVERVIEW
AAS-C’s Faith Ministries Program is a result of
efforts of lay and clergy to respond to the AIDS
pandemic from a place of love.
MINISTRY
In partnership with supporting and partnering
faith communities, the Faith Ministries Program supports
the Alliance mission in three ways: (1) by
developing, training, and coordinating
faith-based Care Teams, (2) by providing
spiritual care and counseling to persons
living with HIV/AIDS, their families, Care Teams and
other care givers; and (3) by providing faith-based
HIV/STD education to faith communities throughout the
Triangle.
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Care Teams focus on
providing practical, emotional and spiritual
support to persons living with HIV/AIDS and
respite care for their families and loved ones.
Care is provided through faith-based Care
Teams – groups of people who offer compassionate,
non-judgmental care to their Care Partners. Care
Teams bring no religious agenda with them,
providing spiritual support only if requested by
their Care Partner. Currently, more than 85 Care
Teams from more than eleven faith communities have
been trained to provide services to Care Partners
throughout the Triangle.
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Spiritual Care and Counseling
is available to
persons living with HIV/AIDS, their families and
loved ones through individual counseling, monthly
prayer services and fellowship dinners, retreats,
and spiritual and bereavement support. Faith Ministries staff
and volunteers also
respond to requests for anointing, baptism, Holy
Communion, funerals or memorials, and/or other
rituals when requested.
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HIV/STD Education
programs are available that are culturally
sensitive, age appropriate and faith based.
Programs are provided for clergy and faith
communities throughout the Triangle.
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Black Church Week of Prayer for the Healing of AIDS,
held annually
the first full week of March, provides additional
emphasis on prevention, education and awareness of
HIV/AIDS within African American faith communities
through local faith communities and Triangle-wide
events.
HOW FAITH
COMMUNITIES CAN HELP
The Faith
Ministries Program offers a variety of opportunities
for volunteer involvement, including (but not
limited to)
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Forming a Care Team within your faith community to provide
compassionate, non-judgmental care and support to
someone living with HIV/AIDS;
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Joining an existing Care Team;
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Make a financial contribution;
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Leading your faith community, place of business, etc., in
collecting food items for client Food Pantries;
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Work with the Faith Ministries staff to educate members of your
faith community about HIV/AIDS and its role in
responding compassionately to persons living with
the disease;
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Participate in the planning and implementation of World AIDS Day
and Black Church Week of Prayer for the Healing of
AIDS services in your community;
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Provide general office, computer and clerical skills to support
and enhance the work of the Faith Ministries
Program
FAITH MINISTRY
VOLUNTEER TRAINING:
Individuals
interested in volunteering with the Faith Ministry
Program of AAS-C are required to attend an
Educational and Informational Session and a
Faith Ministry Program Training Session.
Upcoming
Educational and Informational Sessions:
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Saturday, April 14,
2007 –
8am – 12:30pm - Raleigh
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Saturday, June 2,
2007 - 8am - 12:30pm - Durham
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Saturday, September
22, 2007 - 8am - 12:30pm - Raleigh
Faith
Ministry Program Training
Sessions:
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Saturday, April 21,
2007 –
9am – 3pm - Raleigh***
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Saturday, June 9,
2007 - 9am - 3pm - Durham
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Saturday, September
29, 2007 - 9am - 3pm - Raleigh
All Raleigh sessions are held at Millbrook Baptist
Church, 1519 Millbrook Road; all Durham sessions
are held at First Presbyterian Church, 305 E Main St.
Registration for all sessions will begin 30 minutes
prior to the
beginning of the scheduled session.
***Please note that
this volunteer training will be held at St John's
MCC on Glenwood Ave.
For more information
contact:
Wake County
Carolyn McClendon 212-9450
Durham County
Billy Hagwood 596-9898 |
